Work Text:
“Hey, greasemonkey.”
The teasing words, delivered in an accented, dulcet voice, met Vi’s ears in welcome distraction. A pair of sleek heels appeared in her field of vision a moment later. Fancy things, black Trevelen leather with tiny silver buckles shaped into…she squinted for a closer look and stifled a laugh- the Kiramman crest, of all things. Expensive and fine- way too fine for their surroundings, but then again, when had she ever known Cupcake to do the expected?
A jump in her pulse, a traitorous flutter in her chest, and Vi found herself grinning like a loon. Schooling her face into something less smitten, she gave one last glance to the gasline she’d been inspecting before kicking off the floor, prompting her creeper to roll out from underneath Firelight .
And if she sneakily managed to unzip her coveralls down to her waist before sliding out into Caitlyn's eyeline, that was her own damn business.
Vi got to her feet, brushing herself off. “Hey, cupcake,” she replied with a winning smile, content to drink her fill of the gorgeous woman before her as Cait's eyes predictably fell on her exposed biceps, lingering appreciatively.
Caitlyn Kiramman- heiress, CEO, activist, team owner, media darling, and her technical boss- stood out like a jewel among dirt clods in the garage they were in, even if the ones they used for all this fancy, rich person racing were brighter and cleaner than anything VI grew up in.
Even two years on, it still felt surreal to be sharing the same air as her Cupcake, let alone occupying the same space as often as they did. As the sole heiress to one of the richest families in the country and CEO of Kiramman Enterprises, Caitlyn could have easily sat back on her laurels and coasted through life, but alas, the woman had never acknowledged the words ‘rest’ or ‘vacation' in her life. On top of running a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with fingers in more industries than VI could count, sitting on the board for several charities, funding dozens of scholarships and welfare programs, and constantly using her influence to push the Council and the Wardens for more reforms, Caitlyn somehow found the time for a small side-hobby: buying a racing team.
Or more accurately, building one from scratch, recruiting mostly from Zaun, all to fulfill a lifelong dream of her late grandfather.
Gaspard Linke had been a world-renowned Formula One racer, falling just short of becoming World Champion every season since his debut. After the former Champion retired, all eyes turned to Linke to be next, only for the young daredevil to abruptly retire before the season even began. Instead, he quickly married Lady Celeste Kiramman and became a father to eldest daughter, Cassandra, six months later. As Casper Kiramman, he was a devoted husband, stay-at-home father of four, and doting grandfather. But his beloved Caitlyn (his favorite grandchild, as far as Vi could tell, or maybe the only one with a working brain between her ears) always noticed a distant, wistful look in the ocean-blue eyes she inherited, whenever he told stories about his glory days.
Casper had passed away four years ago. As Caitlyn said during her pitch to each key member of her current team, she came back from her mourning period determined to find a fitting tribute to her grandfather’s devotion and sacrifice. To this day, Vi wasn’t sure how Ekko and Powder had gone from being commissioned to design and build Team Kiramman’s racer (in exchange for enough funding to keep Powder Monkey Designs going for years) to Little Man being the one in the driver’s seat, but Violet wasn’t about to let them go it alone. Mylo and Claggor occasionally tagged in, and it became a whole family affair.
The Lanes kids may have been misfits and rabble rousers, but they didn’t lack in intelligence, Uncle Silco’s connections securing them all the proper education for their separate interests. Caitlyn Kiramman’s proposal was hard to turn down- not just for her money, but her passion and drive were catching. Two years in, Team Kiramman hadn’t yet secured a championship, but they’d been rising stars in the circuit since their debut.
During that time, the family had also learned to stop asking Caitlyn where her money went, finally deciding it wasn’t worth protesting when the woman’s personal trust fund alone made her richer than the net worth of a small country. Student debt disappeared, the mortgages on the Last Drop and Benzo’s Auto were mysteriously paid off, anonymous donations funneled in on the regular to fund her siblings’ research- Claggor and Mylo’s horticultural efforts to improve air purity in Zaun, Powder and Ekko’s experiments in clean energy sources- and Powder received enough guaranteed scholarships to see her through her doctorate if she chose to pursue it.
And Vi herself…well, it was hard not to read into the motorcycle she received as part of her signing bonus, the expensive watch for Snowdown, the top-of-the-line gaming PC for her birthday, the professional-grade punching bag Caitlyn had installed as a housewarming gift after she moved last year, the four tailored suits hung up in her closet.
The lingering glances Vi noticed whenever she wore something sleeveless. And her habit afterward of never appearing before the boss with her coveralls done up properly, exposing the tank or muscle shirt she wore underneath.
