#I LOVE CAITLYN

[lithiumlocket]

Happy birthday Caitlyn Kiramman!!! 🫶💛

I have to memorize their birthdays so I can make these drawings ahead of time to actually like the finished product 😭

[unknown-cold]

This was the last time she saw of her mother.

This part when the casket was closing Caitlyn was not only on the verge of breaking into tears but she was also inching her head to see her mother's face a little more before she couldn't see her again 💔

These two clashed in just about every scene they shared, never able to see eye-to-eye. And now with Cassandra dead, Caitlyn will never have another chance to bridge the gap with her mother. So many things left unsaid. And This is so sad Imagine losing a parent who wasn't easy on you and yet she loves you so much

(she’s broken manipulated and vengeful)

[starlightseinz]

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn HCs

Caitlyn × Fem! Reader : Cait is described as very masc.

I don't know what this is just popped in my head soo bear with me I miss Cait so fucking much.

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn who would wait patiently outside your work place to fetch you even if you suddenly have to take extra hours she will wait.

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn who spends most of her alone time in the garage fixing her bike and after some fix or any other thing she adds to her bike she immediately runs to you.

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn who gets you your own helmet color pink! with a lil bow in the back very much matches her matte blue one also her helmet as your initials on the side.

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn loves it when you caress her abs over her shirt whenever you two would go on long calm rides your head laying on her back making her drive more careful.

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn who looks too fucking good in leather you would often catch yourself staring at her while she gets ready for a ride with her friends, you find yourself standing behind her arms wrapped around her waist tip toeing to rest your head on her shoulder whining. "do you have to go baby?" — "you did promise to let me ride with my friends darling whats with the change of mind?" she chuckled turning to gently carry you in her arms easily.

"Yeah but that was before i saw how hot you look like with your gear you can resched righy cmon~ stay for tonight" you begged pouting as you set down gently on the couch as she wore her boots "a promise is a promise princess, I'll be back before you know it" once she was all prepared you let out a huff and crossed your arms she leans closer to kiss you softly immediately melting you against her touch as you sighed softly.

𐙚 GF Biker Caitlyn who brings the backpack you bought her back then when you guys were still at college every time she goes on rides so she can fill it up gifts and snacks especially flowers once she gets back.

hibou's final thoughts : idk what this is i miss caitlyn so much okay, i love the idea of cait being extremely masc but has a feminine style.

[dear-mimii]

knight!caitlyn x princess reader

pairing! knight!caitlyn x princess!reader

about! caitlyn kiramman, best knight of runeterra, was shipped of to Demacia to protect the kingdom’s princess - you.

cw! mentions of swords, that’s literally it

word count! 707

an: this one is particularly JUICY, already have pt.2 written🤭😚

caitlyn was raised from a young age to be the bed goddamn knight in Runeterra. it was a nonnegotiable. with their seemingly endless amounts of generational wealth, the Kiramman’s only got their daughter the finest, most experienced trainers, the highest quality swords money could buy, specially made training clothes. the money and the immeasurable hours caitlyn spent training paid off. caitlyn’s reputation seemed to precede herself, because when a letter arrived at the Kiramman Estate from the personal advisor of the King and Queen of Demacia, they were quick to oblige.

now here she was, on a ship designated to Demacia to protect their kingdom’s princess - you. why the king and queen specifically wanted her for the job, caitlyn would never know. from what she did know though - your life wasn’t in any immediate danger, you weren’t necessarily difficult or rebellious (at least from what she was told), so she really didn’t see the need for you to have a knight. alas, the choice wasn’t hers to make.

after several weeks of travel by sea, the ship arrived at the Demacian shores, the grand white sails billowing in the wind. the crew prepared for docking as caitlyn leaned against the mahogany railing, taking in the sight of the port town. her thoughts were as busy as the seaman behind her. she wasn’t told much before she left, so she had to fill in the gaps with her own inferences. what did you look like? what kind of dresses would you wear? what food did you like? anything and everything raced through her mind as the captain tapped her on the shoulderbald of her armor, breaking her trance.

