Vi took off her hood, shaking excess water from her hair as she stepped inside. The place was nice—nicer than anywhere she’d stayed before. It was a small house, but it was more grand than anything she’d ever lived in. Having just slain a notorious vampire from The Lanes, she found herself in the city of Piltover to slay another. She’d scanned the file, but she didn’t have much to go off of. In fact, Mel Medarda, who had commissioned her to slay the Vampire of Piltover, didn’t even know the creature’s identity.
She took out her bag and set it on the dining table. Carefully and methodically, she took out her weapons: silver-tipped stakes, vials of holy water, and a finely crafted set of iron knuckles lay meticulously arranged on the wooden table before her. Vi was never one for the likes of guns or arrows. She preferred close-quarter combat. And she couldn’t wait to punch a vampire in the face. The dim light of a single lamp flickered, casting long shadows across the room. Vi’s thoughts wandered as she sharpened a blade, recalling the stories she had heard about the vampire terrorizing Piltover by night.
“New to town?” a voice said. Its accent was incredibly posh, something Vi wasn’t quite used to hearing just yet.
Vi turned to see a certain figure standing in the corner of the living room. It was a woman, near her age. Her presence was both sudden and silent, as if she had materialized from the very shadows themselves. Tall and imposing, she stood with an air of calm arrogance, her eyes reflecting a deep, ancient hunger. Vi’s grip on the blade tightened as she stared at the woman before her.
She was tall. Significantly taller than Vi. Not that Vi hadn’t fought tall people before, but the slender figure before her made her feel uneasy. She had long, midnight blue hair and piercing cerulean eyes—something Vi had not seen before. The woman was wearing long sleeves, so Vi had to guess what kind of opponent this would be.
Vi’s eyes narrowed as she recognized the subtle and deliberate tone of the woman before her. She slowly sat down the knife, her gaze fixated directly on the stranger. “Is that your only question? Or are you just here to waste my time?” she replied coldly, crossing her arms across her chest as her eyes scrutinized.
The woman’s gaze remained fixed on Vi, her eyes unwavering, despite Vi’s hostility and suspicion. Despite the stranger’s casual attitude, Vi couldn’t shake off the uneasiness that washed over her. Her fingers reached for a silver cross necklace that hung around her neck, clinging to it for reassurance. “You don’t have to answer my question,” the woman said, brushing her dark hair back. “We can just go our separate ways, then.”
Vi’s gaze hardened, her eyes following the woman’s hands as they moved. The more she observed, the more wary she became. Something about this woman seemed off, and her instincts were on high alert, but she kept a cool exterior, unwilling to show any weakness or fear. She thought she ought to just start punching just in case, but for once, she held herself. “I know I don’t have to,” she retorted, her voice steely. “But it’s hard not to be suspicious when you’re standing in my living room unannounced. Especially when I have no idea who you are.”
“Oh, this is your living room?” the woman asked, confused.
Vi’s gray eyes widened slightly at the stranger’s seemingly innocent question. She couldn’t help but wonder if the woman was mocking her or simply feigning innocence. She placed her hands on her hips, her gaze unyielding as she spoke, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “Yes, it is,” she replied, her eyes never leaving yours. “And I’d like to know who let you in here, uninvited.”
“Oh, I must have forgotten I rented it out,” the woman murmured. “How embarrassing. My name is Caitlyn Kiramman. I own this property.”
Vi’s disbelief quickly turned to anger as she heard the bold claim. Her expression tightened, her eyes narrowing at the assertion. “You own this property?” she repeated, her tone dripping with skepticism. “That’s surely the claim, Caitlyn. You expect me to believe that you, a stranger, own this place?”
Caitlyn tilted her head, eyebrows furrowed. “Well, yes,” she said. “I’ve never had anyone… not believe me?”
Vi’s suspicion only grew more as Caitlyn confirmed her claim of ownership. She found it hard to believe that the place was, in fact, a property of Caitlyn’s. Her instincts flared, warning her to be cautious, but she remained composed, choosing her words carefully. “And why should I trust your word?” she challenged, her voice rough and unapologetic. “Do you have any proof that this place belongs to you?”
“Well, how else would I have gotten in? Why else would I have been sitting in here when you came in?” Caitlyn asked. “Such a hassle. Don’t you know the name of the person you rented from?”