It was surprisingly easy to work for Caitlyn Kiramman, though she had a way of making it feel like working with her. The Kiramman crew ran like a well-oiled machine under her leadership. She was tough but fair, ridiculously competent, and confident enough to trust in her team and not micromanage. Gods help her if Vi didn’t find all that confidence and poise insanely attractive.
Poised, controlled, and always so damn pristine. Today she was outfitted in a sharp navy blazer with matching pencil skirt, her white silk blouse open just enough at the collar to expose the elegant line of her collarbone and a tantalizing glimpse of something lacy underneath. Nude-colored hose covered those long, long legs Vi had imagined wrapped around her waist (and head) a few hundred times.
The exact number was no one else’s business, a sacrosanct secret only known between Vi and Janna herself.
The mechanic’s hands itched with the urge to render her completely disheveled, slid her dirty hands under those clean, clean clothes to smudge and mark that gorgeous, perfect skin.
“Well, chief, does everything look in order?”
Vi blinked, breaking out of her lustful daze. “For the most part. Fishbone’s steerage needs some adjustment, but Pow’s got so many specialty upgrades in the thing I can’t tell steel from hexite. So she gets to come in extra early to deal with it herself.” She allowed herself a devious smirk at the thought, and Caitlyn smiled in turn, huffing out a little laugh.
“Good. I can always trust you to keep things running smoothly around here. I truly do appreciate it.”
Caitlyn stifled another giggle at the way Vi’s back straightened, her chest puffing out with pride at the compliment. Despite the peacocking, she could tell Vi had caught the undertone to her visit, as her initial question could have been answered in a simple text. Caitlyn licked her lips, watching that clever brain work over the puzzle before her.
Often (and happily so) overshadowed by her gifted younger sister, Vi was no slouch when it came to intelligence and talent. Perhaps she didn’t dabble in quantum mechanics and applied physics like her siblings, but her dual degree in mechanical and automotive engineering and long list of certifications were impressive on their own. Add in two amateur boxing titles, a teasing and clever wit, and a physique a Noxian war god would envy, and she was a walking lesbian wet dream.
Everything Caitlyn had wanted for nearly two years.
Her heart just about melted when Vi’s mouth crooked into a small smile, highlighting the scar etched into her upper lip and the handsome angles of her face.
“You hanging out for a while, Cupcake?”
Vi was relieved to see that her open, relaxed demeanor seemed to ease some unseen tension in Caitlyn and she returned her smile, showing off that endearing little tooth gap. Adorable, precious girl. Sweet as a cupcake, twisting up Vi’s heart in all the right ways. Bossy, stubborn, and a bit obsessive, but Vi wouldn’t have her any other way.
“I like it here after days like today,” Caitlyn confessed softly, tucking a few flyaway hairs back behind her ear. “It's refreshing to be surrounded by competence after dealing with that lot.”
“Board meeting?” Vi guessed. The exasperation on Cait's face usually had one of three sources: the board, her mother, or the Council.
Caitlyn sighed dramatically with a nod. “Those idiots continue to forget I'm transparent about my personal finances as a courtesy . It's beyond clear that I fund this team with my own money. They don't get to question my expenses if I'm not using company resources.”
Vi hummed sympathetically. Fishbone's latest upgrades cost a pretty penny- if the manic glee in Powder’s eyes when Caitlyn approved her budget was any indication- but now Ekko would be riding safer than any other driver in the league. Vi glanced down at her torso to look for recent stains on her shirt and finding nothing still wet and transferable, opened her arms in quiet offering.
If coming to the garage (being around Vi?) and getting the basics of physical affection from a friend (?), brought Caitlyn some kind of solace, Vi wasn’t about to deny her.
They hadn’t really touched very often until recently, so she wasn't sure if Caitlyn would take her up on it, but the other woman’s face softened immediately, folding into her arms with a relieved sigh.
The way their bodies molded together, slotting into place like puzzle pieces, was sin and revelation all at once. Some fever-dream mix of torturous, glorious, and everything in between.
Caitlyn towered over her in heels. Typically when they hugged like this, Cait would let her head fall to Vi's shoulder and nestle in, but the extra inches made such a move impossible without straining her neck. With over half a foot between them, it was more comfortable for Vi to tuck her head beneath her chin, Caitlyn resting her cheek against her crown with the softest of sighs. They stood there in contented silence for several moments, just holding each other, and Vi dared to smooth a hand up the graceful arch of Caitlyln’s back, rubbing soothing circles between her shoulders as the taller woman all but melted into her.
Cait nuzzled into her hair, breathing her in, and snuck a tiny, nearly imperceptible kiss to her scalp. Vi smiled at the “subtle” move, pressing closer and returning the nuzzle to the underside of Cait’s chin. Caitlyn hummed happily, giving her an affectionate squeeze.
