Chapter Text
Ahri is used to being in the light.
She’s spent years under scorching spotlights and facing aggressive camera flashes, bright and vibrant with thousands of eyes watching. These days she finds more comfort in the soft glow of living room lamps, or currently, the sparkle of the city skyline beyond the window to her right.
To her left is a newer, more exciting sparkle. Three diamonds cradled by a golden band around her fourth finger catch the light from the chandeliers above her, and the dance of the reflections as she moves her hand around easily pulls a smile to her lips.
The only thing that can pull her attention away is the faint sound of laughter from the woman who gave her the ring — the woman she’s going to marry. Kai’Sa sits on the other side of the small restaurant table, and watches Ahri’s actions with a similar smile. “Everything alright?” She asks.
“Everything’s perfect,” Ahri says, stilling her hand to instead reach out for Kai’Sa’s. “I just never get tired of looking at it.”
Kai’Sa tenderly takes hold of Ahri’s hand, then leans forward to press a kiss to the knuckle just below the ring. “And I’ll never get tired of looking at you.”
Ahri takes her hand back and rests her warm cheek in it. “I love you too,” she says quietly.
She’s had the ring for just over a month, and the new energy of their relationship has remained nothing short of delightful. They’ve received well wishes from friends and fans across the world, surpassing all of their expectations. Somehow, Ahri wakes up happier every single day, with Kai’Sa beside her and a beautiful promise of a forever ahead of them.
Moments like this are just as worth it to savor, a quiet dinner date following a relaxing afternoon at home, just the two of them. Kai’Sa looks perfect as she always does, and Ahri is content to sit and wait as she finishes up the plate of tiramisu still in front of her.
Ahri busies herself by taking note of the exact shape of their empty glasses, the color and texture of the tablecloth, and how the entire table setting mingles with the color temperature of the overhead lights. High end and classy, but not cold. Perhaps more straight edges and sharp corners than her personal taste, but it makes for a very pleasant setting to spend an evening.
“It’s nice here,” she says, mostly to herself, but an opening for Kai’Sa to respond if she doesn’t have her mouth full.
Kai’Sa nods with a hum as she swallows her recent bite. “Definitely worth the wait.”
After Evelynn had recommended the place, getting a reservation had been a dedicated effort, but a few strings pulled here and there had finally landed them a table actually in the same year.
Kai’Sa’s face scrunches up in a quick smile when she catches Ahri’s eyes on her for a moment. “Maybe we’ll be married by the time we come back.”
Ahri looks off again, biting back a bigger smile. “I guess it depends how soon that is.”
“Well have you thought any more about when you want our wedding to be?”
The concrete usage of when erupts a flutter within Ahri’s chest. Her whole face grows warm now, and she exhales slowly as she begins to ponder the question. “Not seriously, no, not really. But definitely not winter, that I’m still sure of.”
“Just thought I would ask,” Kai’Sa says. “We have time to figure it out, right? No rush?”
“No rush,” Ahri says. The adoration in Kai’Sa’s eyes is easy to read, and the length of the table between them is too much space. “But I’d rather not wait too long.”
Kai’Sa giggles softly, another delightful sound that Ahri’s ears twitch to hear over the ambient chatter of the other restaurant-goers around them. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for anything.” Kai’Sa gathers the last spoonful of dessert on her plate, then offers it to Ahri, who takes it gleefully.
Ahri hums her approval as she gives a clean spoon back, then grins with a glint of mischief. “When did you know you wanted to marry me?”
Kai’Sa rolls her eyes, still smiling. “Again?”
“I like hearing it!”
“Okay, okay,” Kai’Sa laughs, but before she can continue, her focus is stolen by their waitress returning to gather Kai’Sa’s plate. Both Kai’Sa and Ahri quickly lean back in their chairs and bring their hands down to their laps.
“Anything else I can do for you two?”
Ahri and Kai’Sa silently exchange a slight shrug and shake of their heads. “I think we’re good,” Ahri says.
The waitress smiles. “Wonderful, I have your bill all ready for you then.” She places a tray with a card reader and paper receipt in the middle of the table, then looks back and forth between Ahri and Kai’Sa for a brief moment with a very particular, very familiar gaze. “And uhm, I hope it’s not too awkward now to say I’m a big fan of your music. I’d just never forgive myself if I didn’t say anything.”
Ahri sits up even straighter and even taller. “Oh, no worries at all! It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Likewise,” the waitress says. “We all kind of freaked out a little when your name came up on the reservation list. I was finally able to see you live on your last tour, it was so fun, and I love everything you do.”
“Ah, thank you very much for all the support,” Kai’Sa says simply. Her posture is notably tense, but she maintains a practiced eye contact.
“Of course! And a big congratulations on your engagement as well!” She quickly points to Ahri’s hand when it appears on top of the table at the mention.
Ahri brings her hand up closer, waving her finger so that the diamonds catch the light again.
“Oh, that’s gorgeous! I really wish you two a lifetime of love and happiness together.”
Ahri’s heart melts at the sentiment, one she never gets tired of hearing. “You’re so kind, thank you, truly. We’ll definitely be back here another night, I hope we see you again.” Kai’Sa quietly nods in agreement.
“Well until then, you two have a wonderful night!” The waitress walks off with a bow and a wave.
Ahri quickly looks around their table for a moment, Kai’Sa doing the same. She expects a few turned heads, hushed whispers, or even the click of a camera, but instead finds nothing. The other diners are simply continuing their meals and conversations, seemingly indifferent to the pop stars seated a few tables away. Ahri releases her breath, and turns back to re-enter her own private bubble.
Kai’Sa and Ahri both reach for the bill at the same time with lightning speed, but Ahri is ever so slightly faster. She sticks her tongue out at her fiancée, who immediately drops her mock scowl for another laugh. “It makes no real difference, you know,” Ahri says.
“I know, but I want to be the one spoiling you.”
