Whiskey Neat and Unfinished Business

The bar was still alive with music and chatter, but Caitlyn’s attention was fixed on Vi and the woman she was talking to. Lauren. Even from across the room, Cait could see the easy way they interacted—the shared laughs, the familiarity in their body language. It wasn’t just casual; it was personal.

Caitlyn let out a slow breath, turning back toward Jayce, Mel, and Viktor, who were standing near the bar’s entrance. The group had settled into a quieter conversation, drinks in hand.

Jayce noticed Caitlyn approaching and tilted his head toward the back of the bar. “Who’s Vi chatting up over there?”

Before Caitlyn could even think of a response, Ekko joined them, grinning as he followed Jayce’s gaze. “Oh, her? She’s hot. Definitely Vi’s type,” Ekko said, taking a sip from his glass.

Caitlyn didn’t reply, her expression unreadable as she focused on the drink in her hand. Mel shot her a curious glance but didn’t press the matter, redirecting the conversation to something lighter.

Meanwhile, Vi and Lauren remained engrossed in their conversation, their easy laughter occasionally cutting through the noise of the bar.

As the night wound down, the group began to gather their things. Jayce clapped Viktor on the shoulder and gestured toward the exit. “Alright, time to call it a night. Let’s say our goodbyes.”

They made their way toward the bar where Vi was still talking to Lauren. Jayce raised a hand in farewell. “Later, Vi. Try not to break too many hearts.”

Vi smirked, her gaze shifting to the group. “No promises.” Her eyes briefly landed on Caitlyn, lingering for a moment before she turned back to Lauren.

It was Lauren who noticed Caitlyn, her eyes lighting up in recognition. “Caitlyn? I didn’t know you were back in Piltover!”

Caitlyn offered a polite smile. “Just recently. It’s good to see you again, Lauren.”

Lauren nodded warmly. “You too. Welcome back.”

“Thank you,” Caitlyn said evenly before glancing at the others. “We should get going. Goodnight.”

She turned and walked toward the exit, Mel falling into step beside her. Behind her, Vi watched as they left, her expression unreadable.

As they stepped out into the cool Piltover night, the sound of the bar fading behind them, Mel cast a sidelong glance at Caitlyn. “Everything alright?”

Caitlyn nodded, her tone steady. “Of course. Let’s go.”

Flashback

After Caitlyn’s 17th birthday, her encounters with Vi became fewer and farther between. The moments they did share were fleeting, with Vi always finding an excuse to leave quickly. Caitlyn couldn’t help but notice the growing distance, and when she asked Jinx about it one day, she got her answer.

“Vi’s been hanging out with some new people from Zaun,” Jinx had said casually, twirling a screwdriver in her hand. “They’re older, kinda edgy. Guess they’re more her speed.”

The comment had stuck with Caitlyn, a strange unease settling in her chest.

One afternoon, Caitlyn’s curiosity got the better of her when she spotted Vi leaning against a wall with a group of unfamiliar faces. She recognized the pink hair instantly, but the Vi she saw wasn’t quite the one she knew. Vi was laughing at something one of them said, a cigarette dangling loosely between her fingers.

Caitlyn hesitated, her steps slowing as she took in the scene. There were three others with Vi—two boys and a girl. The girl, Lauren, stood out immediately. She had striking features, even beneath her rebellious attire of torn jeans, a cropped tank top, and heavy boots. Her confidence was palpable, her smoky laugh cutting through the din of the street.

Vi seemed at ease with them in a way Caitlyn hadn’t seen before, like she belonged. It was disarming.

Caitlyn mustered her courage and approached. As she got closer, the pungent smell of smoke hit her, making her cough involuntarily.

Vi turned, her eyes widening slightly when she saw Caitlyn. She quickly stubbed out her cigarette, shifting uncomfortably. “Cait,” she said, her voice a mix of surprise and unease. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

Caitlyn offered a polite nod to the group. “Hello.”

Vi gestured vaguely toward the others. “Uh, these are my friends—Lauren, Mylo, Claggor. Guys, this is Caitlyn.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “A topsider, huh? Fancy.”

Mylo snickered. “Didn’t think you rolled with the rich kids, Vi.”

Claggor blew out a puff of smoke, eyeing Caitlyn curiously. “Guess you’re full of surprises.”

Caitlyn coughed again, her eyes watering slightly from the smoke. “It’s… nice to meet you,” she said, her tone strained but polite.

Vi shifted awkwardly, running a hand through her hair. “Alright, enough with the smoke show. I’m gonna head out.” She glanced at Caitlyn. “I’ll drop you off.”