“ms. kiramman? we’ve arrived in Demacia, prepare to disembark please.”

caitlyn took a deep breath, putting her thoughts on the back burner as she steeled herself for what’s to come. she stood in front of the grand, ornate gangway as it lowered, her posture rigid and at attention, her chin held high. her silver armor glinted under the afternoon sun, not a single cloud in sight. the dark blue enamel of her family crest inlaid into her chest plate also shined brightly in the sunlight - a reminder of the prestige just her last name held. with her sword sheathed in it’s scabbard, she began her descent down the gangway. as she reached the dock, caitlyn was greeted by a Demacian chancellor and her assistant. the chancellor, her face a testament to her years of service to the Royal family, greeted caitlyn first, extending a weathered hand for a handshake.

“good morrow, ms. kiramman, how do you do? i understand this is your first time to Demacia? allow me to welcome you. elowen valencrest, trusted chancellor of the Royal Family.”

caitlyn took the chancellor’s outstretched hand, shaking it firmly. she bowed her head respectfully as she spoke, “knight kiramman, ms. valencrest. ive been sent as a personal guard to the princess.”

“of course, of course ms. kiramman. the king and queen prepared transport straight to the castle. after you…”

the chancellor gestured to the refined, horse drawn carriage behind her, the door being held open by the coachman. with that, caitlyn stood up straight and bowed once more, just with her head before stepping into the carriage. elowen and her advisor followed soon after, sitting on the opposite side of caitlyn. during the ride, caitlyn kept looking out at the passing scenery of Demacia, from the cozy seaside town to the rolling hills of the interior. the hours passed by like minutes to caitlyn before the carriage came to a stop at the entrance of the sprawling botanical gardens surrounding the actual castle itself.

the coachman hopped off and scrambled to open the door to the carriage, “ahem, ms. valencrest, ms. kiramman, we’ve arrived.”

the walk through the gardens was rather… peaceful for caitlyn. she could hear the sounds of small birds chirping in the well kept trees, butterflies surrounding patches of vibrant flowers. it’s somewhat like a balm for her racing thoughts, but she can’t really afford to focus so much on the scenery. with every step she creeps closer and closer towards the stairs leading up to the large, intricately designed wooden doors of the castle.

[shlumbo]

Caitlyn x fem!reader fluff headcanons

Modern au

Absolutely loves it when you cook for her, especially if it’s your own recipe

Gets flustered when you call her beautiful or pretty

She won’t admit it but she loves the silly nicknames you give her

Whenever Caitlyn comes home early she always brushes and washes your hair for you

After a rough day of work Caitlyn loves to rest her head against your chest while you run your fingers through her hair

Caitlyn allows you to do silly hairstyles in her hair for fun, most of the times she’s just focused on your laughing or concentrated expression as it gives her a warm tingly feeling in her chest

Before the two of you moved in together she would always insist on walking you home after dates

When you first started dating she loved showing off her wealth to you but always made sure to not overwhelm you

When Caitlyn asked you to move in with her she suddenly got super shy, you thought it was adorable

She always spoils you with gifts and trinkets that made her think of you or that have sentimental value

After a long day of work, Caitlyn’s favourite thing to do is to take a warm bath with you resting against her chest while her arms are wrapped around your waist

She always makes sure to spend at least a few hours with you every week, even if she’s super busy

You find it cute whenever Caitlyn gets jealous of someone else being close to you

Whenever someone at a bar is constantly flirting with you, she’ll wrap her arm around your waist and glare at them while saying”can I help you?”

She loves slow mornings when she can just cuddle with you and murmur sweet nothings into your ear

Loves to go clothes shopping with you, especially when you twirl around in an outfit while asking for her opinion

She’s constantly admiring you, no matter where the two of you are

Once she started dating you she got compliments from her coworkers saying that she ‘seemed happier’ or ‘looked more radiant’

On your first birthday that she spent with you she was a nervous wreck, constantly changing the gifts and plans to try and make everything as perfect as possible

Once you realised she was so stressed you made sure to praise her a lot which made her more comfortable

She loves exploring Piltover with you, little secret spots only the two of you know about and new hit spots

Before the two of you started dating Caitlyn would write you love letters and hid them in a random folder

You accidentally found them and made sure to shower Caitlyn in affection for the rest of the day

She tells you everyday that she loves you, even if the two of you were in an argument

[wrapmeinsilk]

Me. Pink ribbon. Sandwiched between them. Strawberry flavored lube. A vibrator. Whipped cream. That’s all.

[aliqqce]

Gosh i love her

2/6

[teataoto]

“Guys I swear my art looks like movie posters when I add filters and text!! It’s not ugly please!!” I scream as they drag me into the mental hospital.