“If you’re that bothered, you can spoil me plenty when we’re back home.” Ahri winks, and snickers at the faint blush that quickly paints Kai’Sa’s pretty face.
“Alright,” Kai’Sa concedes. “Leave a good tip, she was sweet.”
When all is accounted for, Kai’Sa rises from her seat first, and steps over to Ahri’s side of the table to extend her hand. Ahri takes it as she stands, and kisses the back of it before letting their joined hands fall to their sides. They wave farewell to the wait staff, and chuckle to themselves at the astonished expression on their waitress’ face as she reads the absurdly large tip she’s been left.
No security escort awaits them outside the door tonight, allowing an air of normalcy. Supervision has never made either of them feel particularly free; it usually ends up drawing more attention than without anyway. At larger events it becomes a necessity, but for just a night on the town, they’d rather feel like every other couple they see walking about.
As soon as they enter the elevator to bring them back down to street level, Ahri gently guides Kai’Sa to lean against the wall. The inconvenience of Kai’Sa’s choice of heeled boots is overcome by Ahri stretching to stand as tall as she can, allowing her to bring their lips together in a kiss. Kai’Sa’s free hand finds the back of Ahri’s head, holding her steady as she deepens the exchange.
They part as the doors do at the ground level, with faces flushed and smitten smiles of smudged lipstick. Ahri wraps herself around Kai’Sa’s arm as they step out and make their way to the city sidewalk, greeted by a refreshing spring breeze. “Do you remember where you parked?”
“Of course.” Kai’Sa points forward. “Just a few blocks down and then around the corner, it’s not far. You’re okay? Are your shoes hurting you? Are you cold?”
Ahri squeezes Kai’Sa’s arm tighter. “No no, I’m fine, I was just making sure.”
“I’d carry you if you asked.”
Ahri giggles. “I know you would, baby. I’m perfectly fine to walk around a bit before we go back home.”
“There are shops around that might still be open, we can take the scenic route, if you’d like?”
“Sure,” Ahri says, before nudging into Kai’Sa more. “Besides, you never answered my question.”
Kai’Sa laughs into the night air. “You still want to hear it for the thousandth time?”
Ahri beams. “And a thousand more.”
“Alright,” Kai’Sa says fondly. As they stop and wait at a crosswalk, Kai’Sa faces Ahri with her hands on her hips, purple eyes alluring and beautiful. “My darling love,” she begins, then places a soft kiss on Ahri's forehead. “It was a simple thing, really. You’d just finished your solo stage one night of the ALL OUT tour, and I was watching and waiting in the wings. You waved goodbye to the crowd, then turned around, and I saw the moment your eyes found me. And just— I still don’t know how to explain it. The stadium completely melted away. Time slowed down and all I saw was you, running towards me with a huge smile on your face. I just knew. I knew I wanted you to look at me like that forever, and I wanted to always be there for you to find.”
“I don’t know who taught you to be such a romantic with words,” Ahri says, blushing madly and hoping her knees don’t give out. “But I adore you.” She grabs fistfuls of Kai’Sa’s collar and pulls her down for yet another kiss, feeling Kai’Sa’s smile against her lips and pouring all of her devotion into it. “Let’s have a spring wedding.”
Kai’Sa’s eyebrows fly upward. “As in this spring?”
“Oh goodness, no. We’ll leave the impulsive things to Akali and Eve.”
Kai’Sa laughs out a sigh of relief. “Okay, so around a year from now. Are you sure you’re alright with that?”
The crosswalk signal changes, and the couple steps forward, once again hand-in-hand. “It’s the soonest I can think of without driving ourselves insane with planning everything. Plus, our friends tend to have fairly busy schedules, and I’d like for them to save the date and actually come.”
“That’s true.” Kai’Sa squeezes Ahri’s hand tighter for a moment. “Then that sounds perfect to me.”
---
Kai’Sa turns over in bed, only half-asleep and hoping to fall back into it with the aid of being closer to Ahri. She doesn’t open her eyes, simply able to feel that she’s facing Ahri’s back, and lays an arm over her waist. Ahri is always so warm, and Kai’Sa melts into the comfort she brings, curling up to her even more. Kai’Sa shifts to rest her head on the pillow just above the level of Ahri’s, mindful not to lay on any of her hair.
Even through her eyelids, Kai’Sa then registers a light, fairly bright and generally white, but its intensity changing every couple of seconds. It seems to be moving, but the source of the light never passes by. Slightly concerned, she manages to crack a single eye open. Her vision is heavily blurred, but she can see that the light is concentrated in a single rectangle, not too far from Ahri’s face. It’s still shifting, but not flickering. More like it’s scrolling.
Scrolling. Kai’Sa finds herself further from sleep with the realization that Ahri is on her phone. Concerned, she musters the energy in her throat to speak. “You ‘kay?”
Ahri’s body twitches, and she turns herself towards Kai’Sa more. “Oh, hi honey.”
The adjustment causes the light of the screen to shine more at Kai’Sa’s face, and she winces her eyes shut again. “What time is it?” She continues to whisper, despite Ahri talking at a normal volume.
“Hm? Oh, uh, two thirty-eight.”
“You can wake me up if you can’t sleep, sweetheart. I don’t mind.” Kai’Sa ducks her head down to kiss the top of Ahri’s neck.
“It’s not that, I’m okay, I promise. I just had a burst of inspiration and wanted to check some things.”
Kai’Sa whines, and tugs Ahri closer, trying to get the hand that holds the phone away from their faces. “You’re not supposed to be doing work in our bed.”
“It’s not work,” Ahri sighs. “I was just still thinking about the restaurant from earlier, how nice the table setting was. I realized we have to decide things like that for our wedding and wanted to see what all the options were.”
“At two in the morning?”
Ahri finally clicks her phone to sleep, sets it down on her bedside table, then fully turns over to face Kai’Sa. “Sorry, did I disturb you?” She whispers.