Lauren gave a playful whistle. “Look at you, all chivalrous.”

Ignoring her friends’ teasing, Vi nodded toward Caitlyn. “C’mon.”

The walk to the Kiramman estate was quiet at first, the only sounds coming from the bustling streets around them. Caitlyn finally broke the silence. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

Vi shrugged, shoving her hands into her pockets. “Yeah, well. Now you do.”

Caitlyn frowned but didn’t press further. The sight of Vi with that cigarette had unsettled her in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

When they reached the estate’s gates, Caitlyn stopped, turning to face Vi. “Your new friends… they seem like bad news.”

Vi’s expression darkened instantly, her jaw tightening. “You don’t know them,” she snapped, her voice sharp.

“I didn’t mean—”

“You don’t get it, Cait,” Vi cut her off, her tone rising. “You’ve got everything handed to you on a silver platter. You’ve never had to scrape by, never had to—”

She stopped herself, exhaling sharply and running a hand over her face. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, almost tired. “You don’t understand. You couldn’t.”

Caitlyn’s chest tightened at the words, but she bit back her retort. “I just… I care about you, Vi. That’s all.”

Vi shook her head, her pink hair falling into her eyes. “I gotta go,” she muttered, taking a step back. “I’ll see you next time.”

“Vi, wait—when’s next time?” Caitlyn’s voice was soft, hesitant.

But Vi was already walking away, her boots crunching against the gravel. Whether she didn’t hear Caitlyn or pretended not to, Caitlyn couldn’t tell. She stood there, watching until Vi’s figure disappeared into the crowd, a sinking feeling settling in her chest.

The muffled bass from the bar’s speakers thumped against the quiet of the alleyway. Vi leaned back against the wall, one boot resting against the bricks as she stared out into the night. Lauren stood a few feet away, pulling a cigarette from a slim, silver case. She tapped it against the side before holding it out to Vi.

“Still smoke?” Lauren asked, her voice teasing, the cigarette dangling between her fingers.

Vi hesitated for half a second before taking it. “Every now and then,” she replied, her tone casual.

Lauren lit her own cigarette first before leaning in to light Vi’s. The glow briefly illuminated her sharp features before she leaned back, exhaling a plume of smoke into the air.

“Piltover’s golden girl is back,” Lauren said, her voice smooth and edged with curiosity.

Vi took a slow drag, the smoke curling lazily around her face. “Yeah. She is.”

Lauren tilted her head, studying Vi. “You talk to her?”

Vi shrugged, exhaling through her nose. “A bit.”

Lauren chuckled softly, her laugh low and familiar. “Bet that went well.”

Vi gave her a sidelong glance but didn’t say anything. Lauren leaned her shoulder against the wall, her cigarette held loosely between her fingers.

“You know,” Lauren started, a sly grin creeping onto her face, “this kinda reminds me of the first time we made out.”

Vi snorted, flicking ash off the end of her cigarette. “The hell does that have to do with anything?”

Lauren ignored her, her grin widening as she leaned closer. “Your room. Dim lights. Me, obviously looking irresistible. You were a mess—nervous as hell, trying to act all cool.”

Vi rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight the small smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re full of shit.”

“Am I?” Lauren shot back, raising an eyebrow. She took another drag, her tone turning mockingly thoughtful. “It was cute, though. You fumbling with your lighter, trying to play it smooth.”

Vi shook her head, laughing softly. “Yeah, well, we both know how that ended.”

Lauren grinned. “Not badly, if I recall.”

The teasing lilt in her voice lingered between them for a moment before fading. She tilted her head, her tone shifting slightly. “She was always different, though. Caitlyn.”

Vi’s gaze flickered toward Lauren briefly, but her expression stayed unreadable. “What’s your point?”

Lauren smirked, letting the silence stretch before shrugging lightly. “No point. Just an observation.”

Vi sighed, her voice quieter now. “You and me, though—we would have been a disaster if we stayed together.”

Lauren let out a short, genuine laugh, nodding. “Oh, no doubt. Way too much fire in one place.” She gestured between them. “But it was fun while it lasted, huh?”

Vi gave a small, crooked grin. “Yeah, it was.”

Lauren leaned closer, tapping her cigarette against the edge of the wall, letting the ash fall to the ground. “Still,” she began, her tone turning slightly mischievous, “can’t help but wonder what it’d look like if the golden girl and you ever got… serious.”

Vi huffed a laugh, shaking her head. “That’s not happening.”

“Oh, come on.” Lauren smirked, leaning back against the wall. “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it. You’re not exactly the subtle type, Vi.”

“Lauren…” Vi warned, though her tone lacked any real bite.