Oh, Cupcake was being sweet. Caitlyn really had no idea how irresistible that made her to someone who hadn't known much softness in her life. Vi felt heat pool in her belly, felt the pull of want a little lower, as she was hit by a visceral memory of the last time they had been this close- two weeks before, at the swanky party the Kirammans’ had thrown for Caitlyn’s birthday. Still fancy, but not as formal as the other galas the crew had attended, and Vi was able to relax enough to laugh and flirt more freely, helped along by Tobias sneaking her a few fingers of his favorite Ionian whiskey.
Standing on a balcony with Caitlyn, shoulder-to-shoulder as they watched the stars, liquid courage gave Vi that last push to lean over and connect their lips together. Fulfilling two years of longing as Cait not only returned her kiss but responded with passionate enthusiasm. Stoking each other’s desire until Vi had her Cupcake pinned against a column, knee pressed between her thighs and egging on rolling hips until Caitlyn broke apart against her with a soft, broken moan of, “ Violet .”
Vi licked her lips and took a chance, pressing them delicately to the side of Caitlyn’s jaw. She heard Cait's sharp intake of breath, Caitlyn’s grip on her tightening as she tipped her head to the side, granting better access. Vi's eyes fluttered shut and she sighed Caitlyn's name, like benediction, like prayer. Her lips moved along Caitlyn's jaw to her neck, lingering over her pulse and feeling it quicken from her attentions, kissed down her throat and felt more than heard Caitlyn’s soft hum of pleasure.
Long, dexterous fingers made their way into her hair, carding through the longer strands on one side, blunted nails gently dragging across the undercut on the other, eliciting a shiver down her spine.
“Cait,” she whispered, awed and worshipful, carefully and adoringly retracing her steps back, then higher to Caitlyn’s mouth. Heavy-lidded eyes met her own and it was Caitlyn who closed the infinitesimal distance between them, kissing her long and slow.
Head swimming, it took a moment for Vi to find her bearings again, but soon she was leaning more confident into the kiss, swiping her tongue across Caitlyn’s lower lip in a gentle request for entrance. Cait’s lips parted beneath hers with a sweet sigh and Vi focused her attention on what had pleased Caitlyn the last time they were so entangled- deep, unhurried kisses, the occasional nip of teeth, pressure just firm enough to speak of confident desire without getting too rough.
(From all the ogling over her musculature, she had a feeling Cupcake wouldn’t mind getting a bit rough, maybe being tossed around a little, but that kind of play would require conversations)
Caitlyn gave as good as she got. She pulled VI’s lower lip between her teeth, sucking and then biting down, soothing the sting with a teasing graze of her tongue. Her fingers clenched into fists, pulling Vi’s hair hard enough to make her scalp tingle, Vi moaning unashamedly against her mouth. She grabbed Caitlyn’s hips, swallowing down her gasp of surprise as Vi spun them and began backing Caitlyn toward the nearest flat surface.
It was a bit of an awkward shuffle as neither were willing to relinquish the feverish pace of their kiss, but the moment Caitlyn’s back hit the walk, Vi was on her, sliding a leg between Cait's and pulling her hips up to straddle her thigh.
Caitlyn's soft moan as her hips rolled up to get more pressure was the second hottest thing Vi had heard in her life, and it was all she could do to keep some semblance of control. Caitlyn had a way of making her brain melt, but Vi had her pride. She would not just mount Caitlyn’s leg like some stray dog, no matter how needy she was.
Or maybe she was just fooling herself, considering that when Caitlyn broke the kiss a few moments later and moved her face back a little, Vi followed immediately, chasing her lips as if their mouths were magnetized. It didn’t go unnoticed either, as those tempting lips, rosy and swollen from their kisses, curled into a smirk, then parted to let out the cutest little giggle. “You’re cute. We’re not done, I promise, but we have something to talk about first. You’re always such a good girl for me, aren’t you, Violet? You can be patient a little longer.”
R.I.P. Violet “Vi” Lanes, dead from cardiac arrest after a beautiful woman kissed her senseless and called her “good girl.” She supposed twenty-six was a little young to depart the mortal coil, but it wasn’t so bad if this was how she went out.
“I…um…” What was thought? Who needed to think, anyways? “Sure, cupcake. What’d you wanna talk about?”
Caitlyn’s playful expression went serious, though her fingers idly played with Vi’s hair. “Us…this…there’s no avoiding that I’m technically your boss.”
Oh yeah, Vi could see why that would concern Cait, sweet and caring as she was. Gods, Caitlyn really had been so good to her from the day they met, hadn’t she? Arousal still thrumming through her, she ached to show her appreciation. “No worries, cupcake. Power dynamics noted. Consent fully and freely given.”