“Not really. I was already half-awake for a moment. The light just made me think something might be wrong.” Kai’Sa gently slides her hand up and down Ahri’s side. “Being on your phone in the dark is bad for your eyes, you know.”
The air of Ahri’s huff hits Kai’Sa’s face. “I can see perfectly in the dark, it’s fine.”
“It’s not dark if you’re shining a brick of light at yourself from six inches away.”
“I’ll turn the brightness down,” Ahri starts to turn again. “Do you want to see, actually? I found some glasses that are really nice—”
“Just stay, please.” Kai’Sa holds her still. “Not right now. We can talk about it later, okay?”
“Okay.”
“If not your eyes, save your sleep schedule. The light messes with that too, I’m pretty sure.”
“And what would you know about proper sleep schedules, Miss ‘Gets Up At Five A.M. Everyday?’” Ahri yawns at the end of her sentence.
Kai’Sa smiles. “I haven’t done that in years and you know it.”
“Right, because getting up at seven now is so much more normal.” Ahri’s words sound like her smile, and her hand comes up to cup Kai’Sa’s face.
“I don’t hear you complaining when I have breakfast all ready for us when you wake up.” The soothing motion of Ahri’s thumb rubbing back and forth across her cheek pulls Kai’Sa closer and closer to sleep again.
Ahri giggles. “Fair enough.”
Kai’Sa leans forward and kisses Ahri, receiving a pleased hum in exchange when their lips part. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Ahri curls up until her head is pressed against Kai’Sa’s chest, wrapping both an arm and tail around her as well.
As her own body relaxes, Kai’Sa can feel that Ahri’s remains tense, not melting into the mattress as she usually does. It’s a familiar feeling, one that reminds Kai’Sa of late nights during production cycles, finally returning home after hours in the studio with tired bodies yet still racing minds. Ahri generally knows better these days. She usually knows when it becomes time to leave things for the next day, and that she has to look after herself more than anything else. Everything Ahri does is done out of passion and love, and it’s one of the traits of hers that Kai’Sa had been first drawn to.
This particular late night doesn’t fully worry Kai’Sa, but she does keep herself awake just a little bit longer until she can be sure Ahri has actually fallen asleep.
…
The only other person who even comes close to Ahri’s level of meticulous planning and detail management is Evelynn.
Kai’Sa is unloading the dishwasher one morning while Evelynn and Akali have their breakfast at the kitchen island, the three simply making small morning talk as the day starts. Akali says the beat she’s been working on for fun is just about done, and Evelynn assures Kai’Sa that it’s as good as she claims.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna do with it,” Akali says. “I know we’re not ready for a comeback or anything, but it’s just fun, and I gotta have some kind of outlet, you know?”
Kai’Sa hums her understanding as she places a stack of bowls into an upper cupboard. “I’d definitely like to hear it when it’s done.”
“You’ll love it,” Evelynn repeats. She pokes Akali’s cheek to draw a smile, then a noise at the top of the stairs behind them turns her head. “Good morning, Ahri.”
Ahri sluggishly steps down the stairs, her hair brushed but her eyes still weary. “Morning, Eve, ‘Kali.”
Kai’Sa turns away from the dishwasher and pushes a fresh and hot mug of tea across the kitchen island in front of Ahri’s usual seat. “Good morning again, my love.”
Ahri sits down and wraps her hands around the mug, leaning over as Kai’Sa comes around to kiss her on the forehead. “Thank you, baby.”
“Only the best for my bride to be,” Kai’Sa says, grinning at the way Ahri’s ears quickly perk up. She also doesn’t miss the way Akali and Evelynn roll their eyes. “We’ve decided on spring,” she says to the other pair, taking their empty plates to load into the now-empty dishwasher.
Evelynn raises an eyebrow at Ahri. “Is that enough time?”
“It will be,” Ahri says after a sip of tea. “We haven’t decided anything else yet, though.”
“Well then,” Evelynn says. “That’s exciting, isn’t it?”
“Very exciting,” Kai’Sa and Ahri reply at the same time.
“I suppose I should start making good on my promise, then.” A smile spreads across Evelynn’s face, with an inspired glint in her eye. “I’d like to meet with you both individually soon to discuss your dresses.”
The very next day, Evelynn leads Kai’Sa into her bedroom-turned-design studio.
“Have a seat, darling,” she says, motioning to a chair in front of the vanity.
Kai’Sa does as she’s told, sitting with her feet firmly on the ground and hands in her lap. She traces patterns on her palms with her thumbs as Evelynn grabs a thick sketchbook off of another desk stacked with papers and a scattering of craft materials.
When Evelynn brings another chair over a few feet in front of Kai’Sa and sits, she smiles and laughs slightly. “I’d say I can’t believe we’re here, but that would unfortunately make me a liar. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been waiting for this for years.”
Some of the tension in Kai’Sa’s shoulders dissipates. “Really?”
“I was certain you two would get married before Akali and I, but perhaps this way around is more to your benefit. The gained experience and all,” Evelynn waves her free hand as she begins to flip through the sketchbook on top of her crossed legs. She settles on a blank page, then looks back up. “Though make no mistake, I’m in no way allowing you or Ahri to look better than we did.”
Kai’Sa laughs. “Noted. I’d still like to look at least half-decent, though.”
“Oh, you’ll look absolutely stunning, and Ahri will bawl her eyes out, of course that’s the goal.” Evelynn’s grin grows playfully devilish. “Just don’t be surprised when the tabloid rankings come out and I’m still on top.”
“Then you’re lucky I still don’t read those.”
Evelynn hums. “Good. Now I’ll start how I usually do. Of course I know you very well and know what will make you look your best, but this is your wedding, your day. How do you want to look? Any styles you’re drawn to, anything at all?”
