Chapter 20
Ivy pushed the door open, the wood creaking softly as it swung inward. She stepped inside, the dim light of their shared room casting long shadows on the walls. The quiet compared to the lively hum of the party outside was almost jarring, but Ivy welcomed it. She kicked off her shoes near the door, stretching her arms above her head with a satisfied groan.
"Home sweet home," she said, glancing over her shoulder at Caitlyn, who followed her in with a quiet, measured pace.
Caitlyn closed the door behind her, the latch clicking softly into place. "It's quieter than I expected," she murmured, her voice carrying the faintest hint of relief.
"After that crowd? Anything would sound quieter," Ivy quipped, walking further into the room and flopping onto a worn chair near the corner. She slouched back, letting her head rest against the wooden frame, and looked at Caitlyn. "You okay?"
Caitlyn hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the table as if debating whether to sit. Finally, she lowered herself onto the small seat near the wall, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "I think I just needed a break," she admitted, her eyes meeting Ivy's briefly before flicking away.
Ivy smirked, propping one ankle on her opposite knee. "See? I knew dragging you out of there was the right call."
Caitlyn smiled faintly. "You always seem to know what people need."
Ivy tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eye. "What can I say? It's a gift." She leaned forward slightly, her tone shifting to something softer. "But really, you looked like you could use some quiet. It's been a lot the past few days."
Caitlyn nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "It has been... overwhelming," she admitted. Her gaze lifted to Ivy again, something unspoken in her eyes. "But I think I'm starting to understand why Vi and everyone seems to trust you so fast."
Ivy blinked, momentarily taken aback. She recovered quickly, leaning back in her chair with a small shrug. "What can I say? I grow on people."
Caitlyn chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You do."
For a moment, the room fell into a comfortable silence, the muffled sounds of the party faintly audible in the distance. Ivy watched Caitlyn from the corner of her eye, noting how the firelight from the nearby lantern softened the sharp angles of her face.
"You hungry?" Ivy asked suddenly, breaking the quiet. "I thought I saw a slice of bread in the kitchen earlier."
Caitlyn glanced over, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I could eat."
Ivy grinned, pushing herself up from the chair. "Alright, Princess. Let's see if we can't scrounge up a midnight feast."
She walked over to the small table where a half-loaf of bread and a few scraps from earlier rested. She grabbed a slice, inspecting it for a moment before shrugging and tearing it in two. With a casual toss, she handed one half to Caitlyn, who caught it with both hands. Ivy dropped into the chair across from her, leaning back as she bit into her own piece.
"Not exactly a banquet," Ivy said through a mouthful of bread, "but it's something."
Caitlyn chuckled softly, taking a more measured bite. "Better than nothing," she agreed, her tone light but genuine.
For a moment, the two ate in companionable silence. Ivy leaned an elbow on the armrest, watching Caitlyn as she chewed thoughtfully. The firelight flickered, casting shifting shadows across Caitlyn's face.
"You've really never been to a party like that before, huh?" Ivy asked, breaking the quiet.
Caitlyn shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Not one like that," she admitted. "Most gatherings I've been to are... different. Formal. Quiet. Everyone watching their words."
Ivy raised a brow, smirking. "Sounds like a blast."
"It wasn't," Caitlyn said dryly, her smile widening.
Ivy laughed softly, breaking off another piece of her bread. "Well, tonight was definitely not quiet. Honestly, I didn't think you'd come out there and dance."
Caitlyn looked down at her bread, a hint of color rising in her cheeks. "You didn't give me much of a choice," she said, a teasing edge to her voice. "You were quite persistent."
"What can I say?" Ivy grinned. "I'm persuasive."
Caitlyn shook her head, chuckling softly as she leaned back in her seat. "It was... nice," she said after a pause, her voice quieter now.
Ivy's grin softened into a small smile. "Yeah, it was," she agreed, her tone carrying an uncharacteristic warmth. "How was your life in Piltover?" She asked.
Caitlyn paused, caught off guard by Ivy's question. She leaned back in her chair, staring at her hands for a moment as if searching for the right words. "Comfortable," she said finally, though her tone carried a hint of uncertainty.
Ivy raised a brow, waiting for her to elaborate.