Cait smiled, but when she didn’t lean back to continue the kissing, Vi had to stifle an impatient sigh. “I’m glad. I’ve talked to Mel-”
“Cupcake,” Vi stated firmly, cupping Caitlyn’s face to keep deep ocean eyes locked with hers. Let there be no mistaking her intentions here. “Unless you want to stop or slow down, unless something’s on fire or someone’s in danger, I don’t fucking care about anything but getting my head between your legs in the next ten minutes.” She paused and quickly amended. “As long as you’re into that.”
Vi had the distinct pleasure of watching Caitlyn’s pupils dilate dramatically, eyes dark and hungry as they zeroed back in on her lips. “By all means then, darling. Would you be so kind as to lock the door?”
xx
Though they had only been entwined like this once before, there were few sounds in the world Caitlyn enjoyed more than the low, hungry noises Vi made as they kissed, deeply, ravenous, and greedy. She hooked her arms around Vi’s strong shoulders to keep her balance as, admittedly, her knees went a little weak, unable to resist the feel of Vi’s thick biceps while she was there. Her nails dug into the hard muscle when Vi’s hands went exploring in turn, settling on her ass and giving it a squeeze. No doubt leaving little fingerprints behind, though Caitlyn cared little if it happened.
She nipped Vi’s bottom lip, running her tongue over the scar on the upper when those warm, strong hands slid further down to curl around the back of her thighs. Caitlyn met her cue and kicked off the ground as Vi lifted her, her legs locking tight around VI’s waist as the mechanic began to back them up.
Vi’s intention was a workbench only a few feet away, but Caitlyn proved an irresistible distraction, sneaking her hands beneath Vi’s grease-stained wife pleaser. Lightly scratching her nails between Vi’s shoulders, Caitlyn could feel the restless energy coiling in the muscles underneath, tense and wanting. She reveled in it, especially as Vi groaned against her mouth and pressed her down against the nearest solid object, the flimsy partition wall separating workstations in case of flying sparks from blow torches. Her skirt rucked up to her waist as she arched into Vi, chasing the frenetic pleasure of Vi palming her ass and rutting against her. With the new angle, her hips were trapped against Vi's stomach. She rocked as best she could, keening as the damp silk of her panties dragged across her sensitive cunt, her clit grinding against the hard lines of Vi’s abdominals. With a growl, Vi thrust up against her, the thin sheet metal wall behind them creaking ominously in response.
The couple froze, staring, stunned, as one another for a long moment before they burst into incredulous laughter. Taking advantage of the interruption, Vi shifted Caitlyn smoothly into a fireman’s carry over her shoulder, grabbing a dropcloth from the table as she scrambled for their original destination.
Caitlyn’s squeal of protest was as amused as it was indignant. “Violet!”
“Nuh-huh, cupcake. It’s your own fault for not keeping those greedy fingers to yourself!”
She landed a gentle smack to a toned asscheek when her lanky cargo got too squirmy. She tuned out the biting threats that followed as she haphazardly cleared off the workbench and laid out the dropcloth, flipping Caitlyn back around to plop her down unceremoniously. Vi smirked unrepentantly at the glare she received in return.
“I will not be manhandled, Violet.”
“No, but you do want to be handled.” She wiggled her eyebrows with a lecherous grin. “Lift that skirt for me, Miss Kiramman, and I’ll take a look under your hood.”
“You’re impossible,” Caitlyn huffed.
“Sure, sure. I’m serious though, lift the skirt if you don’t want stains on your ass.” Vi dropped to her knees, licking her lips as she watched Caitlyn with hot anticipation.
Caitlyn flushed as she rolled up the heavy skirt to her hips. “I don’t care about that. I want to feel everything and see the proof later. Every mark, every bruise and stain. I want it all.”
“Janna, Cait, you can't just say things like that.” She let out a heavy breath, smoothing her hands up Caitlyn's thighs. “I've got you, baby. I'll give you everything, anything you want.”
The weight and glory of that promise was something Caitlyn wished she could metabolize and inject straight to her veins, feeling it sing in her blood as her body hummed in anticipation. She sank her fingers into thick magenta hair, feeling the heat of Vi's fingers in turn skimming higher and higher. Caitlyn's hands weren't complete strangers to hard work and bore the evidence with pride, but Vi's were another beast altogether. Rough, calloused, and scarred, they were broad enough to span her entire waist without effort, strong enough to bruise her like a peach but always careful with her. Gray eyes, dark as a stormcloud, gazed up at her with heady, ravenous desire, those sinful hands almost searing against her skin as Vi yanked her forward to the edge of the workbench, lifting Caitlyn’s legs up over her shoulders.
A series of biting kisses marked Vi’s way up the sensitive skin of Caitlyn’s inner thighs until she finally came to their apex, her fingers slipping through the neat thatch of midnight curls to just barely dip between the folds. “Fuck, baby,” she breathed out when met with abundant wetness, her voice nearly a growl as she rubbed her fingers back and forth, gathering lubrication. “So wet for me. Gonna make you feel so good, angel.”