Kai’Sa mulls over the questions for a moment. “A dress, I think, definitely, or at least for the ceremony part — and nothing like, crazy puffy or anything, I still want to be able to like, move, you know?” Evelynn’s quiet nod encourages Kai’Sa to keep thinking aloud. “I don’t… really have many references to go off of in terms of what I like, I don’t have Ahri-levels of mood boards or anything. The only wedding dresses I’ve actually looked at for any length of time have been, well, yours, and the old pictures of my mother, I guess.”
Evelynn’s posture stiffens as she finishes writing. “I’m only teasing dear, please don’t feel as though you need to compare yourself, nor should you aim to emulate anyone. If you want some kind of homage to your mother, I will make that happen, but please don’t feel obligated to honor her. You’ve had more than enough of that pressure.”
Kai’Sa sighs out a breath. “Please be normal to my father when you see him again. We’re perfectly fine these days, I promise.”
“I will be civil as always.” Evelynn rolls her eyes, but then meets Kai’Sa’s with a stern stare. “I’m just making that part absolutely clear. Your wedding is about you, Ahri, and the love you have for one another. Nothing and no one else. Remember that, okay?”
“Yeah, I know.” Kai’Sa nods. “Should I keep talking, or…?”
Evelynn claps her hands together, and a grin returns to her lips. “Stand up for me, I’ll take your measurements.”
Kai’Sa rises and watches Evelynn produce a roll of tailor’s tape from a drawer. “Don’t you already have them?”
“There’s no harm in making sure they’re still correct.” Evelynn taps Kai’Sa’s bicep lightly as she walks behind her, prompting a shy chuckle. “And it gives us more time to chat about things.”
“We live together, Eve. If you want to talk more, you can just come find me downstairs or something.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Evelynn holds one end of the tape at Kai’Sa’s left shoulder blade, then stretches it all the way across her back. “I want to keep checking in with you to make sure things are going alright with all of the planning and everything. Everything stays between us unless you say otherwise.”
“Are you asking me to gossip about my fiancée to you?” Kai’Sa jokes.
“You make me sound so cruel,” Evelynn pouts. “I know for a fact Akali has told you things that I only found out about later. I’m giving you this space to be honest, as a friend.”
Kai’Sa does ultimately understand and appreciate the sentiment. Evelynn has always been a comforting presence, providing a listening ear or brutal honesty whenever needed. Just like Ahri, her care for everything runs extremely deep, even if it isn’t always visible from the surface.
“So, how are you really feeling now? Nervous? Excited?” Evelynn asks, guiding Kai’Sa’s arms to stretch out sideways.
Kai’Sa smiles. “It’s hard to really say as everything is so far away still, but I’m excited, definitely. I hope it really feels as special as everyone says a wedding does.”
Evelynn spreads the measuring tape from one of Kai’Sa’s hands to the other. “It will be, I assure you.”
“I also hope Ahri doesn’t try and plan everything herself.”
Evelynn steps back around in front of Kai’Sa, and gives a knowing glance. “I think you and I both know better than to assume she won’t make an attempt to.”
“I mean, it is kind of cute to know she’s so excited, and I can’t blame her at all, really. I just…” Kai’Sa sighs. “I love her. I can’t wait to be her wife, to be hers in all ways that could possibly matter. Regardless of whatever the table settings look like.”
Evelynn snorts. “Table settings?”
Kai’Sa rolls her eyes, but laughs lightly. “God, yes, she’s getting hung up on fine details before we’ve even picked a venue. There are so many other things to worry about first. I’d rather have a wedding with no plates than no aisle.”
“Sounds about right. She’ll mellow down as things become more concrete.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
Evelynn throws the tape around Kai’Sa’s waist, and looks up in her eyes. “Don’t waste your time worrying about hypotheticals.”
Kai’Sa’s mouth twists in mock hurt. “I thought you knew me.”
“I know you very well.” Evelynn writes down another measurement in her book. “Which is exactly why I’m encouraging you early to not spiral about things.”
“I’ll try.”
“You’ll be alright, darling.” Evelynn moves the tape down around Kai’Sa’s hips. “Now how do you feel about a deep neckline?”
---
Ahri turns to the next page of her magazine, seventy-five full pages of wedding venue ideas, recommendations, and essential planning to-do lists. She starts to admire a flower-covered archway when she feels a small squirt of water hit her outstretched legs.
She flips the magazine down to see Akali in the backyard pool a few feet away from her, holding a brightly-colored water gun and wearing an unapologetic grin.
“What’s the point of putting a bathing suit on if you’re just going to sit in a chair and read the whole time?” Akali says.
Ahri rolls her eyes, an unseen gesture from under her sunglasses. “I look good and I’m choosing to get my vitamins first. Then when I feel too hot from the sun I’ll get in.”
“It’s been like, thirty minutes though,” Akali groans in return, kicking herself up to float on her back. “I’m going to get out if you’re not actually going to join me.”
“I did also tell you I don’t want to get my hair wet today. I just agreed that it’s finally warm enough to call it pool weather.” Ahri starts to bring her magazine back up.
“Boo,” Akali whines up into the early summer sky. “You can make your tail all crystallized when you don’t want to get it wet, have you ever tried with your actual hair?”
Ahri grimaces violently, letting the magazine fall onto her lap again. “Even if that were possible, I don’t think that would be a good look on me.”
Akali turns her head to Ahri and laughs. “Yeah, okay, probably not. But come on, Eve and Kai are gonna be doing their consultation thing for like, at least another hour.”
Ahri swings her feet to the side and onto the stone ground with a sigh. She looks up at the second floor of the house. “I hope everything is going alright up there.”
“They’re fine,” Akali says. “They’re probably having more fun than you are right now.”
“Okay, okay, I’m coming, calm down.” Ahri finally stands up and shrugs off her sheer robe to fully let the red bikini she’s wearing into the sun. With a flick of her tail, blonde fur becomes sparkling crystal, and she makes her way down the steps into clear water, with bright blue tiles at the bottom. She winces at the sudden temperature change on her skin until she’s waist-deep.
Akali swims over. “There you go, much better, right? Fun, relaxation, remember those words?”