Vi’s patience grew thin, and Caitlyn’s “proof” tested her limits. However, she couldn’t help but notice the subtlety of Caitlyn’s expression. She shook her head slightly, refusing to be swayed by the statement. “You mean you don’t have any real proof with you right now?” she asked, her tone laced with that same skepticism that had followed her this far. “How convenient. If this is really your place, you should have some sort of document to prove it.”
“Well, I don’t just go around carrying documentation for all my properties at all times, you know. That would be silly. I hadn’t expected someone to come in and demand proof,” Caitlyn responded, pulling out her cell phone with a purse of her lips. “I think I have an email from you from when we were discussing the details about the rental.”
Vi watched as Caitlyn pulled out her phone, surprise briefly flickering across her face. She hadn’t expected the woman to provide proof so quickly. She stepped closer, her eyes fixed on Caitlyn’s phone screen, scanning the email carefully. Her expression remained neutral, but she couldn’t deny being somewhat intrigued by Caitlyn’s unexpected proof. The email was, indeed, from her about the property. Vi’s eyes narrowed as she read through it. It was undeniable proof that the property belonged to Caitlyn, but even so, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. With a mixture of disbelief and caution, she exhaled a tense breath. “Alright, I’ll give you that,” she admitted grudgingly. “It appears you do own this place.”
“Simple mistake, I suppose,” Caitlyn replied. “I must have forgotten which ones I have rented out. Too many things to keep track of.”
Vi’s eyebrow arched at the response, a hint of irritation flickering in her eyes. “Forgetful landlord, then, aren’t you?” she commented sarcastically, crossing her arms across her chest. “How can someone possibly ‘forget’ which properties they have rented out?”
Caitlyn didn’t quite want to disclose that she practically owned half of Piltover. She wasn’t a particularly old vampire, but she did sort of have an advantage that she couldn’t deny. “I own so many,” she replied. “I suppose it wouldn’t kill me to be a little more organized.”
“A little more organized,” Vi echoed. She couldn’t tell if Caitlyn was being genuine or merely playing a role. She paused momentarily, studying Caitlyn’s movements to gauge her intentions. “And how many properties do you have, exactly?”
“Quite a few here in Piltover,” Caitlyn said lightly. “Twenty-seven here, and several all over Runeterra.”
Vi’s eyes widened slightly at the number. Twenty-seven was a significant amount of properties for one city. She masked her surprise quickly, studying Caitlyn’s expression. “Twenty-seven, huh?” she repeated, trying to keep her voice steady. “Must be quite the hassle to keep track of them all.”
“It is,” Caitlyn confirmed. “Perhaps I ought to hire someone to help me stay organized. I’ve got such a scatterbrain.” This was not true at all. In fact, Caitlyn was very organized and on top of her properties, but she’d heard of a notorious vampire hunter that had managed to slay Silco. When the same name also appeared on her contacts list, she had to meet the woman herself.
Vi chuckled dryly at the slightly self-deprecating remark from Caitlyn. Despite her doubts, she found herself somewhat amused by Caitlyn’s candidness. “A scatterbrain with so many properties…” she murmured, her voice less hostile than before. “Maybe you really should hire someone.”
“I just really hate job interviewing,” Caitlyn said next. “So many people apply, and so many people are grossly underqualified.”
“Ugh, job interviews are the worst,” Vi agreed, her voice laced with disdain. “It’s like finding a needle in a haystack—searching for the perfect candidate in a big ocean of bad applicants.”
“Even if I ask for someone with a degree, I receive several applicants fresh out of secondary school,” Caitlyn said, shaking her head. Her voice was now lighter, more carefree. “I truly do apologize for being here so late and mistaking this property for vacant. Please allow me to buy you dinner to make it up to you.”
Vi found herself a bit taken aback by Caitlyn’s sudden offer, her expression faltering slightly. “A dinner invitation?” she echoed, somewhat surprised. Her initial suspicion still lingered, but Caitlyn’s genuine offer had caught her off guard. Plus, the thought of a free meal was hard to refuse. She regarded Caitlyn for a moment, searching for ulterior motives. But the woman’s expression seemed sincere. “Well,” she answered finally, her voice much more relaxed now. “I can accept your invitation, as long as the place we go serves steak.”
“Steak?” Caitlyn echoed. “Yes, there’s a lovely steakhouse near Zaun.”
