🎶: Sympathy is a knife - Charli XCX, Ariana Grande

The night outside Vander's was sharp and cold, the faint bassline of music pulsing through the heavy walls of the bar like a distant heartbeat. The crowd inside roared with laughter and conversation, but out here, the night felt quiet, almost hollow. Riven stood near the edge of the cobblestone path, her back resting lazily against the wall. Hands tucked into her jacket pockets, her posture was the picture of composure, her pale green eyes scanning the street with the kind of detachment that made it clear she didn't care about much—or at least didn't show it.

Vi spotted her immediately. Even in the dim light, Riven's sharp silhouette stood out. Her steps were deliberate, each one heavier than the last as she crossed the distance. Her sharp blue eyes burned with something raw, and though her face was set, her jaw clenched tighter with every step. Riven noticed her long before Vi arrived, her lips twitching into a faint smirk. She didn't move, didn't shift, as though Vi's seething presence wasn't worth adjusting for.

"Riven," Vi said curtly as she stopped just short of invading the other woman's space. Her voice was clipped, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What's your deal with Caitlyn?"

Riven's smirk widened, though it didn't reach her eyes. She leaned off the wall, her posture still infuriatingly relaxed. "My… deal?" she repeated, her voice smooth, almost teasing. "That's awfully vague for someone who looks like they've got something important to say."

"Don't play games with me," Vi snapped, her irritation sharpening every syllable. "I'm not here to play around."

Riven tilted her head slightly, her pale green eyes glinting under the soft streetlights. "Really?" she said, her tone carrying the faintest trace of mockery. "Because it seems like you are. Storming out here, demanding answers, like you've got some claim to Caitlyn's time. Interesting tactic."

Vi folded her arms tightly across her chest, leaning forward slightly. "Let me make this clear: whatever it is you're doing with Caitlyn? It stops now."

Riven raised a single eyebrow, her smirk unwavering. "Now…," she echoed, the word rolling off her tongue slowly. "Bold of you to think you can give orders, Vi. Especially when you haven't exactly stepped up yourself."

Vi's jaw flexed. "I know what you're doing. Acting all close to her. Like you belong in her life. You don't."

For the briefest moment, something flickered in Riven's pale green eyes—a shadow of something darker—but it was gone in an instant. She let out a soft, almost amused chuckle. "You think I don't belong?" she asked, her tone cool, calculated. "Fascinating coming from someone who's spent the whole night brooding from a distance. Tell me, what exactly are you doing to belong in Caitlyn's life?"

Vi's fingers curled into fists at her sides. "I don't need to explain myself to you."

"Oh, but you do," Riven shot back smoothly, stepping forward just slightly, enough to force Vi to notice the lack of space between them. Her smirk shifted into something sharper, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Because if you're not going to tell her, someone else will. Someone who's not too scared to say it out loud."

"Scared?" Vi growled, her voice low and tense. "I'm not scared of you."

Riven let out a quiet, mirthless laugh. "I didn't say you were scared of me. You're scared of her. Scared of what it means to care about her. Scared of what happens if you actually let her in."

Vi opened her mouth to respond, but Riven didn't give her the chance. "So, tell me, Vi," Riven continued, her voice soft and cutting, "what is it about you that Caitlyn sees? The emotional distance? The half-fucks given? Or maybe it's the way you act like she's your entire world but never do anything to prove it."

Vi's sharp blue eyes burned, her fists clenching tighter. "You don't know anything about me."

"No," Riven admitted, her smirk returning, colder this time. "But I've seen enough. Enough to know that whatever you feel for Caitlyn, you're too much of a coward to own it."

"That's rich, coming from someone like you," Vi snapped, her voice biting. "You think I don't know about you? You're a fucking Noxian. Always looking for a way in, always playing some angle."

The smirk vanished from Riven's face, her pale green eyes hardening. For a moment, her jaw tightened, her composure cracking just slightly. But she recovered quickly, leaning closer to Vi, her voice dropping into an icy calm. "Noxian, huh? That's your big play?" Her tone was sharp enough to cut glass. "Go on, then. Say what you really want to say."

Vi smirked, leaning forward. "Just saying Caitlyn's judgment might not be so great if she's spending her time with someone like you."

Riven's expression darkened, the air between them thickening with tension. But just as quickly as the crack appeared, it vanished. She straightened, her smirk returning with a sharper, more dangerous edge. "And what does it say about her judgment if she's wasting time on you?"