“Do know I’m only not splashing you because I know you’ll do it back to me,” Ahri says with a glare. She chuckles when she sees Akali’s defeated huff. Ahri takes another step forward into deeper water, but then looks back at her lounge chair as she feels the water creep farther up her back. “Damn it, I left my hairband over there, could you—”
“On it, boss,” Akali says with a salute, then hurriedly swims over to the edge of the pool, and climbs out over the edge.
“Don’t drip all over my magazine,” Ahri calls out, watching a small waterfall pour from Akali’s mass of wet hair and swimming shorts.
“I won’t,” Akali says. She grabs Ahri’s hairband, but pauses to bend over and take a brief look at the open book still resting on the chair. “Any of this speaking to you?”
Ahri shrugs, and looks around the garden. “Not particularly, it’s giving me some good ideas, but it’s a few years old—” A large splash of water interrupts her, and she throws her arms around her head to shield herself from the tidal wave. “Akali!”
Akali resurfaces in front of Ahri, and holds out the elastic hairband for her to take. Her grin is still as wide as her face and still deeply not sorry. “You’re welcome.”
Ahri simply narrows her eyes at Akali as she starts to tie her hair up in a high bun.
She only stays in the pool to swim and float with Akali for around fifteen minutes, then once again steps out to resume her reading and soak up the sun. Akali opts to simply float around lying in an inner tube, satisfied for the time being until their respective partners return from upstairs.
Evelynn walks through the sliding glass patio doors first, Kai’Sa following closely behind. “Enjoying yourselves out here?”
Akali perks up instantly, throwing herself back into the water to walk over to the edge closest to Evelynn. She pushes herself up by her arms, stretching to meet her wife halfway as Evelynn bends down to kiss her. “The water is great, you should join us, babe.”
Evelynn stands up straight again and scans the pool. “Perhaps in a moment, it does look awfully nice.”
“Kai’Sa?”
“I thought Ahri was supposed to be swimming with you,” Kai’Sa says.
“She’s being boring,” Akali groans.
“I got in, don’t listen to her,” Ahri says from the other side of the pool, her magazine once again placed to the side.
“She’s too busy looking at outdated wedding venues,” Akali says in a half-whisper.
Kai’Sa and Evelynn exchange a particular glance, then Kai’Sa looks back down at Akali and the pool, holding her chin in thought. “It does look nice, but I don’t think I want to get my hair wet today,” she says.
Ahri laughs, vindicated. “See, I’m perfectly reasonable.” She waves Kai’Sa over. “Come sit with me, at least.”
Kai’Sa splits from Evelynn, who re-enters the house to change. She narrowly avoids a few teasing shots of water from Akali’s pistol that’s once again in her hand, making her way to Ahri’s lounge chair and settling down by her legs.
“When did you get this?” She asks.
Ahri flips through the pages of the magazine at her side with her thumb, watching the colors change within. “A few years back, but I remembered today that I had it and thought I’d finally read through it properly.”
Kai’Sa chuckles. “I meant the bikini, sweetheart.”
The sun suddenly feels a little warmer on her face, and Ahri properly notices Kai’Sa’s wandering eyes. “Oh,” she laughs. “I ordered it a few weeks ago, it arrived the other day.”
Kai’Sa lightly runs her hand up and down Ahri’s bare thigh, not quite reaching the red around her hips. “It looks… really good on you.”
Ahri starts to slightly lean forward. “Does it now?”
Kai’Sa also begins to close the distance between them, though her stare remains busy and interested downward. “I wish you’d shown it to me earlier.”
“Well you’re seeing it now.” Ahri smiles, content with the reaction and moves to meet Kai’Sa’s lips with hers.
Only millimeters from touch, Kai’Sa suddenly tenses with a yelp, and she twists around in a snap. The back of her shirt is now marked with a fresh wet spot in the center.
“Akali!”
Akali simply laughs, and Ahri quickly finds herself joining along.
---
Led by the hand, Kai’Sa is brought into Ahri’s home office. Ahri bounces with each step, tail waving wildly behind her. Kai’Sa finds it adorable that Ahri is the only person she knows — and potentially the only person in the world — who gets this excited over preliminary planning stages. It makes her wonder just how energetic Ahri will be as the date of their wedding can actually be considered close, and not still a minimum of ten months away.
Ahri pulls out the rolling chair at her desk. “Sit down, honey.”
Kai’Sa does so with a raised eyebrow. “Are you going to stand and give me a full presentation, or—” She finds herself cut off by the weight of Ahri falling to sit sideways on her lap. “Or this works, too.” She holds Ahri steady with a hand on her back as she swivels the chair slightly to turn her computer on.
“I can’t wait for you to see these, I have so many ideas, but I do think I know what you’ll agree is best,” Ahri says, pulling up a presentation document and setting it to full screen on the large desktop monitor.
The title screen reads “Wedding Of The Century: Ahri and Kai’Sa” in a script font against a light pink background.
“That’s just a placeholder tagline.” Ahri waves a hand dismissively. “We’ll think of something better to put on the invites and whatnot later.”
“Is that a thing? A wedding tagline?”
“Some people even do hashtags, but I think that’s a bit much and won’t age well. I’m sure our fans will come up with something on their own when they know it’s happened, anyway.”
Kai’Sa chuckles. “What is it they call us? ‘Kahri?’”
Ahri nods with a smile. “We can let our BLADES have their own fun. I’d rather keep it a little classier between ourselves.”
“Good call.” Kai’Sa leans against Ahri’s shoulder. “Show me the rest of what you’ve been thinking about, then.”
The slideshow isn’t as long as Kai’Sa had originally imagined, but it is extraordinarily detailed. It’s split into three sections, three main options for overall aesthetics with venues to match. She has theoretical color palettes and reception layouts, as well as itemized cost estimates that cause Kai’Sa to feel slightly lightheaded, even with the reassurance that they’re likely overestimates and compared to stadium world tours, they’re “almost nothing.”
