Chapter 19
The cheerful clinking of metal against glass cut through the music, and the dancers began to slow, their movements faltering as they turned toward the source of the sound. Ivy and Caitlyn stopped as well, glancing over to see Ekko standing atop a log, grinning as he tried to get everyone's attention.
"All right, everyone!" Ekko called out, his voice carrying above the murmurs of the crowd. "Food's ready, so stop all that stomping around and come grab something to eat before it's all gone!"
Laughter and cheers rippled through the gathering as people began to move toward the tables where food was being set out. Ivy started to drop Caitlyn's hand, thinking the moment was over, but Caitlyn's fingers tightened around hers before she could let go. Surprised, Ivy glanced at her, but Caitlyn kept her gaze forward, her expression unreadable under the flickering firelight.
Feeling the warmth of Caitlyn's grip, Ivy hesitated for a moment, then decided to keep holding her hand. It felt... nice, though she'd never admit it aloud.
Ekko, now hopping down from the log, made his way over to them, weaving through the crowd with ease. His confident smirk faltered slightly as he approached and noticed their intertwined hands. His gaze lingered just a second too long, and Ivy, catching it, immediately let go, her hand flying to her side as if she'd just been burned.
She brushed at her leg awkwardly, trying to act nonchalant. "What?" she asked, raising a brow at Ekko. "You've got something to say?"
Ekko tilted his head, a knowing grin spreading across his face. "Nah, nothing at all," he said, his tone teasing. "Just thought I'd say hi before heading to the food."
Caitlyn, ever composed, folded her arms and cleared her throat, her cheeks faintly pink in the firelight. "We were just about to go grab something, too."
"Uh-huh," Ekko said, his grin widening as he stepped closer, his eyes darting between the two. "Well, don't wait too long, or you'll miss the good stuff."
With that, he turned and strolled toward the tables, leaving Ivy standing there, flustered. Together, they followed the crowd toward the food, the warmth of Caitlyn's earlier touch still lingering in Ivy's mind. She shoved the thought aside, focusing instead on the lively chatter and the promise of a good meal. But deep down, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder what Caitlyn's grip had meant—and why it mattered so much to her.
Ivy accepted a small wooden bowl of steaming soup and a glass of what looked like a sparkling, golden drink. The girl who handed it to her offered a warm smile, and Ivy returned it, nodding her thanks.
Balancing her food and drink, she made her way through the lively crowd, weaving past laughing groups and dancing figures until she spotted Ekko sitting alone on a low wooden bench. His bowl was nearly empty, and he was hunched forward, poking at the last few bites as if deep in thought.
Ivy walked over, placing her drink down and settling onto the bench beside him. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, though she didn't wait for an answer.
Ekko glanced up, his trademark grin returning. "By all means," he teased, nudging her playfully with his elbow. "Though you've been pretty occupied lately."
Ivy rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink. It was sweet and fizzy, with a hint of fruit. "You've got jokes, huh?" she shot back, though her smirk betrayed her amusement.
As she settled in, Caitlyn appeared, her own bowl and drink in hand. She hesitated for a moment, glancing around, before choosing the spot directly across from Ivy. The firelight danced across Caitlyn's face as she placed her food down with precise movements and sat, her posture as upright and proper as ever.
"Nice of you to join us," Ivy quipped, glancing up from her soup. "Figured you'd pick a quieter corner."
Caitlyn raised a brow, but her lips twitched in a faint smile. "It seemed better than eating alone," she replied evenly, her tone almost playful. "Unless I'm intruding?"
Ekko snorted, leaning back and folding his arms. "Not at all. The more, the merrier."
The three of them sat there, the din of the party buzzing around them. Ivy stole glances at Caitlyn as she carefully sipped her soup, and Ekko occasionally chimed in with lighthearted remarks. Ivy took another sip of her drink before glancing around the lively scene. A thought struck her, and she furrowed her brows. "Hey, where's Vi? I haven't seen her in a while," she asked, scanning the crowd.
Ekko, who was halfway through another bite of his soup, snickered and set his bowl down. "Oh, she's around," he said, his tone laced with amusement. Ivy turned to look at him, one brow raised in suspicion.
Ekko, who was halfway through another bite of his soup, snickered and set his bowl down. "Oh, she's around," he said, his tone laced with amusement. Ivy turned to look at him, one brow raised in suspicion.
"Why do you sound like that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Ekko chuckled, leaning back on the bench. "Saw her earlier, chatting it up with some girl," he said, tilting his head in a particular direction. "Over there."
Ivy followed his gaze, and sure enough, there was Vi. She was sitting in a quieter corner of the sanctuary, her long legs stretched out in front of her, casually leaning back against a low wall. Across from her was a girl with dark braids and a vibrant scarf wrapped around her shoulders. The two were deep in conversation, Vi gesturing animatedly with her hands while the girl laughed at something she'd said.
