Caitlyn stood on the edge of the promenade overlooking Zaun, her usual composure fraying with every passing second. The thick, smoky air of the Undercity wasn’t as oppressive as it had been the first few times she’d come here. Now, it carried a strange kind of comfort—warmth, even. But tonight, the weight of her thoughts pressed harder than the smog ever could.

This should have been simple. She’d faced criminals, outwitted schemers, and navigated the razor-sharp politics of Piltover her entire life. Yet one Zaunite had her completely undone. Every interaction with her—the quick wit, the fierce independence, the flashes of vulnerability—had stirred something Caitlyn wasn’t prepared for.

Her boots scuffed against the metal grating as she paced. She could almost hear Vi’s smug laughter in her head if she ever found out how flustered Caitlyn was over something so... personal.

What if I’m too forward? What if I seem patronizing? What if she doesn’t want this?

Her mind raced, latching onto every possible way this could go wrong. But it wasn’t just fear that held her back. It was unfamiliarity. The rules she’d learned from Piltover’s elite didn’t apply here. In Zaun, everything—relationships included—was raw, unscripted. And Caitlyn wasn’t sure how to approach that without fumbling.

She inhaled sharply, steadying herself. She had faced worse odds before. Surely she could... figure out a way to say something as simple as: I like you.

Her fingers trailed over the inside of her coat pocket, brushing against the small box she’d brought with her—a gift. Something she’d picked out during her last visit to Zaun. It wasn’t extravagant, but it felt right. It felt thoughtful.

A shadow moved at the edge of her vision, and her heart leapt before her training tamped down the reaction. Caitlyn turned, trying to school her features into a neutral expression, though she felt the heat creeping into her cheeks.

“Hey,” she said, her voice carefully even. “I, uh... thought I might find you here.”