“How long have you been working on this?” Kai’Sa asks when they’re a bit over halfway through. “Did you do all of this research in the past two weeks?”
Ahri shrugs. “I mean, most of it, yeah. But I’ve had some of these ideas in my head for… a while.” She turns her face from Kai’Sa.
“That’s a suspiciously vague answer coming from you,” Kai’Sa says, leaning forward. She confirms that Ahri is indeed blushing.
Ahri giggles. “Don’t worry about it, baby.”
Kai’Sa pulls Ahri closer so that she can’t squirm away. “I’m going to worry about it,” she teases.
Ahri reaches up to twirl a finger through the swoop of Kai’Sa’s hair that always falls across her face, then taps the end of her nose. “You’re so cute, you know that?”
“And you’re avoiding the question, my love.” Kai’Sa sighs lightly, and peppers kisses onto Ahri’s cheek.
“Okay, okay,” Ahri relents. “I maybe started thinking about it after we had only been dating for a month.”
Kai’Sa laughs into the crook of Ahri’s neck. “Of course you did.”
“Shush. It’s not my fault you’re perfect.”
“I adore you,” is all Kai’Sa can say when she leans back again. She adjusts Ahri’s hair so that it stays out of her pretty face, still painted with a pink blush that has gone down to her neck. “Sorry to have made you wait so long for this.”
“No, don’t be, please.” Ahri says. “I may have wanted it, but we were busy and neither of us were truly ready, I think. I wouldn’t change a thing about our engagement.” Ahri brings a hand to Kai’Sa’s cheek, pulling her back in for a set of long kisses that they both smile into. “Let’s not get too distracted,” she says with a wink as they separate.
They get through the rest of the presentation, and then begin to deliberate their options. Kai’Sa matches Ahri’s prediction by agreeing that an outdoor venue would be nicest, as to take full advantage of the springtime weather. It also provides an extra level of privacy, free from city cameras and potential passersby.
“So, okay,” Kai’Sa starts, working through the process in her head. “We just have to search for venues we like that match this idea?”
“I’ve found five already,” Ahri says. She gleefully clicks open another window, this time a spreadsheet. Each row has even more specific budget estimates, adjusted for each venue’s fee and any extra services not included. There are blue links that Ahri swiftly opens every one of, loading images that quickly flash before she switches to the next tab.
“We’ll go see them in person first of course, so we should book those tours whenever we’re both free some time soon.” Ahri keeps her eyes glued to the screen, flipping between a few tabs at a speed that still doesn’t allow Kai’Sa to actually read the text on them. “These three seem to be more popular, and I’m quite fond of the fourth one personally, so I definitely want to see that one first, or, at least whenever they’re open, I haven’t called any of these places or anything yet because I didn’t know if you—”
“Sweetheart,” Kai’Sa begins softly. She rubs her hand across Ahri’s back. “Aren’t there like, professional wedding planners we could get to do most of this for us?”
Ahri’s lips twist into a frown. “There are.”
“It just seems like all of this involves a lot of moving parts and things to keep track of. I know you like planning, but someone else could—”
“It’s not that,” Ahri says sharply. “I just don’t like the idea of someone else getting so involved with our wedding.”
“What about Eve and our dresses, then?”
“Eve’s different, you know that.”
“So then what’s…?”
“It’s just…” Ahri sighs and grumbles, gesturing vaguely with her hands at nothing in particular. “Having someone else in charge always means sacrificing some part, if not all of your creative vision, they’ll come in and add in their own ideas and then suddenly it’s nothing like you originally wanted, even though they’re supposed to be doing what you want.”
Kai’Sa hears the years behind Ahri’s voice, the whole career she’d suffered through and abandoned before they’d even met.
“Our wedding is ours, I want to look around and see something that we’ve created, not someone else.” Ahri’s scowl softens as she looks Kai’Sa in the eye again. “Is that okay?”
Kai’Sa can see it isn’t actually up for debate, not now, at least. “Just promise me you’ll take it slow, alright?” She gently takes Ahri’s hand into her own and begins to rub the top of her knuckles. “Let me help where you need me to. I don’t want you tearing your hair out over something that’s supposed to be one of the happiest days of our lives.”
“I won’t,” Ahri replies quietly. “I promise.”
“Okay.” Kai’Sa isn’t fully convinced, but it’s better than no promise at all, and maybe she’s worrying too much already. “What else did you want to go over today?”
Ahri turns back to the computer, with a breath that visibly resets her excitement, pushing past the tension. “A more fun part,” she says, opening a new blank page of the spreadsheet document. She looks back over at Kai’Sa with a smile. “Who do we want to be there?”
Kai’Sa takes her own, deeper breath. “We know far too many people.”
“We do,” Ahri widens her eyes and looks off to the side.
“It isn’t… rude if we keep it fairly small, is it?”
“We can do whatever we want. Though I don’t think we even know anyone selfish enough to get upset about not getting invited.”
Kai’Sa shrugs. “Good point. I just don’t want to feel like I’m lost and swimming in a crowd while rushing around trying to speak to everyone.”
“I’m glad we agree on that.” Ahri types the names Akali and Evelynn into the first column of the spreadsheet, under the Guest Name Heading. “Just to get the really obvious ones out of the way.” She adds Kassadin below.
Kai’Sa pushes down the nervous chill that threatens to creep upward as the list grows, with more and more faces being added to her mental picture of the day. The thought of all their friends watching her and Ahri proclaim their everlasting love before them begins to feel a little embarrassing, somehow more nerve-wracking than dancing on a stage in front of tens of thousands of people. Dancing she’s been doing most of her life, her wedding will only happen once.
There’s only one chance for everything to go as planned.
“Let’s leave it there for now, and see if we remember anyone else between today and picking the actual date.” Ahri hits the enter button with an amount of dramatics. “Ooh, making invitations is going to be so fun.”
