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The motorcycle thrummed beneath her, its rhythm traveling up her legs and through her body as she sped down the coastal highway. Street lights flashed in the reflection from her helmet as the wind whistled in her ears. A full moon hung high in the sky, reflecting off the water to her left. The road was empty at this time of night, no one but her around to enjoy the view.
Akali appreciated that. She hadn't been particularly accustomed to fame before joining K/DA, and now that she was in the pop group she wasn't entirely sure how to handle it. She relished these moments when she could get away from the crowds and the cameras, to be alone with her thoughts and the road.
Not that she minded her band mates either of course, but now that they were all living together her moments alone were few and far between, and every once in a while she needed her space. Tonight was one of those nights. The whole group had been antsy for the past few weeks leading up to the release of their new album. That plus a new member being added to the roster meant a lot of pressure on all of them, and they were all dealing with it in their own ways.
The rhythm of the motorcycle shifted as she slowed, pulling the bike off onto a scenic overlook that stood on the edge of a cliff above the coast. The view from here was fantastic, and at this time of night it was just the sort of peaceful she needed right now. She dropped the kickstand, pulled off her helmet, and ruffled her hair before tying it back in her usual ponytail. Leaving the helmet on her handlebars, she plopped down onto one of the benches on the overlook.
The quiet night air was a nice reprieve from the craziness of the K/DA mansion, especially these last few months. Everything had been moving so fast, scrambling to get the new album ready and then all of the press leading up to its release. She dropped her head into her hands and let out a heavy sigh. That wasn’t even all that was bothering her...
Akali shook her head to try and clear those thoughts; the others were probably worried about her. She hadn't exactly said anything before bolting; roaring out of the garage on her motorcycle before anyone could stop her. Ahri would give her that adorable little pout and ask why she left, Kai'sa would nod slightly and understand, and Eve...
There was a roar of an engine in the distance.
Well that was probably Eve right now.
Sure enough, a pair of headlights flashed down the coast, following the path she had just tread. The distinct thrumming of one of Evelynn's sports cars followed as it peeled around a bend and came rolling to a stop at the overlook.
Akali slung an arm over the back of the bench and watched as the diva stepped out of her ride; a sleek, exotic model in dark purple, with neon pink undercarriage lights. Her silver hair flashed in the moonlight, a stunning accompaniment to the dim yellow glow of her eyes. Evelynn's heels clicked against the pavement as she approached, a signature smirk on her face as she eyed the other woman.
"Well that didn't take long," Akali quipped, not entirely sure if she was disappointed by that fact.
"You'll have to try a lot harder than that if you want to outrun me, love." Evelynn's voice was silky smooth, and just like always Akali found it difficult to get a read on her.
"I wasn't trying to outrun anyone," She defended.
"You certainly left like you were," One of Eve's razor sharp eyebrows had risen at that, and when a response wasn't forthcoming she circled around the bench to sit down next to K/DA's rapper. "What's wrong, love?"
"...Nothing," She said, after a sigh, "Just wanted to get away from things for a bit is all."
Evelynn's golden eyes bored into Akali as she pursed her lips. There was no way she was fooling her.
"You're a terrible liar, love."
She let out a solemn chuckle, "Yeah I shoulda known you wouldn't buy that, huh?"
"Yes," the Diva confirmed, but there was the ghost of a smile on her face. Her gaze softened, "I understand I am not always the easiest person to talk to, Akali, but I am... more than willing to lend an ear. Should you need it."
Akali huffed, blowing a few strands of hair out from in front of her face. She glanced down at her lap, clenching and unclenching her fists as thoughts circled her brain. There were certainly things bothering her, but they weren't things she shared with the group. She'd thought they'd all chalked it up to the same album-drop nervousness the whole group was feeling. Obviously Eve at least hadn't bought that.
"It's... stupid," she finally said, deflating.
Eve's face didn't change (god this woman was hard to read), "If it's bothering you this much, then I sorely doubt that."
"I just... I'm worried about the new girl, I guess."
"Seraphine?" Evelynn clarified, both eyebrows shooting up this time, "Why are you worried about her? Not getting jealous are you, love?"
"I mean, yeah? I guess I kind of am?" Akali shrugged, indignant, "Like I said, it's stupid."
The Diva hmmed, "I'm not so sure about that, but why are you worried?"
"I just, I really like what we have? The four of us? I like our dynamic a lot, I like you all a lot. Like I know things haven't been perfect, but they've been way better than they used to be for me, and having the three of you in my life has been fucking amazing and I'm just... I'm worried this is going to mess that up, that it's going to change things."