"I had everything I needed," Caitlyn continued. "Big house, loving parents, good education. Piltover prides itself on its prosperity, and my family... well, we were part of that image. My mother is on the council, and my father built his success from being an artificer." She offered a small, polite smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Sounds perfect," Ivy said, though her voice was tinged with sarcasm. "Bet you had parties, fancy clothes, everything you could ever want."
"On the surface, yes," Caitlyn admitted. "But Piltover's perfection is a facade. Everything is polished to hide the cracks. My parents' status brought privilege, but it also came with expectations—always acting a certain way, saying the right things, avoiding controversy. It could feel... suffocating."
Ivy studied her, leaning forward slightly. "So, becoming an enforcer... that was your rebellion? Your chance of freedom?"
Caitlyn laughed lightly, a touch of self-deprecation in the sound. "I suppose you could call it that. I wanted to do something meaningful, something real. But I also wanted to see the world beyond Piltover's golden towers. To understand people, not just... control them."
Ivy's gaze softened, a flicker of understanding passing through her. "And how's that working out for you so far?"
Caitlyn met Ivy's eyes, her expression turning thoughtful. "It's been... challenging. Eye-opening. Sometimes heartbreaking. But I think I'm starting to see the real world for the first time."
Ivy leaned back, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Guess you're not as stuck-up and evil as I thought."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth lifted. "Well, I'm glad to have impressed you."
Ivy chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't get too comfortable, Princess."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Caitlyn shot back, her tone light but sincere.
The room fell into a quiet stillness again as Ivy and Caitlyn locked eyes. Neither said anything, but the silence wasn't awkward—it was charged, as if words weren't needed to convey the thoughts passing between them.
Caitlyn's gaze softened, a flicker of vulnerability shining through her usual composed demeanor. Ivy, for her part, didn't look away, her expression unreadable but her sharp edges seemingly dulled in that moment.
Time seemed to stretch, the noise of the party outside fading into the background. Ivy broke the silence first, her lips curving into a faint, lopsided smile. "What?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
Caitlyn shook her head, a small, almost shy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Nothing," she said, though the slight blush on her cheeks suggested otherwise.
Ivy raised a brow, leaning forward slightly. "Doesn't seem like nothing."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but didn't lose the smile. "Maybe I'm just trying to figure you out, now."
Ivy chuckled under her breath. "Good luck with that."
Caitlyn tilted her head, a playful challenge in her eyes. "I think I'm starting to find the real you."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. Ivy held her gaze for a moment longer before leaning back in her chair with a smirk. "Careful, you might not like what you find."
Caitlyn shook her head then tilted it slightly, still smiling. "Maybe I will."
Ivy felt her cheeks flush hot, and the unfamiliar sensation made her panic. She quickly pushed her chair back and stood up, the legs scraping against the floor. "I'm, uh... gonna get out of this dress," she mumbled, avoiding Caitlyn's gaze. She walked briskly to the small pile of clothes she'd left earlier, grabbing her tank top and worn pants from before.
Caitlyn blinked, a bit startled by Ivy's abrupt exit. "Oh... alright," she said softly, her tone carrying a hint of confusion but no judgment.
Ivy didn't respond, her back turned as she busied herself with the clothes. Her hands fumbled slightly, and she cursed under her breath, trying to focus on anything other than the way Caitlyn's words and look had made her feel.
"Take your time," Caitlyn added gently, sensing Ivy's sudden discomfort. She leaned back in her chair, watching Ivy's stiff movements but deciding not to push.
Ivy glanced over her shoulder for a split second, noticing Caitlyn's calm, patient expression. The blush on her face deepened, and she quickly turned back to her task, muttering under her breath, "Get a grip, Ivy."
She changed swiftly, letting the familiar feel of her old clothes bring her back to a more grounded state. Once she was done, she took a deep breath, rolling her shoulders before walking back to Caitlyn.
"Alright," Ivy said, her usual smirk returning as she gestured at her tank top. "Back to looking like myself."
Caitlyn smiled softly, her eyes flicking over Ivy's outfit before meeting her gaze. "You look good either way," she said matter-of-factly, her voice even.