[lanschpaket]

Caitlyn Kiramman (Color/Character analysis S02 Act 1+2) 1/2

This will be a very long post, and also just part 1 of 2 so settle in we go in!

At the beginning of the season we get to see Cait in her normal outfit and also with the known color scheme:

Blue girl, blue enforcer outfit. So mostly blue. She still had that color composition during her mother's funeral and during the memorial ceremony. Then she uses the Kiramman key (still above) and finds out about the grey and the venitlation system and this is also the beginning of her turning point. Of Caitlyn going down a different path from what she was aiming for in S01. Her mothers death and the attack during the memorial changed her. Cait being in a very instable emotional state, after loosing her mother and her legacy during the memorial sullied by an attack of some Zaunites, her former optimism and hope in people vanishes. Remember in S01 when she met Ekko and Ekko wanting to use the Gemstone to have something to stand agains Piltover, Caitlyn convinces Ekko not to go down that path. The path of violence would not solve this conflict, which has been there for years already.

She still believed in people and that people could change for the better and she pureheartedly also believed in her own convictions. But after all the loss and the continuous violence Caitlyn turns away from these ideals and goes down a different path. She now chooses violence, for stopping this war, but mostly I think for her personal reasons of seeking revenge. After going through the Kiramman archives she gears up, steps up and also shows this visibly, when she announces she's going to Zaun to finally make something happen:

She presents herself like this before the council, and this is the first time we see Caitlyn with a red choker. Her first step into going down the violent path. And it's just the beginning of it all. Cause as we know, moving on, after misusing the ventilation system to hunt down Jinx, the city is in need of new leadership, which is endorsed by Ambessa. Ambessa did her entire master plan shit, to get Caitlyn to take that role (for her as her personal puppet). We also know this means further violence on Caitlyn's path, because Ambessa is all about strength and empowerment over others. We visibly see this with Caitlyn receiving a cloak from Ambessa, which inner fabric is red and the big collar framing Cait's face in red:

With that we enter the vampire Caitlyn era:

We get to see a couple of scenes with her in dim lighting or not natural looking lighting such as in Singed's lab. During the prison investigation scene there's a lot of red light enveloping her. At this point she is deep down this path and also entangled in Ambessas inlfuence. Before moving on I still want to point out one thing that I came across, when it's just Caitlyn, not having to represent the leader of Piltover, a powerful and important person in front of others to command and lead, it's just her. No armor, no uniform, no influence, just her with her thoughts and back to her colors:

In this scene at the beginning of S02E04, she reflects on her actions, but mostly on the fact that Ambessa is still around and that there's so many Noxian soldiers in the city. There's complaints about them and Cait is wondering if that's how it's supposed to be or not. For a brief moment she doubts having Ambessa around much longer is the right way to go, but then Caitlyn comes to the conclusion it's for the best, cause that way not many Enforcers lost their lives and deems it to still be the right path for her (to be the vampire leader) But then she meets Ambessa the next day and we see a disagreement between Cait and Ambessa (also visualized). Caitlyn criticises the violent proceeding of Rictus agains the Zaunites at the checkpoint and therefore also criticising Ambessa's role and influence here. In this scene Caitlyn doesn't wear her cloak and is just in her Enforcer uniform, with her red choker (symbolizing her own decision for violent acting, right after her mother's death and not Ambessas doing):

As we know she continues to go down that path with Ambessa and we later get to see her in a sparring fight with Ambessa. Caitlyn said at the beginning of S02E04 that she learned so much from Ambessa and we see that it's not just limited to leadership and tactics, but also combat skills. Which I think is something Caitlyn only started to improve, cause she was always a marksman (the perfect shot) and in the backlines. While in training under Ambessa's instructions she wears a different outfit:

In my very honest and in my personal opinion, the outfit but also the colors look so off on her. And what in the fire nation is happening? XD I get that when you train under a certain instructor and certain techniques you also have to get all in. In this case she puts on clothes and colors that are alien to Cait, BECAUSE she's training in something she's not used to. Caitlyn was never a close combat fighter, but she now even aquires this skill. The off colors and a very different outfit from what we usually see on her reinforces the feeling of something alien on her and also something being put on her externally. This also takes place at Ambessa's HQ which takes Caitlyn away from the usual places we see her. Meaning she even went into the womb of the monster, entirely being engulfed by Ambessa and her doings in all regards. Later, Caitlyn reunites with Vi and we also see her finally snapping out of it. I like to believe that Vi calling her "Cupcake" gave her push she needed and furthermore understanding why Vi is there in the first place and what she's trying to defend. Caitlyn then decides to take down Ambessa and helps out Vi. So both of them make a plan on how to take Ambessa down and save Vander from being taken.