The words hit like a slap, and Vi's jaw tightened as she glared at her. "I'm not wasting her time."

"Aren't you?" Riven asked softly, her voice colder now, her eyes narrowing. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like all you're doing is pushing her away. And maybe—just maybe—that's why she's letting someone like me in."

Vi flinched, her sharp blue eyes narrowing into slits. "You don't get to decide that."

"Neither do you," Riven countered, her tone turning serious, her smirk softening into something quieter. "But here's the thing, Vi. Caitlyn deserves someone who's willing to fight for her. Someone who's not afraid of what it means to stand beside her, to challenge her, to be worthy of her. And you?" She paused, letting the words linger in the frigid night air. "You're too busy running away to figure out how to be that person."

The silence between them was suffocating, the tension electric. Riven's gaze didn't waver, her composure an unyielding wall of calm as Vi struggled for something to say.

"You should think about that," Riven said finally, her voice soft but deliberate. "Because Caitlyn's worth more than excuses and half-measures. But if you can't see that, don't worry. Someone else will."

Without waiting for a response, Riven turned and walked away, her steps as calm and confident as her voice had been. She didn't look back. She didn't need to. Vi stood frozen, the weight of Riven's words pressing against her like a storm she couldn't outrun. And for the first time in a long time, she didn't know what to do.

-ŕ­¨ ŕ­§-

🎶: Timebomb - Kylie Minogue

The bassline thrummed in the background, the table now quieter without Garen's boisterous laughter or Loris's cheeky commentary. Lux sat across from Caitlyn, her blonde hair catching the neon glow of the room as she swirled her drink lazily. Samantha, sitting next to Caitlyn, was scrolling through her phone, occasionally glancing up to chime in. It was rare for the group to have a moment of quiet, but with Loris and Garen off doing who-knows-what, Lux saw her opportunity.

She took a slow sip of her drink, her gaze flicking toward Caitlyn with a calculated smile. "So," Lux began, her tone light, almost casual, but with a subtle edge that made Caitlyn glance up from her drink. "Riven, huh?"

Caitlyn's sharp blue eyes narrowed slightly, her expression remaining composed. "What about her?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying just enough caution to betray her awareness of where this might be headed.

"Oh, nothing," Lux said innocently, setting her glass down with an exaggerated shrug. "She just seems… interesting." She drew out the last word, her smile widening. "You've been spending a lot of time with her, haven't you?"

Samantha glanced up at that, her brows knitting together as she turned to Caitlyn. "Wait, spending time? You and Riven?" There was no malice in her tone—just genuine curiosity.

Caitlyn sighed softly, resting her drink on the table. "We've gotten to know each other," she said simply, her gaze steady as she looked at Samantha, ignoring Lux's pointed smile. "She's not as complicated as everyone seems to think."

"Not complicated?" Lux chimed in, her voice taking on a honeyed, slightly incredulous tone. "Oh, Cait, come on. She's practically a mystery box wrapped in leather and sarcasm. People like her don't just pop into places like Piltover without some kind of story. You can't tell me that doesn't worry you, even a little."

Caitlyn's sharp blue eyes flicked toward Lux, narrowing slightly. "Riven's past isn't any of your business," she said evenly. "And if you're worried about my safety, you don't need to be. I can handle myself."

Lux raised her hands in mock surrender, her smile unwavering. "Of course, you can. No one's questioning that." She paused, taking another sip of her drink, her gaze flicking briefly to Samantha before landing back on Caitlyn. "It's just… interesting timing, don't you think? You've got Vi sitting here all night, brooding like a thundercloud, and then Riven waltzes in, cool as you please. It's like they're opposites—one pulling you in, the other pushing you away."

Samantha frowned, her expression shifting into mild annoyance. "Lux, seriously?"

"What?" Lux said, feigning innocence as she leaned back in her chair. "I'm just saying what everyone's thinking. Aren't you curious, Sam? Cait's practically the center of this little… triangle."

Caitlyn's lips pressed into a thin line, her sharp blue eyes fixed on Lux. "There is no triangle," she said firmly, her tone cold enough to cut. "Whatever you think you're seeing is in your head."

Lux tilted her head, her smile never wavering. "If you say so, Cait. But from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've got two very different people vying for your attention. And honestly? I can't blame them."