A flicker of excitement crossed Vi’s expression at the mention of a steakhouse. Steak was her weak spot, and the opportunity to try a supposedly great steakhouse piqued her interest even more. “Near Zaun, huh? Lead the way.”
Caitlyn gave a nod before sweeping out the door towards a very nice-looking car. She opened the passenger door, gesturing for Vi, who was observing with reluctant admiration. She tried not to show her appreciation of the high-end model, hiding behind a veneer of indifference. She paused at the sight of Caitlyn opening the door for her. As a traditionally masculine woman, she’d never received the other end of chivalry. This was unexpected, but she composed herself and slid into the passenger seat, feeling the cold leather upholstery against her bare arms. It felt expensive.
Caitlyn slid into the driver’s seat next, turning on the engine and backing out of the spot. “I don’t think I caught your name,” she said softly, attempting to make small talk.
Vi’s eyes were fixed outside the window as she watched the passing cityscape. She shifted her gaze to the midnight blue haired woman next to her. “Vi,” she answered, her voice steady as she shared her name.
“What a beautiful name,” Caitlyn expressed. “Violets are my favorite flower.”
A hint of surprise crept into Vi’s expression at the compliment. She’d never considered it to be particularly beautiful, and it wasn’t common for people to use that word to refer to her. Hearing Caitlyn say such a thing, though, gave her a small sense of satisfaction.
“What made you come to Piltover?” Caitlyn asked.
Vi’s eyes shifted away to look out the window again as she pondered the question. It’s not like she could tell Caitlyn she was a vampire hunter here to kill. If Caitlyn was the famous vampire, she’d no longer have the upper hand, and if Caitlyn was an innocent civilian, she’d be traumatized. No, it was better to keep things a secret. “Needed a chance of scenery, I guess,” she finally mumbled. “Somewhere to… forget and move on.”
Caitlyn paused. She knew why Vi was here, but it was clear that Vi wasn’t keen on revealing her reasoning. “You didn’t come here for work or anything?” Caitlyn prompted.
Vi shook her head slowly. It must just be a coincidence. “No, I… I had to leave my old life behind,” she stated, her voice low. “This city seemed like a good place to start anew, to distance myself from… everything.”
Caitlyn looked over, her smile warm yet somehow a little childish. “Well, I, for one, am so glad you came. It gave us the chance to meet.”
Vi’s gaze shifted, drawn by the warmth and somewhat shy smile. A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes at Caitlyn’s genuine expression. It softened the carefully built wall she’d surrounded herself with, if only for a moment. She returned the smile, small and tentative, but sincere. “Likewise,” she replied, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability in its softness.
“You are… incredibly attractive,” Caitlyn allowed as she pulled into the parking lot of the steakhouse. She cleared her throat and continued, “This place has lovely steaks. Of course, I am partial to my own cooking.”
Vi’s cheeks tinted with the faintest hint of blush at the unexpected compliment that left Caitlyn’s lips, as if it belonged there. As if she belonged there. She wasn’t used to receiving such open flattery, and the words caught her fully off guard. She quickly composed herself, remembering why she was in Piltover in the first place. Instead of looking at Caitlyn, she allowed her eyes to wander to the building before her, its bricks discolored but still standing strong. “Claiming you can cook a better steak is a bold statement,” Vi challenged, a small smirk on her lips.
“I’ll have to show you some time,” Caitlyn murmured before getting out of the car and walking around to the passenger side to open the door for Vi, who raised her eyebrow at the courtesy, once again surprised. She stayed silent as she stepped out of the vehicle, masking her surprise with a veneer of stoicism. She allowed herself a sidelong glance at Caitlyn, who stood tall beside her with an air of quiet authority.
“I’ll hold you to it,” Vi said simply.
“I do love a woman who holds me accountable,” Caitlyn replied, the corner of her lips quirking up just slightly. She then took a few steps to the door to the steakhouse, holding it open for Vi.
Vi couldn’t help but feel dizzy from all the surprises Caitlyn seemed to have up her sleeve. From the properties, to the chivalry, to the unexpected compliments, to that goddamn smile. It was a wrecking ball, easily smashing through Vi’s carefully crafted persona. As she stopped into the steakhouse, murmuring a soft “thank you” before continuing in, her mind spun briefly with questions about Caitlyn’s boldness.
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