Fame is a Gun — actress!Caitlyn x pop star!reader
Summary: After years of fame as Piltover's biggest pop star, you finally meet Caitlyn Kiramman, the nation's most beloved actress. When she agrees to star in your music video, you finally understand why she steals so many hearts — and why she's starting to steal your own.
cw: 2.7K words | sfw, actress!Caitlyn and pop star!reader, suggestive language, kissing, mutual pining, protective!Caitlyn
You meet Caitlyn at an awards show.
Piltover’s biggest music awards show makes headlines every year. It’s a whole production: a fancy theatre, a huge audience, golden trophies that every singer dreams of taking home. And you, Piltover's rising global pop star, are no exception.
Now one of the biggest singers in Piltover, your popularity has been skyrocketing as you drop album after album, singing and charming the fans with your kind heart and creative mind. You had once been a young teenager, desperate to make your dreams come true as you wrote and recorded songs on your bedroom floor. Now? You stand in front of thirty cameras, adorned in a dress that costs more than your rent, your heels sinking into the red carpet beneath you.
“Hey! Look over here! Do a pose! Say ‘hi’ to your fans!”
Smile. Pose. Blow a kiss or a wink to make the fans go crazy.
The routine as per usual.
You stay on the carpet for maybe thirty minutes, posing for photos and engaging in polite interviews, before you move up the stairs and into the theater for the awards.
There are tables scattered around the venue, each topped with pristine silverware and napkins. Trays of small bites of food are carried around, served by waiters with nervous eyes and shaky hands — especially when they meet you. Who can blame them? You’re a gold-star singer, as much as you don’t always feel like one.
You reach the table where your name is written in neat cursive: a small table in the front, with a perfect view for the cameras to catch your every reaction. You lift your dress — long, silky, and crimson red — to sit gingerly in your chair. There’s another name tag in front of the other chair at the table, but it’s facing away from you. You don’t bother to read it.
You busy yourself on your phone as you wait for the other guests to come in and the ceremony to start. You scroll through post after post that flood your social media: all talking about how beautiful you look, how cute you are in interviews, messaging you ‘good luck.’ You scroll and scroll, getting lost in opinions before someone clears their throat beside you.
When you glance up, icy blue eyes meet yours.
“Excuse me, but I think I’m your seatmate tonight.”
Posh-accented words fall from pretty lips, and there’s no mistaking that stare. Caitlyn Kiramman, one of the most famous actresses in all of Runeterra. She makes appearances in all the best movies, and her sharp features and stunning visuals land her countless magazine covers. Once called a nepo-baby, now one of the most respected professionals.
Everyone who has met Caitlyn has only the best things to say about her. Kind, intelligent, professional, beautiful. She has an aura of class that follows her, and it’s not just because her mother is a Piltovian councilwoman. That’s just Caitlyn — that’s just who she is.
Yet, very few actually know her. She’s a famously private person.
Now, Caitlyn stands before you, wrapped in a navy, silken pantsuit with a ribbon wrapped around the waist. She’s always been pretty, nicknamed one of the most insane facecards in the industry, but something about her is especially alluring tonight. At 6’1,” she’s noticeably taller than you.
“Oh, yes!” You respond without thinking, smiling on instinct. “It’s so good to finally meet you. I’ve seen so many of your movies.”
Caitlyn laughs as she draws out her chair and faces you, folding her hands politely on the table. Perfect manners. “Oh, I’m glad. Maybe it means I’m doing something right, if I’m known by my favorite artists.”
“Your—?“ You blink in surprise. In your momentary daze, you had almost forgotten who you are. Still, it would shock anyone to be known by Caitlyn Kiramman, much less be favored by her. “I’m one of your favorites?”
Caitlyn nods, a singular eyebrow raised as her gaze locks with yours. “Is it so shocking that I like pop music?”
You falter. “Well, uh, yes?”
Caitlyn breaks a smile at that, and you feel your muscles automatically lose some tension. Already, you feel a little less starstruck, and Caitlyn seems a little less like the face you’ve only seen on TV. “I suppose it is. But yes, you and Seraphine are my favorites. I swear I’ve been to one of your concerts before, maybe a year ago?”
Oh, you know.