Caitlyn's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond, her fingers wrapping a little tighter around her glass.

Samantha finally set her phone down, her tone carrying a note of exasperation. "Lux, drop it. You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be."

Lux shrugged, her expression unbothered. "Fine, fine. I'll stop." But the glint in her eye as she lifted her glass for another sip said otherwise. "I just hope you're ready for what happens when the storm finally breaks."

The tension at the table hung thick in the air, Lux's words lingering long after the conversation had shifted. Caitlyn didn't say another word, but her sharp blue eyes flicked briefly toward the entrance, where she knew Riven and Vi were still outside. And Lux? She sat back, sipping her drink with a sly smile, satisfied with the subtle fracture she'd just placed between them.

Samantha, however, leaned back in her chair, her lips tightening as she watched Lux with a mixture of annoyance and patience that was clearly running thin. Lux, unbothered, took another sip of her drink before leaning forward again, her radiant smile sharper now. "I mean, don't get me wrong," she said lightly, her tone feigning innocence. "It's not a bad thing. People like Riven and Vi—they draw attention. It's just funny how someone like Riven shows up and suddenly Vi's all... tense. Wonder why that is?"

Caitlyn's expression hardened, but before she could respond, Samantha spoke up, her voice cutting cleanly through the tension. "Oh, we all know why you're wondering, Lux," she said, her tone dry but with a pointed edge. She set her drink down and turned fully to Lux, her gaze steady. "It's not like you've been subtle."

Lux blinked, her smile faltering for just a second before she recovered. "I'm sorry?" she said, tilting her head as if genuinely confused.

Samantha didn't miss a beat. "You've been trying to get Vi's attention for weeks—no, months," she said bluntly, her voice calm but sharp enough to cut. "You sit closer to her than you need to, you 'accidentally' brush against her arm, and you've been all over her at these get-togethers. We've all seen it."

Lux's smile thinned, but she held her ground. "I don't see how that's anyone's business," she replied smoothly. "Vi and I get along. If she had an issue, she'd say something."

Samantha raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Vi doesn't have an issue because she doesn't care," she shot back. "She's not interested, Lux, and we all know it. But that doesn't stop you from pushing, does it?"

Caitlyn watched the exchange in silence, her sharp blue eyes flicking between them. She wasn't sure whether to step in or let Samantha handle it, but there was no denying the tension tightening the air around their table.

Lux leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "And what about Caitlyn?" she asked, her tone growing more pointed. "Why is it okay for her to be around Vi constantly, but not me?"

Samantha let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Don't twist this, Lux. Caitlyn isn't clinging to Vi or throwing herself at her every chance she gets."

Lux's eyes flashed with something that could have been irritation or defiance. "Well, maybe Caitlyn should," she said, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Because from where I'm sitting, Vi doesn't seem to notice much of anything unless you shove it in her face."

Caitlyn's grip on her glass tightened at that, but Samantha wasn't done.

"Do you even hear yourself?" Samantha asked, her voice rising just slightly. "Vi's not some prize you can 'win' by being persistent enough. If she's not into you, then that's it. Move on."

Lux's smile dropped entirely now, and her gaze turned colder. "Thanks for the advice," she said tersely, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But I think I can figure things out for myself."

Samantha exhaled sharply, clearly exasperated. "Sure, Lux. Keep telling yourself that," she said, her voice quieter now but no less pointed. "Just don't drag Caitlyn into whatever game you're trying to play."

The silence that followed was thick and uncomfortable. Lux's jaw tightened as she drained the rest of her drink in one go, setting the empty glass down with a little more force than necessary. Caitlyn, still quiet, felt the tension in her chest grow heavier, but she didn't look away. If anything, she felt a strange sense of relief that someone had finally said it out loud.

Lux didn't say anything else, her jaw tight and her expression unreadable as she looked away, scanning the room as if the conversation hadn't even happened.

Caitlyn took a slow sip of her drink, her sharp blue eyes flicking between Samantha and Lux before dropping to the table. The tension lingered, prickling at the edges of her mind, but it was quickly overshadowed by something else—something she couldn't quite shake. Where are they?

Her gaze shifted, her body turning slightly as she scanned the crowd beyond their table. Caitlyn's eyes roved steadily over the faces, her heart skipping just slightly with every unfamiliar figure she passed. She didn't know why she was looking. Or maybe she did, and she just didn't want to admit it. First Riven. Then Vi.

