Guess the winner takes it all, after all...
pairing: caleb x reader
wc: ~500 words
summary: Wherein Caleb totally crushes you in Kitty Cards which frustrates you to no end, but make no mistake—you do love him, a whole lot... just maybe not during a game of kitty cards.
notes: yeah, i wrote this after a fit of rage when i lost to caleb playing kitty cards. it was so bad i had to put him in time out. slimed him out during the second playthrough in the last round tho :p ALSO i apologize for any grammatical errors, english is not my first language. Also not beta read, we explode like caleb xia.
masterlist
Listen, Caleb only ever agreed to play kitty cards with you because you seemed so excited about it—so naturally, he'd want to indulge you. He could only try so hard to ever say no to his pipsqueak, after all.
Not that Caleb regrets ever agreeing to play with you—no, he never would. But then again, he has to deal with this...
"Pips," Caleb tried for the fifth time already.
In the regular eye, you would seem fine. You scored a perfectly neutral expression, but Caleb knew better. Nothing was entirely too out of the ordinary, but Caleb knew you long enough to recognize the different signs of 'No-you-didn't-do-anything-exactly-wrong, but-my-pride-has-already-been-wounded-so in-a-way—I'm-upset-with-you.' mood. But listen, it's not like Caleb did anything inherently wrong, probably except the fact that he got your own ass handed to you in the three rounds of Kitty Cards.
But you had been deceptively graceful throughout each round, that Caleb was either suspicious or genuinely amused over the course of the game on how you managed to keep your own peace, he knew very well you were nothing short of competitive. A couple of buried grudges and kitties in teacups later, here he is now.
"Pipsqueak," Caleb goes and tilts his body in a way that forces you to face him which effectively lifts your gaze to him. Letting out an annoyed huff, you finally open your mouth to speak. "What?"
Caleb gives you a pointed look, "Don't 'what' me," he leans back and crosses his arms, "You've gone quiet on me for the past ten minutes--and I know something's bothering you even when you pretend it doesn't."
Oh curse him.
"I told you, nothing's bothering me."
Caleb only rolls his eyes to the side, "Look, if this is about the game—"
"If you think for a second I'm being a sore loser, I'm gonna toss the teacup right in your stupid face, Caleb Xia." You huffed at him.
Caleb only sighs—the sigh of a man who's already been through this for more times than he can count to ever be truly fazed.
"I didn't say you were," he says and you only scoff in reply.
You knew what he was doing—Caleb somehow always knew you a lot better than you did and it irked you sometimes. It was almost like he had a bachelor's degree in reading you to filth.
Sulking over a minor inconvenience that you were sure have ruined your entire day? Caleb's already one step ahead of you to cheer you up.
You broke grandma's favorite vase when no one was around and you were convinced you were putting your best act? Caleb already knew the crime you committed before you could even defend yourself.
Trying to sneak around Caleb with a hidden injury? You don't even last five minutes around him.
Every single time, without fail—he's always managed to one-up you to which you were grateful for some time in the past. Other times...? It filled you with dread.
Now, though? It only pisses you off. You may or may not throw a 'Meow This!' card at his face.
"Keep staring like that pips or you might disintegrate that teacup into dust."
Your gaze lifts back to his face and you immediately scowl.
"Don't try to be funny right now!"
"Alright, alright," he chuckles softly, he leans back and he levels you with a knowing (but no less fond) look, "Seriously though, pips, stop glaring at that poor teacup—and stop frowning. You'll get wrinkles."
He brings two of his fore fingers up to your forehead and press against it. You let out an annoyed huff but ease up against his gesture and his damn chuckle with that damned smile of his anyway. Caleb only shakes his head lightly, sighing softly. It takes an effort to not break your scowl into a smile. "You're so annoying, stop that." You grumble, swatting his hand away.
Caleb raises his hands in defense, "You were the one who practically pleaded to play, pipsqueak."
"Yeah, that was before you crushed my grandiose dreams right to my face!" You bit back and Caleb sighed at this.
"Well, okay, we don't have to play anymore if y'don't wanna-"
"The heck do you mean we won't? I never said I didn't wanna play anymore, I'm just pissed!" You say, grumpily yet endearingly determined in setting up the cards and the teacups once more across the table. Caleb just shakes his head and accepts his fate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A couple of meow this cards, begrudging blocked number card rounds, you effectively crushed Caleb in three consecutive rounds of Kitty Cards—well mostly, roughly, exceeding him by one to two points but hey, a win is a win!
You rubbed it off on Caleb's face, though you did get a lot meaner after competitively acquiring a winning streak against Caleb. People would have thought you'd won and become a champion on the Olympics. But between you and Caleb, that was almost the same.
Between you and Caleb, though, he wouldn't have it any other way. Regardless if you were upset over him for the most miniscule things, or you being completely mean and soaking up every bit of your bragging rights, Caleb was right where he wanted to be.
And as the saying goes, the winner takes it all. In this case, Caleb and his hopelessly devoted heart included.