Ivy paused, the blush threatening to creep back. She grinned instead, forcing herself to play it cool. "Careful, Princess. Compliments might go to my head."
Caitlyn chuckled lightly, shaking her head. "Wouldn't want that."
The atmosphere settled, but the moment still lingered in Ivy's mind as she walked back to her seat. Ivy settled into the hammock, the fabric swaying gently as she shifted to get comfortable. She rested her head on her arm, glancing over at Caitlyn, who was still seated in the chair, absently tracing the rim of the cup in her hand.
"Hey," Ivy said, her voice breaking the quiet. "When do you think Vi's getting back?"
Caitlyn looked up, her brows knitting slightly as she considered the question. "Hard to say," she replied. "She didn't exactly tell us how long she'd be gone."
Ivy huffed a short laugh, rolling onto her side to face Caitlyn more directly. "Classic Vi. Always off doing her own thing."
Caitlyn smiled faintly, but her gaze lingered on the doorway, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "She'll be fine. She always finds her way back," Caitlyn said, more to herself than to Ivy.
"Yeah, no doubt about that," Ivy replied, stretching her legs out in the hammock. "Probably off charming that girl she was talking to at the party."
Caitlyn let out a soft laugh at that, shaking her head. "That would explain why she hasn't come back yet."
Ivy smirked. "If anyone can pull that off, it's Vi." She tilted her head, watching Caitlyn. "What about you, Princess? Did anyone catch your eye at the party?"
Caitlyn shot her a look, raising an eyebrow. "I wasn't exactly in the mood for that kind of company."
Ivy chuckled, her voice teasing. "What, Darin wasn't your type?"
Caitlyn groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Don't remind me."
Ivy shifted in the hammock, the fabric swaying slightly with her movement as she rolled onto her side. Her head rested on her hand, and her dark eyes settled on Caitlyn, who was still seated in the chair.
"You're going to sit there all night?" Ivy asked softly, her voice cutting through the quiet of the room.
Caitlyn glanced up from where she'd been staring at her hands, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "It's comfortable enough," she replied, though her posture betrayed her, stiff and slightly tense.
Ivy smirked, propping her head up higher. "You know, you can relax. Nobody's gonna bite—unless that guy Darin shows up again," she added with a teasing glint in her eye.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, though a quiet laugh escaped her. "I think I've had enough of him for one lifetime."
"Good," Ivy said, her tone light but her gaze lingering. She watched Caitlyn's expression soften as the tension of the day seemed to ease from her shoulders. "You've still got something on your mind, huh?"
Caitlyn's lips parted as if to deny it, but she stopped herself, giving a small shrug instead. "Something like that."
Ivy tilted her head, studying her. "Wanna talk about it?"
Caitlyn hesitated, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her now-empty cup. "Not really," she said, then glanced back at Ivy with an almost apologetic look. "Not yet, anyway."
"Fair enough," Ivy said, settling her cheek against the fabric of the hammock. "But just so you know, I'm a great listener. It's one of my many talents—besides sewing killer dresses, obviously."
That earned her a genuine laugh from Caitlyn, one that made Ivy's smirk turn into something softer.
"Thanks, Ivy," Caitlyn said, her voice quiet but warm.
"Anytime, Caitlyn," Ivy replied, her usual nicknames for Caitlyn now replaced with something less playful and more sincere.
Caitlyn smiled, a small, genuine curve of her lips that softened her usual sharp features. She let out a quiet sigh and stood, moving toward the corner where her belongings were piled. Reaching down, she grabbed the neat stack of her clothes from earlier.
"I think I'm going to go change," she said, her voice light but a little distant, as if trying to shake off the weight of the evening.
Ivy nodded from the hammock, watching her with an unreadable expression. "Okay."
Caitlyn hesitated for a brief moment before heading to the far side of the room, where the shadows offered some privacy. As she moved, Ivy shifted in the hammock again, the soft creak of the ropes filling the quiet space. She rested her head back on her arm, staring up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
The faint rustle of fabric and the occasional shuffle of Caitlyn's movements were the only sounds as the evening's events seemed to settle between them, unspoken but understood. Ivy's eyes drifted shut, her mind swirled with memories of that night.