"Why would it change things?"
"I'm not the new girl anymore! I mean, before all of this I wasn't really anything, just a kid rapping to strangers on the street. You and Ahri were both already on top of your industries, and Kai'sa won that huge competition. How am I supposed to compete with that? Then this new girl shows up and takes the internet by storm and of course the label wants us to colab with her cause why wouldn't they? She's super talented! I just..." she deflated, "I'm worried I'm being replaced."
"Oh Akali, darling..." There was a surprising amount of concern in Evelynn's voice, enough for Akali to tear her eyes from her clenched fists and look up at her. There was something different in those golden eyes now, and suddenly one of Eve's hands was on her face, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She gulped, unable to move, captivated by the Diva's stare.
"Nothing could ever replace you."
And then suddenly there was no more space between them, Evelynn's lips crashing against hers as the hand on her cheek snaked into her hair. Akali's brain short circuited and it took her several seconds to realize what was happening before she began to reciprocate. (HolyshitEveiskissingme?Holyshit.HOLYSHIT.)
But like all good things (And kissing Eve was most definitely a good thing) it did have to end eventually. Akali took a few gasping breaths as the diva pulled away from her, the kiss having literally taken her breath away. After a few moments to get her bearings (and to process what had just happened) she turned back to Evelynn with a confused look on her face.
“I- You- What- Buh???”
The other woman let out an amused chuckle.
“What? You didn’t think me calling you love and going through all the effort of coming to get you was all for nothing, did you?”
“But- You and Ahri???” Akali was half a step from pulling her hair out in confusion and frustration at this point. Why had Eve kissed her anyway??
“Yes?” Eve responded with only a raised eyebrow.
“You’re married!?!”
“Yes, and we’re both polyamorous, dear.” The diva flashed her a mischievous smile, “Do you really think either of us would be satisfied with a single partner?”
Akali dropped her head back into her hands at that, resisting the urge to actually pull her hair out. The sound of Evelynn’s laughter filtered through her frustration and she felt an arm settle over her shoulders. The feeling was more comforting than she expected it to be, and she couldn’t help but lean into the embrace a bit.
“So… what does this mean…?”
“Whatever you want it to mean, darling. I love you, and you are welcome to take that however you like. But I meant what I said before. Nothing could ever replace you; Not for me, and not for K/DA.”
“You… you really mean that?” Akali’s voice had dropped to a near whisper, and she was trying to resist curling in on herself around the knot of anxiety in her stomach. A hand snaked under her chin, and suddenly she was looking into those beautiful golden eyes once more. She thought she could tell better what was in them this time: Sympathy, Caring… Love.
“Every word, Akali.”
The finality of that statement unwound the knot in her stomach and suddenly her hands were on Eve’s face and they were kissing again. A warmth filled her chest and she couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from inside of her, smiling against the Diva’s lips. Her anxieties all seemed so silly now. Of course Seraphine wasn’t replacing her, she was K/DA’s Rapper, there was no one in the world who could stand up to her skill and take her place in the group. And on top of all of that, Evelynn loved her. And… Akali was pretty sure she loved her back.
The two women finally pulled apart and Akali let out another laugh, leaning her forehead against Evelynn’s. She blinked and felt tears running down her cheeks. When had she started crying? She brought a hand up to wipe at her eyes, sniffling a little. All the while Eve’s hands held her in a warm embrace. Akali wrapped her arms around the diva and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you.”
“Anything for you, my little dragon.” Akali couldn’t help but smile at the nickname.
They sat there for another few minutes, content in each others’ arms with nothing but the calm night air around them and the quiet crashing of waves below.
“The others are probably worried. We should probably get back to them, yeah?”
“Mmm, probably. Ahri might be done convincing Kai’sa to join the polycule by now.” Akali shot up, looking at Eve with wide eyes.
“Wait, Polycule???”
Evelynn laughed and stood up, offering a hand to her.
“Shall we get back to them before they have too much fun without us, little dragon?”
Akali threw up her hands in exasperation, but took her girlfriend’s(?) offered hand nonetheless.
“I’m gonna have to get you back for this at some point,” She grumbled as she got to her feet.
“Of course you will, love”
The two new lovers made their way back to their respective vehicles, Akali snatching another kiss before straddling her motorcycle once more. The twin roar of their engines echoed over the quiet coastline and Akali left her anxieties behind at the overlook, her girlfriend’s headlights following in her wake.