Ivy raised a brow, smirking. "Well, well, look at that," she said, nudging Ekko with her elbow. "Didn't know Vi had such social skills."
Ekko laughed. "First time I've seen her like that in a while, though. Guess she's making the most of the party."
Caitlyn, who had been quietly sipping her drink, glanced in the direction they were looking. Her expression remained neutral, though her lips quirked slightly. "Good for her," she said, her voice calm.
Ivy leaned back, watching Vi for another moment. "Well, at least someone's having fun," she said, though her grin hinted that she wasn't entirely serious.
As Ekko stood, he picked up his bowl and gave the two a nod. "I'm gonna go check in with a few people. Make sure everyone's good," he said casually, glancing between Ivy and Caitlyn. His gaze lingered just long enough to suggest he was leaving them alone on purpose before he walked off, blending into the lively crowd.
Ivy leaned back in her seat, watching him disappear into the throng of people. "Subtle as always," she muttered under her breath, a small smirk on her face.
Caitlyn chuckled softly, setting her glass down on the table. "He's thoughtful, though," she said, her tone sincere. "You can tell how much he cares about this place and the people here."
"Yeah," Ivy agreed, her eyes briefly following Ekko as he greeted a group of kids with a fist bump. "He's a good guy."
The two fell into a brief silence, the sounds of laughter and music filling the space between them. Ivy fiddled with the edge of her bowl, her fingers tracing the rim absentmindedly. Caitlyn, on the other hand, seemed content to watch Ivy, her gaze curious but non-intrusive.
"You know," Caitlyn began after a moment, her voice softer now, "you're different when you're here."
Ivy glanced at her, one eyebrow raised. "Different how?"
Caitlyn shrugged, tilting her head slightly as if searching for the right words. "Less guarded, I guess. I've seen you smile more tonight than I think I have since we met."
Ivy snorted, rolling her eyes. "Don't get used to it," she said, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness.
Caitlyn smiled faintly, leaning forward slightly. "Maybe you should get used to it," she countered gently. "You don't always have to keep your walls up, you know. Not here. Not with me."
For a moment, Ivy just stared at her, the flickering light of the fire catching in her green eyes. She opened her mouth as if to say something but then hesitated, looking away instead.
"Don't go reading too much into it," Ivy said finally, her voice quieter now. "This place... it just reminds me of what things used to be like. Before everything went to hell." She glanced back at Caitlyn, her expression softer than usual. "That's all."
Caitlyn didn't press further, simply nodding in understanding. "Fair enough," she said, leaning back in her seat. But the small, knowing smile on her face suggested she wasn't entirely convinced by Ivy's explanation.
The two sat in companionable silence for a while longer, the sounds of the party around them a comforting backdrop. For once, neither of them felt the need to fill the quiet with words.
"I'm grabbing a drink," Ivy said abruptly, standing up and brushing her hands off on her dress. Her tone was casual, but Caitlyn caught the faint edge in her voice.
"Want some company?" Caitlyn offered, starting to rise.
"Nah, I got it," Ivy replied quickly, holding up a hand. "You stay here and... do whatever it is you're doing."
Caitlyn blinked at her, slightly taken aback, but she settled back into her seat, watching as Ivy made her way toward the table where drinks were being served.
Ivy moved through the crowd with purpose, her eyes scanning the area but avoiding lingering on anyone for too long. She needed a moment, just a small reprieve from the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in her mind.
Reaching the drink table, she poured herself something without much thought, her fingers gripping the cup a little tighter than necessary. She took a sip, the bitter taste of whatever it was grounding her just a bit.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Vi sitting in the same quiet corner, still talking to the girl Ekko had pointed out earlier. Vi looked relaxed, laughing at something the girl said. Ivy allowed herself a small smile. Good for her, she thought.
But her gaze didn't linger long. Her eyes flitted back toward where Caitlyn sat, still at the table, her posture straight and proper as ever. Ivy could feel Caitlyn's eyes on her even from this distance. It wasn't a piercing stare—more like Caitlyn was studying her, waiting.
Ivy sighed and shook her head, muttering under her breath. "Get a grip, Ivy." She took another sip of her drink, letting the warmth spread through her, before she turned back toward the table, ready to rejoin Caitlyn.
As she approached, she caught the faintest trace of a smile on Caitlyn's face, as though the enforcer had been expecting her to come back all along. Ivy rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at her lips.
"Miss me already?" Caitlyn teased lightly as Ivy sat back down.
"Don't flatter yourself," Ivy shot back, though the playful tone in her voice betrayed her words.
Before Ivy could deliver her next retort, they were interrupted by a young man who approached their table with a confident swagger. He looked to be in his early twenties, with tousled hair and an easy grin that practically screamed charm. His shirt was unbuttoned just enough to seem intentional, and he carried himself like someone used to turning heads.