Yet another promise that hit Caitlyn as visceral as a gutpunch. She took in a shuddering breath, relaxing her shaking legs and parting them as wide as she could without losing her balance. She was determined to stay upright and enjoy the show, watching Vi’s every move with greedy fascination.
With each searching stroke of her fingers, Vi gently thumbed over her clit, the little nub growing harder with each pass. She held Caitlyn’s eyes as she parted the lower lips with her middle and index fingers, nudging her head closer to the core of Cait’s desire and the rich, musky scent filling her every sense. “I think you need a full detail, ma’am. I promise to be very thorough.”
Before Caitlyn could even think to reprimand her for the bad joke, she was leaning closer, her mouth thoroughly occupied. She started slowly, tracing Caitlyn’s entrance and nuzzling a gentle kiss to her clitorial hood, but she was quick to grow impatient, licking into Caitlyn in earnest a moment later.
Caitlyn clutched at her head, hips rocking up as Vi worked her tongue as deep as it would go, nose nudging her clit and wetness dripping down her chin. She kept with soft, broad licks, her tongue circling the clit with each stroke.
“Vi!” Caitlyn’s nails dug into her scalp, shocked at how quickly the aching tension was rising in her body. “Vi, inside please!”
Anything, Cait. Anything and everything. She slipped two fingers beneath her chin, Caitlyn’s head falling back with a delighted moan as she realized how much thicker they were than her own, stretching her deliciously.
Vi pumped her fingers slow and deep, chasing dripping slick with attentive traces of her tongue. Caitlyn’s grip on her hair became a yank, drawing an appreciative groan from her at the pleasant sting, especially when lacquered nails bit down to the point of pain. She licked until her jaw ached, firm and slow until Caitlyn’s rocking was making the workbench beneath her creak and groan. Her long, lithe body was tense and taut as a drawn wire, poised to snap and send her tumbling over the edge. Vi ached to bring her there.
She crooked her fingers, seeking out the spot she knew would make a difference. Her knuckles grazed a rough, spongy spot along the inner walls and Caitlyn’s entire body jolted. Fingers curled into a “come-hither” motion, working over that spot once, twice, and Caitlyn’s thighs were closing around her head, almost dislodging them both as her back bowed and her walls clamped down hard on Vi’s fingers. Vi rode it out with grace, stroking and licking through the last waves of her orgasm until Caitlyn weakly pushed her away with a whimper of overstimulation. Smugly pleased as she was, it was still a relief to breathe easy again when Caitlyn’s legs fell limp against her shoulders, to ease out her fingers and discreetly shake them out to encourage blood flow into the numb appendages.
Her scalp ached and her jaw was stiff, but she wouldn’t replace the glow of Caitlyn’s satisfaction for anything in the world.
As Caitlyn slowly came back to Runeterra, her next tug at Vi’s hair was the gentlest of the night. Vi followed the unspoken request, grimacing at the crack her knees made as she climbed up off the concrete floor. Caitlyn winced in sympathy, gently massaging the sore crown of her head. “Poor darling,” she murmured softly, leaning in to kiss her. She caught the taste of herself on Vi’s lips and she deepened the contact, greedily licking into Vi’s mouth with a moan.
The pressure of the kiss strained Vi’s sore jaw, but she would have pressed on without a second thought if Caitlyn hadn’t caught on. She pulled back with a soft look of concern and caught Vi’s chin, pressing in with her thumbs to slowly work the tension from Vi’s masseter muscle. A light soreness lingered when she was done, but the stiff ache had definitely receded. Caitlyn’s hand lingered, stroking Vi’s cheek with gentle, trigger-calloused fingers.
“Sweet girl. You did so well, Vi, making me feel so good. Can you hold on a bit longer for me so we can finish our talk? I have a reward planned for you after.”
Vi leaned into Caitlyn’s hand with a contented sigh, practically purring at the touch. Melting at the praise, sweet and syrupy warmth spreading outward from the giddy fluttering in her chest. “Mmkay.” She forced her heavily-lidded eyes open to meet Caitlyn’s, wanting to show she could be good and pay attention.
“Now, I told you I’d recently talked to Mel. After what happened at the party, it became very clear I could no longer be in charge of anything regarding your employment. However uninvolved as she tends to be, Mel is technically my partner. She rightfully pointed out that she could easily take over being the signatory on anything regarding your pay and expenses. Your performance evaluations are a bit trickier, but we thought we could contract Viktor to come in every six months and meet with Ekko and Powder. Their opinions will be what matters, but Viktor will sign off to make everything official.”