“Alright,” Kai’Sa rolls her eyes with a smile. “That’s enough planning for today, don’t you think?”
Ahri glances at the clock on her desk. “Well, it’s only—”
“It is,” Kai’Sa answers for her. “It’s lunchtime, come on, I’ll make us something. You’ve done all this, let me repay you.”
“Well if you insist,” Ahri says, voice feigning indifference with a smile on her face. She throws her arms atop Kai’Sa’s shoulders and around her neck. “Thank you for your help so far.” She leans forward for a quick peck to Kai’Sa’s lips. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Kai’Sa kisses her again in return, then waits for Ahri to slide off of her lap, an action that does not come. Ahri’s arms are firmly in place and her tail is comfortably resting on her own lap. Kai’Sa runs her fingers through the soft fur of Ahri’s tail with an adoring sigh. “Is this your way of asking to be carried downstairs?”
The tail begins to wave slightly, and Ahri giggles. “I’m glad that I’m marrying someone so receptive to my needs.”
Kai’Sa laughs, then rises from the office chair with Ahri in her arms. “As you wish, princess.”
“Does that make you my prince? Ooh, or what about my devoted knight, sworn to me by oath, yet more truly and deeply loyal out of love, and we’ve broken the rules of tradition to be together?”
“You should write a book.”
“Do you think I’d be good at it?”
“You’re good at everything, my love.” Kai’Sa holds Ahri tighter to her body as she begins their descent down the stairs.
---
“That’s all for today, thank you, class!”
“Thank you, Ms. Kai’Sa!”
The students begin to gather their belongings and file out of the dance studio, waving goodbye to Kai’Sa who stands proudly at the front. Ahri watches, sitting on a chair at the back of the room.
“Goodbye to you too, Ms. Ahri!” A few students acknowledge her shyly, more starstruck by her presence than their regular teacher. The students are just below their teen years, still filled with elements of childlike wonder and excitement, yet beginning to be slightly dragged down by the increasing weight of feeling awkward in their own skin. She returns their waves, endeared by them nonetheless.
Ahri doesn’t find herself at the Firefly Collective all that often, leaving it to be Kai’Sa’s personal work space, but when she’s finished for the day at her own city office and they’ve planned to go somewhere together later, like today, she stops by to sit in on a lesson. Kai’Sa is a brilliant teacher, endlessly kind with a sharp edge to encourage every student’s best, and Ahri just plainly loves seeing Kai’Sa in her element. Dance has been Kai’Sa’s place of comfort for so long, and she so clearly does her best to recreate the feeling for her students.
When the last of them has left the large, wooden-floored room, Kai’Sa meets Ahri’s eyes and waits for her to cross the distance between them. Ahri links their fingers together on both hands and lets them sway back and forth slightly.
“You didn’t want to join in?” Kai’Sa teases.
Ahri sighs out a laugh. “I don’t think these shoes would do quite well in a ballet class.” She looks down at the high-heeled boots she’s wearing.
“Probably not,” Kai’Sa follows her gaze before looking back up. “But the kids would love it.”
“The kids love you,” Ahri says.
“They do, they do.” Kai’Sa smiles. “But they’re curious about you, you know. They ask me questions all the time.”
“I didn’t know you talked about me that much.”
“Of course I talk about you.” Kai’Sa presses a kiss to Ahri’s forehead. “They were very excited when I told them we were getting married. Other times they just want to know random things, like what your favorite food is, or which one of us would win in a dance-off.”
Ahri narrows her eyes. “I hope you told them that I would.”
Kai’Sa turns her head away, pressing her lips together in a line.
Ahri giggles, then leans her head into Kai’Sa’s neck. “That’s okay, you probably would anyway.”
“I did say we aren’t the competitive type. I’d rather be dancing with you.”
“Good.” Ahri grins, and lets the room lapse into a comfortable silence. The swing of their hands is gentle, and Kai’Sa’s breathing is slow and even despite the lingering rapid heart rate thumping inside of her chest.
“I figured you’d be more excited to go and tour another wedding venue,” Kai’Sa says after a moment.
“I am,” Ahri says. “But I like this as well.” She tilts her head down to kiss the top of Kai’Sa’s collarbone, left exposed by her tank top. Her heart swells a little at the feeling of Kai’Sa’s fingers squeezing her hands tighter.
The sudden sound of the door opening sends a jolt up their spines, causing a quick step back that leaves the only point of contact between them as Kai’Sa’s hand on Ahri’s shoulder.
The head of one of the younger students peeks through the doorway, stare equally wide. “I, um… I forgot my water bottle,” she says, quiet and incredibly small.
Kai’Sa exhales in relief, and steps forward with a smile. “That’s alright, let’s look for it.”
Ahri scans the room, turning around to find a tall pink water bottle standing alone against the wall to her left. She picks it up, then turns back to Kai’Sa and the girl, whose face lights up at the sight. They meet in the middle of the room, Ahri handing it over.
“Th-thank you!” The girl says, looking up at her, then Kai’Sa. “See you next week, Ms. Kai’Sa!”
Kai’Sa waves as the girl begins to walk away. “Great job today!” She turns proudly to Ahri and starts to walk towards her own belongings at the far corner of the room. “Let me get my bag and we can head outside,” she says, brushing a kiss to Ahri’s cheek as she passes by, along with a tender touch to her arm.
Ahri blushes madly as she watches the girl exit the room backwards, the door quietly shutting in front of a mischievous and knowing smile.
For both legal and safety reasons, they have to wait for all the students to leave or be picked up by their parents before leaving themselves. A few students come up to the couple with questions or comments, but most are chatting amongst themselves in groups. Ahri admires Kai’Sa’s demeanor with her students from afar, watching as she helps a boy fix the laces of his shoes, and ensuring that the kids who need to cross the street do so safely. It paints broad strokes of a future that Ahri isn’t ready to fully imagine yet, but it stirs a warm feeling in her chest nonetheless. Kids have never been her strong suit, personally.