We now get to this scene, inside Ambessa's tent, where Caitlyn claims she captured Vi and delivers her to Ambessa. As we see (which I also pointed out in another post of mine) the inside of the tent has all red. BUT Caitlyn, still only in her Enforcer uniform, facing Vi and turning her back to Ambessa. And also turning her back to the brighter tones of red in that scene, just focussed on Vi the entire time, until Singed continues with the mission on hand. Only then Cait turns around waits for the order to leave and then leaves. And with that also finally leaving being Ambessa behind, cause she knows Vi is about to take her down. I am really looking forward to Act 3 (I'M ALSO VERY SCARED AND I AM NOT READY), and to see how this continues and if I can do a follow up analysis So I think colors, lighting and scene composition are so vital to the story telling. And it's so pretty! I love the visuals of this show. AND omg I am also so normal about Caitlyn. I love her so much, and aaaah she is so my character type ASDFGHJKL Thanks for reading! There will be a 2nd part, which is about another aspect I thought about and which I want to get out :D Part 2!

[blueberrysauce54]

The Game She Plays- Chapter List :)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

A/N <3

TBD: Chapter 17

[alphajaye071]

Y'all ever take a long break from a fandom and that leads you to remember why you love the piece of media that spawned it?

[lithiumlocket]

CAITLYNNNN KIRAMMAANN !!! Season two doodles :>

Not smiling in any of them rip 😞

I love her soooo 🫶💛

[unknown-cold]

Has anyone noticed this too? A girl who lost her mother.

No wonder Caitlyn was so fucking angry at this time, not only was it an attack on the memorial after losing her mother and being kidnapped and tortured etc... but her people died and children lost their mothers, just like this girl. And Cait was definitely feeling her sadness and fear.

This also reminds me of those people who say Caitlyn changed just bc her mother died, or how can she change just bc of one person's death? Well idiots IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!

Like “Oh but she’s from Piltover, she gets all the luxuries that ppl of Zaun don’t” burying your mam in a nice casket does not make the pain any easier to deal with assholes!! she went through sm and people still overlooked her trauma as if she shouldn't be sad and angry bc she's an enforcer, rich, and an adult. WHAT STUPIDITY IS THIS? Seriously what does all this have to do with the character not being traumatized? These people should study psychology and educate themselves a little.

Like people forget this all happened to her in the span of less than a week. She went from a peaceful, pretty sheltered life to being terrorised by Jinx with almost no reprieve.

Video edited by: @mirellvi on TikTok

These people are asking and others are angry why Caitlyn has changed, this girl has been through hell bc of Jinx.

Jinx didn't show any mercy to Caitlyn. And Caitlyn has every right to hate her!! People who overlook what Jinx has done to her are so annoying. The change that happened to Caitlyn It did not start when her mother was killed.

She is gets more hate than the actual villains, and she did less harm than any other leader of Piltover or Zaun. People who excuse characters like Viktor, Sevika or Silco and even Ambessa, but they draw the line on Caitlyn?? they just wanna hate her tbh. Like they don’t comment on the bad and worst things that (Silco, Viktor, SINGED) did

Silco flooded the lanes with shimmer, pay the enforcers to 💀 zaunites and kid / nap children to work on his shimmer factories, and he was a perpetrator of his people suffering. All this and people are justifying his actions, well what about Caitlyn!?

And now someone will come with their stupid excuse and say “Silco is oppressed and wanted to free Zaun” Well being oppressed does not justify him oppressing his people too. Like where is the independence you guys are talking about, when he hurt his people to obey him, and force children to work in dangerous factories and pay enforcers to kill anyone who opposes him, why didn't he pay enforcers to work with him for benefit Zaun, if he really cared about people in Zaun!? And of course there is no need to talk about Ambessa and Singed, the most evil characters who did selfish things, and Viktor as well. But People Don't Care🙄

(I love Viktor btw) but what he did was so bad and terrible!! way worse than what or any other character.