Caitlyn’s eyes were bright, her excitement of having a successful plan evident as she grinned at VI, proud and determined. Vi returned her smile, heart picking up as Caitlyn’s enthusiasm was infectious. “Wow, Cupcake, you really went all out. No stone unturned, apparently.”
“Of course. I care about you deeply, Vi. I’d never want to start a relationship as anything but equals.”
“Oh, you wanna do the whole dating thing?” Vi perked up, eager as a puppy.. If she had a tail, it would be wagging furiously. “Hell yeah, let’s do it. I’m so down.” She was surprised, but definitely pleasantly so. Dating definitely trumped just hooking up, given how much she adored Caitlyn.
Unfortunately, the more excited Vi became as she warmed to the idea, the more Caitlyn seemed to wilt in return. Her hands fell away from Vi’s face and Vi immediately felt that happy, floaty feelings replaced by a sinking in her stomach.
She watched with foreboding as Caitlyn’s lips pursed into a frown, a little furrow appearing between her eyebrows. Vi reached for her, immediately wanting to offer comfort, but Caitlyn caught her wrists, keeping her back.
“You weren’t thinking about a relationship from the beginning? But I thought…” her voice grew weaker as she trailed off, the furrow only growing deeper. She sounded confused and disappointed; Vi just wanted to hold her, but Caitlyn’s clasp on her arms was firm and clear. “I thought if you just wanted a hookup, you would have asked me to go home with me the night of the party. I was so sure…”
“Cupcake, no, that’s not-”
“Stop.” Cait’s crestfallen expression pulled into a tight scowl, glaring at Vi with ire as the shorter woman gulped, rightfully leery of the Kiramman temper. “It doesn’t actually matter what I thought. You should have spoken up sooner, Violet, and not let me court you for so long. If my affections were unreciprocated, it was quite rude to let me continue. If there was something about my attentions that you enjoyed, we could have worked it out platonicallyl. It hurts that you didn’t trust me enough to say something. I never wanted you obligat-” she cut herself off, rapidly going pale and looking quite ill. “Oh, gods, Vi, did you feel pressured? I tried so hard to be careful, but maybe-”
Vi could not have been more painfully confused than if Powder walloped her across the head with one of her giant wrenches, followed up by Ekko running her over with Firelight . Courting ?
Whatever that meant, she better get her shit together. Cupcake's beautiful eyes were misting over, lip quivering, her body tense as if she meant to bolt the moment Vi confirmed her worst fears.
“Cait, baby, no. I wanted this just as much as you did. You’ve never made me pressured, or uncomfortable, or any of the things your brain is telling you right now. Let's just slow It down a bit, okay? I'm a little confused.”
Caitlyn didn't look fully convinced, but she nodded curtly and stayed put. Vi wanted to take her home and tuck them both into bed, lavish Caitlyn with kisses and touches and sweet nothings until every inch of her big, brilliant brain believed Vi wanted her too. But clearly there were a few steps that needed to happen in-between.
Vi reached up, framing Caitlyn’s face between her hands, thumbs tracing the high cut of her cheekbones before settling in to rub soothing circles against the apples of her cheeks. “I’m right here, Cait. I’m like dirt under your fingernails- I’m not going anywhere until you decide to clean me out.”
Caitlyn generously let a little smile slip through and Vi grinned in relief. “There’s my girl. Okay, what's this about ‘courting?’”
“Courtship, Violet. The thing I’ve been doing since the first few months of our acquaintance.”
Vi blinked, then blinked again, urging the gears in her head to keep turning so she could comprehend what she was hearing. “Break it down for me, Cupcake. Just assume ‘head empty, no thoughts’ and go for it.”
Arching a skeptical eyebrow, Caitlyn was still gracious enough to accept and do as requested. “I was technically your employer, and I never wanted to make you uncomfortable, so I started slowly, with gifts. Specifically with things I thought would interest you, to show you I’d been paying attention. You seemed thrilled with the motorbike and you wore the watch to the next team dinner I organized…”
“Hang on.” Vi’s hands fell away from Cait’s face, one held up in a ‘stop’ motion. The other she let fall to Caitlyn’s thigh, entwining their fingers to keep the reassuring physical connection. “Not that I didn't love the presents and really appreciated them, but I wasn’t the only one who got stuff! So did the rest of the team, and even our dads!”
“Monetary donations toward education or professional endeavors,” Caitlyn replied bluntly, not breaking eye contact. It was a credit to how intensely focused Caitlyn was on the matter at hand that she made no effort to dance around being the Lanes family’s mysterious benefactor. “Yours were personalized gifts, meant for your recreation and enjoyment.”
