Consequences
Time passed slowly. Vi pretended like that was to be expected. After all, she was just doing something she did every day; manage the bar. But for some reason that Vi couldn’t begin to comprehend, it was the distance from her soulmate that made time drag on. After her whole world turned colourful, it seemed dull without the one person who managed to bring that rainbow in.
People trickled out of The Last Drop as midnight came. Drunk and stumbling, pockets lighter than when they entered. Business slowed. No one wanted to be inebriated in a place as wild as Zaun when night ruled the streets. It was a blessing, giving Vi time to bury herself in her thoughts. Occasionally a straggler would come up and break her focus, but mere seconds later Vi would be re-immersed in her head.
Mylo and Claggor kept a steady conversation at the back of the bar. Powder toyed with her gadgets, and even Ekko had joined her. Vander tidied the tables. Everything was peaceful. Normal. Unchanged. But of course, the entirety of Vi had changed.
Someone who may as well be her complete opposite was the one the universe thought suited her the best? Vi couldn't see it working out. But God, if she wasn't going to try. That girl… Caitlyn, was it? For some reason that rung a bell. Caitlyn. Caitlyn Kiramman? Not possible. The fabled good girl who had no apparent soulmate. Councilor Cassandra was up the wall trying to find her daughter's lifelong partner.
But Vi? It couldn’t be Vi. Fuck, if it was the Caitlyn who looked at her like there was no one else in the world, like she was a masterpiece of cupid’s design, Vi didn’t know what she would do. People would riot. Or was she over-thinking? She highly doubted it. There was basically a bounty on the blue-haired goddess’ soulmate.
Everyone wanted to be Caitlyn’s chosen one. If they realised a fucking bartender from Zaun was that special someone, well fuck. Their fantasies would crumble. Their dreams would come tumbling down. All because of Vi. A rough around the edges, threaten first talk later, mess with me and you’re dead, kind of girl. And supposedly her soulmate, goody-two-shoes Caitlyn Kiramman. Tea parties, politics, elegance and grace. The irony.
This was a big deal. The most drama Vi had ever been forced to live through, apart from her bumpy childhood picking fights and breaking rules. Her rebellious nature had not been broken down by Zaun. It was coerced into something sharp and dangerous, forged into quiet strength. Now, Vi wouldn’t throw herself into streetfights just for the kick of it. She’d intimidate those who were volatile and extinguish their flames to mold their ashes.
And if there was one thing Vi was certain about, it was the fact that intimidation is not a good way to find love. The word love is something she could barely say. If there was ever a topic around love, it would be thrown around until Powder decided to keep it. She was the one with a heart, not Vi. Vi had wrapped her own in bandages so thick even a knife couldn’t cut through them. She’d set up walls, high and made of brick.
She ignored the way they had already began to crumble at the sight of Caitlyn, sitting at the bar looking all pretty in her dress. She ignored the way they were already being chipped away at as she lingered on the girl, imagining her hair and her eyes. The way she stared at Vi almost as if she was reading her like a book.
Sleep wouldn’t come easy tonight. Too many thoughts rooted themselves in Vi’s head, demanding attention. She knew, before she could even close her eyes, every one of them would need to be looked at. Turned over and carefully considered. It was so unlike Vi, to dawdle around a single person. Her soulmate. Yes, when colour infected her world she had known change was imminent.
What Vi hadn’t known was that it would be so alluring.
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Caitlyn snuck out of her manor on the daily. Sneaking in was just as easy. Maybe she should worry about security if that was the case, but in this state she couldn’t care less. She was tired, confused, and drunk. It was a blessing when she finally collapsed onto the soft matress of her bed.
In the back of her mind, Caitlyn mulled about her mother. There was no way she hadn’t realised her daughter had disappeared somewhere she wouldn’t be found. In the front of her mind, Caitlyn thought about her soulmate. Hot bartender, a girl. The universe seemed to think she was insane. She was starting to believe it.
It was laughable. Her, liking a girl? Unbelievable. At least that’s what her mother would say. Really, Caitlyn was ready to jump right in the deep end. She itched to run right back to The Last Drop like she’d die if she didn’t. Maybe she wouldn’t make it to morning, rotting in her fancy bed in her fancy room. Thinking about how desperate she was to live in the dangerous streets of Zaun.
It would be a death wish to go alone; a pampered piltie princess with no clue how anything worked. The simple solution was Caitlyn would just take Jayce again. He seemed to like the place so he probably wouldn’t mind going. And then she’d be able to talk to her soulmate, get her name, maybe ask her on a date? Honestly if she fantasized any more about this, Caitlyn suspected she’d be up until dawn.
It was a tempting thought, but the daunting reality of her mother no doubt prepared to tell her off early in the morning dissolved the inclination. As Caitlyn drifted off, there was a stab of excitement piercing through the dread of tomorrow. It was a new emotion, one that kept her in high spirits while she slept.
When the early morning came, Caitlyn was woken by one of her maids telling her ‘your mother wants to speak with you’. The first thing that came with waking up was irritation. The next was a dull pain. Stupid alcohol. She hadn’t even had that much. Now Caitlyn had to sit through a lecture she didn’t need with a weak but persistent hangover.
One of the worst days of her life right after one of the best; just great. It was really getting her mood down. How she wished to be able to dream about that bartender all day. It was tempting, even though her mother wanted her. Yet the last thing Caitlyn would ever do was disobey her mother. It was a curse, one she was forced to endure.
When Caitlyn had managed to haphazardly piece herself together, she headed towards her doom. She just had to get this over and done with, survive it and then forget it. Entering the main room, the air was thick with palpable tension. Maybe she could disobey her mother. Maybe she had done it one too many times.
“You needed me?”
Caitlyn’s words were closed off, something carefully practiced. Her tone managed and even while her heart hammered in her chest. Despite the sentence being a question, it stayed the same volume and quality.
“Where were you?” The counselor demanded, firm with no room for deception.
“Jayce took me to his apartment for a break.”
“Don’t you dare lie to me, Caitlyn. I went to Jayce’s apartment. You weren’t there.”
Caitlyn flushed at being caught in her lie. She hadn’t thought her mother would go that far to look for her. She was the whole point the party was held, but it could have helped connections too. If Caitlyn told the truth now, she wouldn’t be allowed outside without staff supervision for weeks. Yet what could she say?
“I-”
“The truth this time, Caitlyn.”
Cassandra’s eyes were sharp, her words even sharper. Why did she have to go and make things worse for herself? She felt like an eight year old being told off for running her mouth about some weird-looking stranger. ‘What’s wrong with his hair?’ If only it was as simple as that.
“I just went on a long walk in Piltover. With Jayce. For some air. We didn’t expect to be out so late, so I may have snuck back in.”
Cassandra raised an eyebrow, contemplating the stability of her fib. It could be true. Caitlyn wished it was true. The back of her neck burned and her head was pounding with her heart. Why couldn’t this be over already?
All of a sudden air was more precious than gold, but it was so, so scarce. How much oxygen was in this room? It felt like none. Every breath had her inhaling something thick, pressing against her lungs, wringing them dry. Was she hyperventilating in front of her mother? Maybe. It felt like she was dying, choking, struggling to fill her squeezing lungs.
“I believe you. Calm down, Caitlyn.”
The air came rushing back and then she was fine. Fantastic. Everything was okay. Caitlyn was okay. “Thank you, mother. I’ll take my leave now.” The words were breathless and light, yet they hung heavy in the air. Caitlyn ignored it, fleeing the scene with hurried steps.