But again people don't care what bad things Viktor did or would do, is it bc he's from Zaun, or bc he's a man? Anything goes... So I really want to know what's wrong with these people who hate Caitlyn so much.

Like it's okay to not like her and not accept her character, but spreading false information about her like “she gassed all of Zaun or that she does dictatorial things” which is absolutely not true. or worse, insulting and cursing people who love Caitlyn and spreading lies about them like they support corrupt regimes or that they are part of the KKK or that they support police brutality in real life bc they love a fictional character. This is so fucking crazy and I sick of it!! Like what makes these people think that I would be act like a fictional character in real life? They really need therapy.

Like they criticizing her bc they feel morally superior bc she's an enforcer and rich?? This is really so ridiculous.

[unknown-cold]

My baby I'm sorry, people don't understand your suffering and your story. 😢💔

heavy is the crown

[cambieart]

Caitvi, Butchfemme

[blueberrysauce54]

The Game She Plays- Chapter 6

Previous Chapter

The night was thick with the kind of tension that only a party could bring. Lights flickered in the dimly lit living room of Mel's apartment, casting shadows on the sleek furniture. The smell of alcohol and perfume hung in the air as people milled around, drinks in hand, some talking in low voices, others laughing too loudly to be heard over the bass-heavy music thumping from the speakers.

Caitlyn wasn't sure why she felt so restless tonight. Maybe it was because the last few days had felt like an emotional rollercoaster. She had hoped tonight would be different, that tonight she'd finally have a chance to talk to Athena, clear the air, and maybe—just maybe—take things a step further. But she hadn't expected this.

Athena had skipped their tutoring session.

Not even a text. Not even a "sorry, something came up." It was classic Athena: unpredictable, uncommitted. Caitlyn hadn't expected much, but she had hoped for a little more than radio silence.

Caitlyn sighed as she adjusted the setup for the party. She was already running late, but she needed something to do to keep her mind off the frustration gnawing at her.

Mel appeared next to her, holding a tray of cocktails. She gave Caitlyn a knowing glance, but didn't ask. She could tell that Caitlyn was tense, probably overthinking it all.

"So, what do you think of Athena skipping out?" Mel asked casually, the corner of her mouth curving into a faint smirk.

Caitlyn tried to keep the irritation from her voice, but it slipped through anyway. "I don't know. It's just... odd. I thought we were making progress. I mean, we've been talking on campus, at the gym, even a couple text messages. But something changed after practice that one night.. she doesn't even have the decency to tell me why she's not showing up."

Mel shrugged, her face unreadable. "Eh, it happens. Athena's not the most reliable. She's never been that committed, to anything really."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Caitlyn muttered, her gaze drifting to the door, wishing Athena would just show up already. "How long have you two been friends anyway?"

Mel seemed to think for a moment, her eyes momentarily darkening. "We've been captain and co-captain of the volleyball team for a while now, but I met her right when she moved from Piltover to Zaun. I never really got the full story, you know? She doesn't talk much about her personal life. I've heard some rumors, about her ex and... her parents. But she was always drunk when she mentioned it. So it's hard to say what's true."

Caitlyn felt a pang in her chest at the mention of Athena'sex. She wondered just how much of that was still hanging over Athena's head. The more she thought about it, the more she realized how little she actually knew about Athena's past.

A couple of hours later, the apartment had become a whirlwind of laughter, music, and flashing lights. Caitlyn had lost track of time, too drunk to think straight. She had spent the last half hour pretending not to look at the door, hoping that Athena would walk in, that she'd finally see her, talk to her, and feel like things might go the way she'd imagined.

When Athena finally showed up, she didn't say a word to Caitlyn. She just walked in, dressed casually in a fitted pair of jeans and a backless shirt that made Caitlyn's breath catch in her throat. The shirt exposed the muscles of Athena's back, the soft curve of her shoulders, and a hint of a tattoo peeking out from the side of her torso. Caitlyn couldn't tear her eyes away.

The soft curve of her shoulders, the lines of muscle that rippled with every movement—it was almost too much, but it was the bruises and hickeys scattered across her back that made Caitlyn freeze. The unmistakable marks of someone who had been with someone else, someone not Caitlyn.