His eyes lingered on Caitlyn as he spoke, barely sparing a glance at Ivy. "Well, now, I don't think I've seen you around here before," he said smoothly, his grin widening. "What's a stunning woman like you doing in a place like this?"
Caitlyn blinked, taken aback, and then cleared her throat. "I'm here with friends," she said politely, her tone measured.
Ivy's eyebrows shot up, a slow smirk creeping onto her face as she sat back in her seat. She folded her arms, clearly entertained by the scene unfolding in front of her.
The young man leaned in, his focus unwavering on Caitlyn. "Well, lucky for me, you decided to stop by. What's your name?"
Caitlyn hesitated, glancing briefly at Ivy, who was now full-on grinning. "It's Caitlyn," she said at last, her tone still polite but slightly wary.
"Caitlyn," the man repeated, as if savoring the sound of it. "I'm Darin. Let me guess, you're not much for parties like this, huh? You seem... refined."
Ivy snorted, unable to hold back a laugh. "Refined? Oh, this is good."
Caitlyn shot Ivy a look but quickly returned her attention to Darin. "I'm just here to enjoy the evening," she said, her tone cool but not unkind.
Darin didn't seem deterred. "Well, maybe I could help with that," he offered, his grin never faltering. "Dance with me?"
Ivy almost choked on her drink. She set it down and leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand as she watched Caitlyn squirm slightly under Darin's attention.
Caitlyn hesitated, glancing again at Ivy, who raised her eyebrows expectantly. "I think I'm fine where I am," Caitlyn said finally, her voice firm but not rude.
Darin didn't seem to take the hint.
"Still here, Caitlyn," he said smoothly, holding up a drink. "Thought I'd also bring this over. You looked like you could use one."
Caitlyn blinked at him, her patience visibly thinning. "I didn't ask for a drink," she replied, polite but curt.
"Consider it a gesture of goodwill," Darin said, placing the glass on the table and ignoring the tension in Caitlyn's voice. He glanced briefly at Ivy, then back to Caitlyn. "So, what brings you to a place like this? Looking for excitement?"
Ivy smiled, clearly enjoying the situation, but this time she decided to step in. "She's here with me," Ivy said, crossing her arms and leaning back in her seat. Her tone was casual but edged with a warning.
Darin raised an eyebrow, his grin faltering slightly as he looked at Ivy. "Oh, I didn't realize you two were... together."
Ivy tilted her head, letting the implication hang in the air for a moment before shrugging. "Doesn't matter. She's clearly not interested."
Caitlyn shot Ivy a look—half grateful, half exasperated—before turning back to Darin. "I'm not looking for anything tonight," she said firmly.
Darin hesitated, his confidence visibly wavering now. "Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "No harm in trying, right? Enjoy your night, ladies."
As he finally walked away, Ivy chuckled, shaking her head. "Persistent, isn't he?"
Caitlyn sighed, resting her chin in her hand. "He's certainly something."
"You handled it well," Ivy said with a grin, nudging Caitlyn lightly with her elbow. "But next time, maybe I should step in sooner. I've got a talent for scaring guys like him off."
Caitlyn gave Ivy a small smile, her frustration fading. "I might just take you up on that."
"Good. Because next time he shows up, I'm not holding back," Ivy said, grinning mischievously.
Ivy watched Caitlyn for a moment, noticing the way her posture had shifted—shoulders slightly hunched, her usual composure softened by a subtle exhaustion. The earlier interruptions seemed to have drained her enthusiasm for the party, and she wasn't making much of an effort to re-engage with the energy around them.
"Hey," Ivy said, leaning closer so Caitlyn could hear her over the noise of the party. "You look like you're done for the night."
Caitlyn blinked, straightening slightly, as if trying to appear less worn out. "I'm fine," she replied quickly, though her tone lacked conviction.
Ivy raised an eyebrow, giving her a knowing look. "You're a terrible liar, Princess." She stood, brushing off her dress and offering Caitlyn a hand. "Come on, let's head back."
Caitlyn hesitated, glancing around the lively crowd. She saw Vi with the girl she'd been talking to earlier and Ekko animatedly chatting with a group near the fire. The party wasn't showing any signs of slowing down, but for Caitlyn, it had already overstayed its welcome.
Finally, she let out a quiet sigh, taking Ivy's hand and standing up. "Alright," she said, her voice softer. "But only if you're sure you're ready to leave, too."
Ivy smirked, her hand lingering in Caitlyn's for a moment before letting go. "I've seen my fair share of parties. Besides," she added with a teasing grin, "you're much better company than any of these people."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. Together, they slipped through the crowd, heading toward the quiet path that led back to the tree where they were staying. The cool night air brushed past them, and the noise of the party faded into the background as they walked side by side, the firelight sanctuary already feeling like a distant memory.