Lauren raised her hands in mock surrender, her grin widening. “Alright, alright. No need to get all grumpy. Just calling it like I see it.”

Vi shook her head, taking another drag and letting the smoke curl out slowly. “You always see too much.”

Lauren shrugged, unbothered. “It’s part of my charm.”

The air between them settled into a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the faint sounds of the bar and the occasional crackle of their cigarettes. The shared history between them hung in the air.

Lauren finally broke the quiet, her voice softer now. “You know, for what it’s worth, I think you’re better off now. No strings, no pressure. Just doing your thing.”

Vi looked at her, the corner of her mouth quirking up into a faint smile. “Yeah. Me too.”

They stood there for another moment, the night wrapping around them like a familiar old jacket. It was complicated, but in its own way, it was simple too. Neither needed to say more—what they shared was already written in the space between them.

Lauren tossed her cigarette to the ground, grinding it out with the toe of her boot. “I should head back in. Don’t wanna miss the action.”

Vi nodded, finishing her cigarette and flicking it away. “Yeah, me too.”

As they turned toward the bar’s back door, Lauren paused, giving Vi a playful nudge. “Don’t let golden girl mess with your head too much.”

Vi snorted, shaking her head as they walked back inside. “You’ve got no idea.”

Caitlyn parked her car in the driveway, the quiet hum of the engine fading into the stillness of the night. She leaned back against the seat for a moment, letting out a long sigh. It had been an exhausting day, from her surgery earlier to the awkwardness of the evening’s events. The faint glow of her phone on the passenger seat caught her attention. She grabbed it, quickly typing a message to Mel.

Caitlyn: Home safe. Thanks for the company tonight.

A reply came almost instantly.

Mel: Good. Now, please tell me you’re finally putting that scratch to bed. I’d hate to hear you lost an arm.

Caitlyn chuckled softly, shaking her head. She sent back a quick reply: “I’ll live, don’t worry. Sleep well.”

Stepping into her house, the space was quiet and dimly lit, a sharp contrast to the lively buzz of the bar just an hour ago. She kicked off her shoes, leaving them by the door, and headed straight for the bathroom. Her muscles ached, her mind heavy with the day’s events, and a long shower felt like the only thing that could take the edge off.

As the water poured over her, she caught sight of the faint scratch on her left forearm. Her fingertips brushed over it gently, and without meaning to, her thoughts drifted to Vi. She remembered the way Vi’s hands had moved with surprising care, her touch light but deliberate as she cleaned the wound. Caitlyn closed her eyes, exhaling sharply, and shook her head, willing herself to push the thoughts away.

After drying off, she slipped into a loose shirt and a pair of shorts, comfort trumping style. She padded barefoot to her bedroom, the soft glow of her bedside lamp spreading a warm light across the room. Climbing into bed, Caitlyn grabbed her phone out of habit.

The first thing she saw was a notification from Jayce’s social media account. He’d uploaded a group photo from earlier in the evening: Caitlyn, Jayce, Viktor, Mel, and Ekko, all smiling in various degrees of amusement. The caption read: “Piltover’s finest—reunited. Good vibes only. 🍻”

Her thumb hovered over the photo for a second before she noticed the list of people who’d liked it. A name caught her eye—Violet.

Caitlyn stared at the name longer than she intended, her chest tightening slightly. For a brief moment, she debated checking Vi’s account, curiosity threatening to override her better judgment. But she sighed, placed her phone on the bedside table, and leaned back into the pillows.

She turned off the lamp, letting the room fall into darkness. For a few moments, the only source of light came from her phone’s screen, illuminating faint shadows across the room before it dimmed to black.

Caitlyn shifted onto her side, pulling the blanket closer. She closed her eyes, determined to sleep, but her thoughts lingered longer than she wanted, caught between the present and the memories she’d been trying to bury. Eventually, the weight of exhaustion won out, and she drifted off, the house settling into the quiet stillness of the night.

Flashback

It had been two long months since Caitlyn last saw Vi—not since that day when she caught her smoking with her new friends. The memory lingered like a stubborn shadow, the sight of Vi surrounded by smoke, her easy laugh blending with the rough humor of people Caitlyn didn’t know and didn’t trust.

Caitlyn had tried everything to see her again. She’d snuck out of the Kiramman estate late at night, slipping past the watchful eyes of her parents and staff to head toward Zaun. But every time she reached the apartment Vi and Jinx shared, Vi was nowhere to be found.

“She’s with her friends,” Jinx had said the last time Caitlyn showed up unannounced, sprawled out on the couch with a comic book in hand. “Doing God knows what. You know how she is.”