Caitlyn's stomach twisted. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Her gaze was drawn to the evidence of Athena's recent encounters, the intimacy she hadn't been a part of the way Athena seemed so effortlessly desirable to everyone but her.

Caitlyn felt like she was losing her mind. Was this why Athena had skipped their session? Was this why she was acting distant? Her mind was spinning as she watched Athena slip into the crowd, immediately taking a drink and talking to a few people she didn't recognize.

Mel, as always, looked composed. She was chatting with friends, a glass of wine in hand, when Caitlyn noticed her. But her eyes flicked briefly to Athena, then back to Caitlyn with a raised brow. Caitlyn didn't have the words for the confusion and hurt that washed over her.

Jayce, on the other hand, was a mess. He was drunk, his speech slurred, and he had his hands all over Mel, kissing her with a ferocity that left Caitlyn momentarily uncomfortable. She didn't even know why it bothered her, but it did.

Athena, however, didn't seem to care. She was already drifting from group to group, avoiding eye contact with Caitlyn. Caitlyn's mind raced with a mix of confusion, hurt, and the nagging feeling that she was just another game to Athena.

The music pounded louder as Caitlyn continued to drink, her thoughts slipping further into the haze of alcohol. The party was buzzing, people everywhere, laughing and dancing, but it all felt like a blur. All Caitlyn could think about was Athena. The way she hadn't even acknowledged her presence.

Then, just as Caitlyn had almost convinced herself that she was overthinking, Athena appeared again, this time in the middle of a passionate make-out session with some guy Caitlyn didn't recognize. Her hands were all over him, and his were all over her, touching places Caitlyn could barely imagine. The way Athena's body pressed into his, the heated urgency of the kiss—it was too much for Caitlyn to bear. She watched, helpless, as Athena pulled the guy away, dragging him toward one of the bedrooms.

Caitlyn felt the sting of rejection in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't sure if she was mad at Athena, at herself, or just at the whole damn situation. She had been so sure—so sure—that there was something there between them. But now? Now it felt like Athena was playing some game, and Caitlyn had missed the memo.

Mel appeared out of nowhere, sensing Caitlyn's distress. "Hey, hey, don't watch that," she said, her tone soft but firm. "Let it go."

"I—" Caitlyn tried to speak but couldn't find the words. Her vision was swimming as the alcohol took over, and the confusion clouded everything.

"She's just... being Athena," Mel continued, guiding Caitlyn away from the doorway, trying to distract her. "She's not the 'relationship' type. You know that."

Caitlyn's voice trembled, even as she tried to laugh it off. "Right... Right. I just thought... maybe..." Her words trailed off as she fought to keep the frustration from showing.

"You didn't have a chance with her," Mel said softly, not unkindly. "Not like that. Athena isn't looking for something real, Cait. She never has been. You deserve someone who's going to give you everything. And Athena... well, she's got her own shit to work through."

Mel, sensing the mood, didn't push. Instead, she took Caitlyn's arm and steered her away from the scene. "Come on. Let's have some fun, yeah? Forget about her."

Caitlyn didn't fight it. She just let Mel pull her into another conversation, trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat.

"I thought—" Caitlyn hiccupped, wiping away a stray tear. "I thought maybe... maybe we were building something. I don't know. But I guess it's just all a game to her."

Mel let out a long sigh. "It's not a game, Cait. She just... doesn't know how to be real with anyone. You included."

Caitlyn's emotions surged, and she couldn't keep the words inside any longer. "But she.... She acted like she wanted something. I thought it was going somewhere, but then—then I see her with that guy. What the fuck, Mel?"

Mel's eyes softened, and she placed a hand on Caitlyn's shoulder. "Athena's complicated. She... she doesn't know how to be vulnerable, Cait. You've got to stop thinking it's about you."

Mel's gaze flickered away for a moment, as though she was going to say something. Then, in a quiet voice, she added, "Athena's got a lot she's still working through. You wouldn't understand. She's carrying around a lot of baggage... a lot of hurt. It's not about you, Caitlyn. It never was. But it's not a game to her either."

Caitlyn felt a knot form in her chest. She wanted to scream, to cry, to somehow make sense of all of this. But she just nodded, the weight of everything sinking in.

And with that, the night ended. The party faded into the quiet aftermath, and Caitlyn was left alone with her confusion, her heart aching from the revelation that Athena was always going to be a mystery she might never fully understand.

________

Chapter List