The last student eventually leaves, and Kai’Sa finishes locking up the studio, ready to head out to where their ride is waiting for them just down the sidewalk. Ahri crosses her path just before she reaches the front doors, and pulls her in for a surprisingly deep kiss.
Kai’Sa is blushing when she pulls back, her eyes wide and pleasantly confused. “What’s that about?”
“Just you,” Ahri says, keeping her deeper thoughts a subject for another day.
Accepting the answer with a smile, Kai’Sa opens the door and takes Ahri’s hand in hers as they approach the car. Their pinkies remain linked in the backseat, making friendly conversation with their driver as they’re brought home. Kai’Sa slips out for a quick shower and changes out of her dance clothes before the journey takes them even farther away from Seoul, farther northeast into the quiet mountains. Streetlights are traded for trees and endlessly green foliage, pulling a smile to Ahri’s lips as she watches out the car window.
Expecting the visit, the owner of the property graciously greets their arrival. She’s an older woman with an infectious smile. “You two are just lovely,” she says as she guides them out of the parking lot. “Congratulations again on your engagement.”
“Thank you,” Ahri says, immediately holding her left hand out so that she can see the ring. The diamonds are glittering as always, aided by the sun in the clear sky above.
“Oh my, that can’t have been cheap.”
Kai’Sa sighs out a nervous chuckle. “It’s the best purchase I’ve made.”
The owner laughs. “That’s the right idea. Now you two said you were hoping for next year, springtime?”
Kai’Sa nods. “If that’s possible.”
“Well, I’ll check for specific dates on my calendar while you two walk around. That is a sooner booking than other couples usually make, but I’m sure we have time for you. Let me know if you have any questions, take as long as you’d like.”
“Great, thank you so much!” Ahri hurriedly wraps herself around Kai’Sa’s tense arm and practically drags her forward.
The venue is perfectly quiet, surrounded on all sides by nature and nothing else. The path off the gravel road takes them farther into the forest, then coming across two small homely lodgings that normally serve as vacation rentals. Beyond them sprawls a clearing of grass, a wooden arch at the far end.
Immediately, Ahri starts plotting. Benches facing the arch, an aisle between the two columns, the wood of the benches should be the same dark shade as the arch, and flowers can provide pops of brightness and color. The arch is a bit small though, it might be nice to have a bigger one. The overall feeling shouldn’t feel too cramped, but not wide and empty either. Maybe chairs are better than benches. She really should have brought a notebook and pen with her.
At the sound of a chuckle coming from Kai’Sa, Ahri snaps out of her own brain, suddenly very aware of the rapid speed her tail is waving at. “Do you like it?”
Kai’Sa finishes taking a few photos on her phone, then pockets it with a nod. “It’s beautiful.”
“There’s more than this too, there’s a river in some direction, and then there’s a large pavilion area too, which will be good just in case there’s rain.”
Kai’Sa’s shoulders relax. “Oh, good, I was wondering if we had a plan for that here.”
Ahri smiles. “I have a plan for everything, baby. Don’t worry your pretty little head too much.” She taps the end of Kai’Sa’s nose with her free hand.
“I’m not worrying, I just said I was wondering.”
Ahri’s tail falls still. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright to do this today? We could have rescheduled if you knew you’d be worn out after teaching.”
“I’m fine, Ahri.” Kai’Sa starts to take a step forward, finally offering a small smile. “Come on, I want to see the rest of it.”
Ahri makes no further protest, and leads them with linked arms once again, though they walk slower to fully take in the atmosphere. The river is calm and gorgeous, the water so clear that Ahri doesn’t mind sticking a hand in to test the temperature. While not freezing, it is cold, and so she threatens to touch the back of Kai’Sa’s neck, vying for a laugh. She receives one as Kai’Sa quickly squirms away, running a few paces. Ahri follows suit with her arm outstretched, their giggles echoing off the trees. They run from the rocky shore, back up to the grass clearing, and come to a stop at the wooden arch.
“You’re such a nuisance,” Kai’Sa says fondly, cupping Ahri’s face. “I love you more than anything.” She pulls her face forward to capture her lips in a kiss they both smile into.
Reaching the pavilion, Ahri can’t help but skip ahead and twirl around as she crosses the large wooden floor, looking up at the high roof and the large wooden beams that stretch across it. “We should definitely get some kind of string lights to hang from these, something to match the stars that will eventually come out.” She watches Kai’Sa’s reaction, a nod of approval as she looks around.
“We can fill all this space, right? Enough of our friends will show up, won’t they?”
Ahri continues slowly twirling around and forward. “Yes, they will. We’ll be here in under a year’s time, surrounded by everyone we love, and we’ll be married.” She stops and looks back. “I think this is the place.”
Though she clearly tries to fight it, the dimples in Kai’Sa’s cheeks give away her smile. “And you’re sure we’ll be able to book it for when we want?”
“When have I ever not gotten what I want?” Ahri walks back to her fiancée with pride in her step. She faces her and takes Kai’Sa’s hands into her own, looking up with sparkling golden eyes. “I will make this happen for us, I promise.”
“The only things you have to promise me are that you’ll show up on the day, marry me, and not be stressed out of your mind the entire time,” Kai’Sa says with a teasing lilt.
“I’m having fun here, aren’t I?”
“You are.” Kai’Sa looks back around and across the floor, then returns to meet Ahri’s eyes again. The purple of her irises shines with an idea. “Do you feel any more up for dancing than earlier?”
Ahri laughs, glancing down at her shoes again. “I think I can manage something slow.”
“And I have no problem with that.” Kai’Sa brings one pair of their hands up and leads them into a patterned step. “Slow means I get to focus on you more.”
The next half hour is just the two of them, dancing back and forth and around the pavilion. There’s no music except that which beats in their hearts, and the breeze passing through the trees around them. The desire to eventually leave and go back home is small, but there’s a comfort in knowing that they’ll find themselves dancing in the same place again.