"Looking for someone?" Samantha's voice broke through her thoughts, soft but knowing.

Caitlyn blinked, her attention snapping back to the table. "Just—no," she said quickly, her voice calm but betraying the faintest hint of unease. She forced a small smile and gestured toward the dance floor with her glass.

Samantha didn't press, though her brow arched slightly as she exchanged a glance with Caitlyn. "Well, if you're trying to spot them," she said lightly, her tone dipping into something wry, "you won't have to look too hard. They're both impossible to miss."

Caitlyn didn't respond, but her eyes flicked back toward the crowd instinctively. Somewhere in the mix of neon lights and shadows, they were out there. Riven, most likely unbothered, standing with her trademark cool that made her impossible to read. And Vi… Caitlyn didn't even know what to picture. Maybe leaning against the bar, brooding like she always did when something was bothering her. Or maybe she was already looking for her, too. The thought sent an unfamiliar thrill through Caitlyn's chest, one she quickly buried with another sip of her drink.

She let out a slow breath, placing her drink down on the table with a deliberate motion. "I'll be back," Caitlyn said smoothly, her voice steady as she rose from her seat. She straightened her tailored skirt and adjusted the strap of her clutch, ignoring the way Samantha's eyes followed her, knowing and amused.

Lux, too, glanced up, her expression unreadable, though the faintest flicker of something bitter crossed her face before she quickly masked it with a too-sweet smile. "Don't get lost out there," she quipped lightly, though her tone carried an edge.

Caitlyn didn't respond. She didn't need to.

Her sharp blue eyes scanned the room methodically, sweeping over the faces and corners, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. No sign of them. Riven would've stood out anywhere. And Vi… Caitlyn had always been able to find her, even in the largest crowds. But now, the absence of both of them felt more unsettling than she wanted to admit.

The cool air hit her as soon as she stepped outside. She exhaled softly, her breath visible in the night air as she glanced around. The cobblestone path was quieter now, the music from inside Vander's muffled to a low hum. A few clusters of people lingered near the entrance, laughing and talking. But Riven and Vi were nowhere in sight.

Caitlyn's heels clicked softly against the stones as she moved further from the entrance, her gaze flicking over the darkened edges of the street. She spotted a couple leaning against the wall, a group sharing cigarettes near the corner—but still no sign of them. Her frustration grew, her fingers tightening around the strap of her clutch as her thoughts spiraled. Why would I care this much? Why did it matter where they were, or what they were doing?

The thought struck her with a clarity that only made her chest tighten. It mattered because they mattered. Because they pulled at something in her she couldn't ignore, no matter how much she tried.

And then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw them.

Riven and Vi stood at the edge of the street, their silhouettes illuminated faintly by the streetlights. They weren't standing together, not exactly, but the air between them was charged, crackling like a live wire. Caitlyn stopped in her tracks, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.

Vi's stance was tense, her arms crossed as she leaned slightly forward, her sharp blue eyes locked onto Riven with an intensity Caitlyn recognized all too well. Riven, on the other hand, was the picture of calm. She stood with her hands in her jacket pockets, her pale green eyes steady and unbothered as she regarded Vi, her expression unreadable but sharp. Whatever was happening, it wasn't casual. It wasn't light.

Caitlyn took a slow step forward, the cold air biting at her skin as she moved closer. The sound barely registered against the tension that hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. They hadn't noticed her yet. And as Caitlyn drew closer, the weight of the moment hit her fully. Whatever they were saying, whatever they weren't saying—it was bigger than just words. And Caitlyn wasn't sure what she was walking into.

-ŕ­¨ ŕ­§-

🎶: In the End - 2WEI

Riven's voice was the first to break the quiet.

The cool edge that had sharpened her words moments before softened slightly as she caught sight of Caitlyn approaching. "Caitlyn?" she said, her pale green eyes widening ever so slightly in genuine surprise. Vi's head snapped around at the sound of Caitlyn's name, her sharp blue eyes locking onto her instantly. For a moment, whatever storm had been raging between Vi and Riven seemed to dissipate, the weight of Caitlyn's presence shifting the air around them.