Vi’s mouth moved a few times but she didn’t speak, not really finding a proper counter-argument to Caitlyn’s last point. Instead, she just blew out a frustrated sigh, eyeing Caitlyn wryly. “Cait, were expensive gifts really the only move you made in over two years ?!”
“Of course not. After you requested I stay for your first session with Claudio,” Vi fought not to grimace at the mention of the Kirammans’ personal tailor- nothing against Claudio himself, but the strange touch and proximity made her uncomfortable enough that Caitlyn courteously stayed for each fitting (the way Cait’s eyes darkened at the sight of her in a suit didn’t hurt either), “I decided the next step was spending one-on-one time together. The garage felt like neutral enough ground, and when that first night went well, I tried to repeat it as often as I could, striving to find a balance between my schedule and not overwhelming you.”
That was something that happened regularly, about every two weeks despite Caitlyn’s insane workload. Vi remembered the first time fondly.
About six months into their new lives, Powder and Ekko developed a new program capable of running a deep analysis on the racers’ engines with a speed and thoroughness the human eye would only be capable of after a complete dismantling. Stupidly complicated as it was, Vi had to admit it was useful but had one fatal flaw: overheating the computers if the vents weren’t manually adjusted every few hours. The tech stuff wasn’t usually Vi’s problem, but then Little Man pulled out all the stops for his and Powder’s anniversary with an exclusive dinner reservation that overlapped with the scheduled maintenance. Ekko called in every favor Vi ever owed him, and she found herself spending the evening on the battered leather couch in the loft, complete with pizza, a cooler of beer, and an MMA match on the TV. When Caitlyn showed up unexpectedly, Vi fully expected to be fired for drinking on work property, only for Caitlyn to shyly ask if she could join her. A couple minutes later, Caitlyn Kiramman was kicking off her heels, breaking off the cap to a longneck on the edge of the coffee table, and calling her board of directors, “absolute fucking pillocks with the combined brain power of a turnip.”
Vi was beyond charmed when Caitlyn stayed with her for all six hours, falling asleep adorably on her shoulder. She just about fell in love when the heiress took her out to an all-night diner and insisted on treating her to anything she wanted, looking only pleased with herself as Vi wolfed down a burger, cheese fries, a milkshake, and a stack of pancakes. To top it all off, Caitlyn even personally escorted her home via personal chauffeur.
(“You’ve been up nearly twenty-four hours, Violet, you’re not getting on that bike.”
“Tryin’ to take me home already, Cupcake? At least buy me dinner first. I’m a classy gal.”
Cupcake let out a gods-honest growl of frustration, and Vi would deny the responsive curl of heat in her belly for the rest of her days. “You’re absolutely infuriating. You want food, I’ll get you food. Now get in the car, Violet, or so help me.”)
“When I thought we were starting to flirt,” Caitlyn continued. “I was hopeful. But months passed and you never said or did anything different, so I just accepted that we didn’t want the same thing.”
This had to be a prank. There was no way the woman of her dreams showed interest in Vi for that long without her realizing. “Why me? Couldn't you be the one to just ask me out?”
“Of course not!” Caitlyn's nose wrinkled in disgust, her expression appalled. “I was your employer. Besides,” and her face softened into another small smile, uncharacteristically shy as she blushed, rosy color sitting high on her cheeks. Vi didn’t think she’d ever seen anything more adorable. “I admit my approach is a bit old-fashioned, but Mother insisted I be trained firstmost in formal Pilovian tradition above all else. By custom, it was the responsibility of the higher house to initiate the first steps of a courtship. Deft enough way to weed out the sycophants and fortune hunters, I suppose. But protocol dictates there can be no move forward without some accepting gesture from the courted party. It's meant to afford the intended some protection from predatory or exploitive intentions, at least in practice.”
Caitlyn sighed heavily, that little smile Vi had won before coming across as a hollow victory now that it faded into a frown, tinged with sadness and self-deprecation. Two emotions she absolutely did not want to see on Caitlyn Kiramman’s beautiful features.
“Do you remember my birthday last year? You got me a bouquet of violets and those gourmet cupcakes.”
Vi remembered. “ Violets from a Violet and cupcakes for my Cupcake! ” she’d announced with a cheeky grin, presenting the gifts with dramatic flourish. And what happened after…
“It was such a sweet gesture. And the way you smiled at me, so warm, it made me feel special. Then the frosting on your lip, and letting me kiss your cheek…I thought that was it, but clearly I was seeing what I wanted to see. So I decided to cut my losses and be content with your friendship. Until you kissed me last week and I got my hopes up all over again.”
Vi knew she wasn’t the most observant person, that she could be more than a little dense when it came to the more subtle things in life. But she remembered that night so clearly, the soft look in Caitllyn’s eyes when she grabbed a napkin and gently wiped away the chocolate frosting smeared on the side of her mouth, the tender warmth of her lips against her cheek as they said good night. The heavy, charged silence that sat between them for several beats before Vi came to her senses, practically backpedaling out of the room with a hasty goodnight and retreat.