Caitlyn did know, and that was the problem. The distance between them felt wider than ever, but Caitlyn couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than just Vi’s new friends. Something unspoken hung between them, a wall Caitlyn didn’t know how to climb.

But tonight, Caitlyn was determined. She snuck out again, making her way through Piltover’s upper streets and into Zaun’s twisting alleys. The journey was second nature by now, and when she finally reached Vi and Jinx’s apartment, she steeled herself before knocking on the door.

The sound of laughter reached her ears before the door even opened. When it did, Vi stood there, framed by the doorway, her pink hair slightly disheveled, the faint smell of smoke wafting out behind her. Inside, Caitlyn could see Lauren, Mylo, and Claggor lounging on the couch, a haze of smoke hanging over the room.

“Cait?” Vi’s voice held a mix of surprise and something else Caitlyn couldn’t quite place.

“Can I come in?” Caitlyn asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Vi glanced over her shoulder at her friends before stepping outside and pulling the door shut behind her. “Probably not a good idea,” she said, her tone casual but firm. “It’s a bit… smoky in there.”

Caitlyn frowned but nodded, her heart pounding. She hadn’t planned what she was going to say—not fully—but the words burned on the tip of her tongue, too heavy to hold back any longer.

Vi leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. The faint glow of a streetlamp cast soft shadows across her face, highlighting the sharp angles of her jaw and the tiredness in her eyes.

“You okay?” Vi asked, breaking the silence.

“I came here because… there’s something I need to tell you,” Caitlyn began, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. She felt like the air between them had thickened, her heart hammering so loudly she was sure Vi could hear it.

Vi raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. “Alright. What’s up?”

Caitlyn hesitated, her courage faltering for a moment before she forced the words out. “I… I like you, Vi. More than just as a friend.” Her voice was soft but steady, the admission hanging in the air like a fragile thread. “I’ve felt this way for a while, and I just… I needed you to know.”

Vi’s eyes widened slightly, her usual calm demeanor slipping for a fraction of a second. She opened her mouth, then closed it, as if searching for the right words.

“Cait,” she began, her voice low, almost hesitant, “I don’t feel that way.”

Caitlyn’s chest constricted, the words hitting her harder than she’d expected. But she forced herself to nod, her face carefully neutral. “I understand,” she said quietly, though her throat burned with unshed tears.

Vi shifted her weight, rubbing the back of her neck. “Lauren and I… we’re together,” she added, her tone flat but her gaze flicking away as if she couldn’t meet Caitlyn’s eyes.

Caitlyn’s stomach twisted painfully, but she managed a small, polite smile. “That’s… that’s great. I’m happy for you.”

“You shouldn’t keep sneaking out like this,” Vi said, her voice firm but not unkind. “It’s dangerous for you to be here. I’ll visit you next time, okay?”

Caitlyn’s smile tightened. “I can get home on my own,” she replied, her tone polite but clipped.

Vi frowned slightly, her brows drawing together. “You sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Caitlyn said, her voice unwavering.

“Alright,” Vi said after a beat, glancing back at the closed door. “Be careful, Cait.”

Caitlyn nodded but didn’t move. For a moment, neither of them said anything, the silence stretching uncomfortably between them.

Finally, Vi stepped back toward the door, her hand resting on the handle. “I’ll see you next time,” she said, her voice quieter now.

“Next time,” Caitlyn repeated under her breath, her voice barely audible.

But Vi didn’t seem to hear—or maybe she chose not to. She slipped back inside, the sound of her friends’ laughter and the faint smell of smoke spilling out as the door closed behind her.

Caitlyn stood there for a moment, her chest tight and her vision blurry. She turned and started walking away, her steps slow and measured as she forced herself not to look back.

As she reached the edge of the alley, a muffled voice drifted out from the apartment.

“She’s got it bad for you, huh?” Mylo’s voice was unmistakable, followed by a low chuckle.

“Shut up,” Vi replied, her tone sharp but quiet.

“She’s sweet,” Lauren chimed in, her voice carrying a teasing edge. “A little too polished for Zaun, but sweet. I can see why she’d fall for you.”

“She’s not my type,” Vi added, the words cutting through Caitlyn like a blade.

Caitlyn bit her lip hard, her fists clenched at her sides as she kept walking. She didn’t stop until she reached the upper streets of Piltover, the cool night air doing little to soothe the ache in her chest.

By the time she reached the Kiramman estate, silent tears streaked her cheeks. She slipped into her room unnoticed, collapsing onto her bed as the weight of everything finally broke her. Her pillow muffled her sobs, but nothing could dull the pain that tore through her.