Caitlyn froze. Her sharp blue eyes flickered between the two women, her mind scrambling to catch up with what she was seeing. The tension she'd sensed earlier wasn't just palpable—it was suffocating, lingering in the charged space between them. Her gaze landed on Riven first, noting the faint surprise etched across her otherwise composed features. Then she looked at Vi, whose expression was unreadable but intense, her jaw set tight.

"I…" Caitlyn began, her voice catching slightly. She glanced between them again, her breath visible in the cold night air. The words she'd meant to say—an easy excuse, something light—vanished from her mind entirely. "I was looking for you both."

Riven stepped forward then, her movements smooth, deliberate, as if to anchor the moment before it unraveled. "We were just… clearing the air," she said, her voice measured but still carrying its usual calm authority. The faintest hint of a smirk tugged at her lips, though it lacked the sharpness from earlier. "Isn't that right, Vi?"

Vi turned her gaze back to Riven, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. There was something unspoken in the way they looked at each other—a challenge, a dare. But for once, Vi didn't bite. Instead, she exhaled sharply, her shoulders tightening as she glanced at Caitlyn. "It's nothing," she muttered, her voice low and clipped. "We were done anyway."

Riven tilted her head slightly, her pale green eyes still focused on Vi, but her smirk returned, sharper now, as if she knew exactly what she was doing. "Were we?"

"Riven," Caitlyn interrupted, her voice firm despite the faint color rising in her cheeks. She squared her shoulders, stepping closer to the two of them, her sharp blue eyes settling on Riven. "What is this about?"

For the first time that night, Riven hesitated. It wasn't much—just a flicker of something in her pale green eyes, a slight shift in her stance—but it was enough for Caitlyn to notice. Still, Riven recovered quickly, her composure sliding back into place like a well-fitted glove. "It's about making sure things are clear," Riven said simply, her voice calm, smooth. She turned her full attention to Caitlyn now, her expression softening just slightly. "I didn't mean for you to walk into the middle of it."

Caitlyn frowned, her gaze flicking back to Vi, who had shifted her weight awkwardly, her sharp blue eyes avoiding Caitlyn's. "Clear?" Caitlyn repeated, her tone questioning. "What exactly needed to be clarified?"

Riven's smirk softened into something quieter, almost thoughtful, as she stepped back slightly, giving Caitlyn just enough space. "Let's just say I wanted to make sure Vi understood where I stand," she said smoothly, her pale green eyes flicking briefly to Vi before returning to Caitlyn. "And where she does."

Vi's glare snapped back to Riven at that, her fists tightening briefly at her sides. "You don't speak for me," she said, her voice low, dangerous.

"I don't have to," Riven replied evenly, her calm demeanor unshaken. "You do that all on your own."

Caitlyn's gaze moved between them again, her sharp blue eyes narrowing slightly. "This isn't about me, is it?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with quiet determination. "This is about both of you."

Riven's lips curved into a faint smile, one that carried more weight than it let on. "Maybe," she admitted, her voice low, smooth. "But you're the one who ties it all together, Caitlyn. Whether you realize it or not."

Caitlyn's breath caught at the words, her heart skipping just slightly. There was something in Riven's tone that made her chest tighten. She turned her gaze to Vi again, searching her expression for something, anything, that might make sense of what was happening. But Vi didn't speak. She just looked at Caitlyn, her sharp blue eyes clouded with something Caitlyn couldn't place. The silence stretched, heavy and intense, until Caitlyn finally looked away.

"I think I've heard enough," Caitlyn said quietly, her voice steady but tinged with an edge of uncertainty. She took a step back, her sharp blue eyes glancing at both of them in turn. "Whatever this is, I hope you figure it out. But don't bring it to me like this again."

The words hung in the cold night air, cutting through the tension like a blade. Caitlyn turned on her heel, her boots clicking softly against the cobblestones as she walked back toward the bar. Riven watched her go, her pale green eyes lingering on Caitlyn's retreating figure. Then she glanced at Vi, her smirk returning, though it was quieter now, less cutting. "Well," she said softly, her tone carrying just enough sharpness to sting. "Guess that settles that."

Vi didn't respond. Her fists remained clenched at her sides, her sharp blue eyes locked on Caitlyn until she disappeared into the bar's warm glow. The weight of Riven's words—and Caitlyn's—settled over her like a storm she couldn't escape. And for the second time that night, she didn't know what to do.

ŕ­¨ END OF MINI CHAPTER ŕ­§