She spent days afterward, berating herself for almost ruining everything. As obvious as the attraction between them was, why would Caitlyn fucking Kiramman of all people ever see her as more than a friend and convenient eyecandy? It wasn’t worth risking Caitlyn’s kindness, and all the opportunities being afforded to her siblings, for a one-time tumble in the sheets, no matter how good it was bound to be. Because why would Caitlyn ever want more than that from Vi of all people?
Then Caitlyn’s gentle words at her birthday party, sweet sentiments about how much the team and their support meant to her, that even if it all disappeared tomorrow she’d forever be grateful, that everyone’s futures were secure even if Ekko never wanted to get behind the wheel ever again. Vi’s heart had swelled- how could she not lean in and kiss the incredible, generous, gorgeous woman beside her?
Vi had let her doubts win for too long. She hadn’t misread anything, however much her self-deprecating brain had convinced her otherwise. Caitlyn wasn’t just sending signals- she’d set out pylons, spotlights, and giant LED signs, waving her forward with those traffic control wands.
Hopefully Cait was into insecure dumbasses.
Vi rubbed her face with a sigh, feeling unbelievably tired. She had to make this right. The upset and disappointment on Caitlyn's face was like a knife to the heart. “Shit, cupcake, we definitely got some wires crossed along the way. I’ve wanted you from the moment I saw you, wanted to be more the second you smiled at me with that cute little tooth gap. Your ‘attentions’ were never unwelcome, I was just too dense to see them.”
Caitlyn tried valiantly to not get her hopes up, but it was hard. “You mean…?”
“Yeah, I noticed the ogling, and okay , we were flirting, but I honestly thought it was just banter. Never in a million years did I think you’d go for some ex-con, greasemonkey trencher.”
“First of all, you were falsely convicted and the time you did was the result of railroading and corruption, not some moral deficiency you’re creating from whole cloth-”
“Okay, now I’m seeing where the pre-law double major comes in. And being captain of the debate team-”
“ Secondly! You know I hate when you talk about yourself that way. You're very bright, and very talented. You work so hard and care so much. You have such a good heart. Why wouldn't I fall for you?”
Vi's face burned and embarrassingly, other parts of her relit with previously dampened arousal. Dammit, she couldn't claim the “good girl” as a one-off occurrence if Cait continued to awaken some latent praise kink. “Caitlin…” Vi smiled wanly, emotionally tuckered out. “Well, I hope I’m glad it’s not my brains you fell for.”
“What did I just say-” The depth of their misunderstanding finally seemed to dawn on Caitlyn, and she pinched the bridge of her nose in hopes of keeping away the headache haunting her temples. “Violet!”
“I know! I know, I’m so sorry! I’m an idiot…but I’m your idiot? Hopefully.”
Caitlyn sighed, eyes rolling to the ceiling with an expression full of exasperated fondness. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” The annoyance finally melted away and she smiled wistfully, her voice softening. “So…so this is real? It was just a misunderstanding? You want to be with me, like how I want to be with you?”
Caitlyn’s hopeful heart had her closing the short distance between them once again and Vi chuckled softly, raising a hand to Caitlyn’s face. Calloused fingers softly caressed her skin, always so gentle with her despite their strength. “Cait, I would have climbed you like the sexy tree you are months ago if I knew it was an option. Of course I wanna be with you. I’m not so far gone I can’t see the good thing standing right in front of me.”
Caitlyn beamed, leaning down to kiss her, soft and sweetly. She found herself unwilling to go far despite needing to say more, indulging in a few more pecks before finally murmuring her request against Vi’s lips, “Be my girlfriend?”
“Hell yeah, cupcake. There’s no getting rid of me now.”
“Good.” Caitlyn gently grasped her chin, caressing her thumb over the scar in her lip. “How would you feel about coming home with me tonight? You’ve been such an angel, making me come twice without getting anything in return.” Another kiss, lingering for a long moment with a hint of heat and a gentle bite to her lip. “I’ll run us a bath, order some food. My good girl deserves to get spoiled after all that work.”
Ears burning, Vi nodded so fast and enthusiastically she was shocked she didn’t pull anything in her neck.
An hour later, belly full and skin scrubbed pink and clean, Vi lay curled up in Caitlyn’s lap, steaming bath water enveloping their bodies and lapping gently at the sides of the tub, mimicking the rhythmic push and pull of Caitlyn’s fingers inside her. As her pleasure built in steady, electric waves, loving lips lavishing her in tender kisses and whispered praises, Vi knew she could certainly get used to being Caitlyn Kiramman’s girl.