You had seen it flooding your feed when she had attended your concert. Endless photos were posted of Caitlyn, dressed in all black with a baseball hat covering her face, watching you perform from a discreet area. That had been your first shock, watching videos that fans had captured from your hotel room that night.
“Yeah,” your smile turns almost sheepish. “I saw that, actually. I was so surprised. You could have messaged me, you know, I would have given you better tickets.”
Caitlyn waves your concern off with her hand. “I didn’t want to bother I don’t mind getting a regular seat, as long as I can hear the music. That’s why I went, anyways, not for VIP treatment.”
“Is that why you’re here?” you gesture around the awards theatre, that’s slowly filling up with people finding their tables. The show is set to start in a few minutes. The awards are music-specific, so you have to wonder why a famous actress (who doesn’t sing) has made an appearance. “Because you want to see the performances?”
“Yes and no. That’s the main reason, but I was also asked to present an award. So I took the opportunity” Caitlyn sighs as she takes a champagne glass from a passing waiter. Your eyes train on her as she sips from the bubbling drink, gaze sliding from her lips down to her collarbone, before you realize your mistake and glance away.
“At least you get a break from the nerves,” you clear your throat, the room suddenly feeling too warm. “I always get nervous, no matter how many awards shows I’ve been to.”
“Don’t be,” Caitlyn sets her glass down and crosses one leg over the other, leaning back in her chair as if she’s studying you intently. “You have no reason to be nervous. You’re already incredible. The trophy is just a reminder of it.”
|------» ~~~ «------|
You meet Caitlyn for a second time a few weeks later.
You’re in the studio one day, discussing your upcoming album with your producer. Your songs are recorded, set, and good to go. Now it’s time to film the music video for your lead single. Your producer had suggested another actress for the romance plot of the video, and now, you’re staring at Caitlyn’s number in your phone.
“Just call her,” your producer says, already typing away on his laptop, drafting emails to send to the rest of your team. “You said she’s the best actress you know, right?”
“Yes,” you nod, but your stomach churns looking at her number. She had given it to you at the end of the awards show, right after congratulating you for winning best pop album. She had promised you could call her if you either needed an actress or just wanted to see her. Now? You weren’t sure which one it was.
Shaking the intrusive thoughts out of your mind, you tap call and hold your phone to your ear.
Caitlyn picks up on the third ring. “Hello,” she answers politely, accent clear through the speakers. “I’m glad you called.”
You pause for a moment, caught off guard. “You are?”
“Yes.”
Her simple answer hangs in the air, waiting until you continue. “I— I should probably have contacted your team about this, but I’m in the studio right now, and we need an actress for my music video. We’d film at the end of next week, and it would release next month. I know it’s sudden, and I’m not sure if you have other projects—“
“I’ll do it.” Again, Caitlyn answers simply. This time, she doesn’t wait for you to elaborate. “Just have your team send the details to mine, and I’m more than happy to help.”
“Oh,” you blink, genuinely shocked by how easy this was. You had expected her to take some time, to tell you she’s busy, to ask more questions. Instead? Nothing. Just acceptance, willingness — even if her professional tone is difficult to read sometimes. “Okay. Yes, I’ll do that. Thank you so much.”
“Of course,” Caitlyn responds, and you can hear some shuffling in the background. “I’ll see you then.”
And with that, she hangs up, and you’re left staring at the black screen of your phone in pleased confusion.
|------» ~~~ «------|
The day of the shoot arrives quickly, and you get to set in sunglasses and matching pink sweats. You’re immediately rushed into hair and makeup, scrolling idly on your phone and tilting your head every time your makeup artist instructs you to.
You meet Caitlyn two hours later, in front of the cameras set up by a fancy pool. The first location is filmed here, capturing all the summer vibes that fans will love. Your first shot is you in a sundress, elbow propped up on a lounge chair, lip-syncing your own lyrics as you look admiringly off camera. Then, it switches to Caitlyn, seemingly oblivious to your stare.
And I— I’m just falling in too deep
Need you so, can barely breathe
You film until the sun starts to set, marking the near-end of the first day of filming. “We’re going to film the last scene now,” the director instructs. “Because you’ll both need to be in the pool for this. We didn’t want you to be wet for the other shots.”
You nod in agreement, but your stomach is in knots. You know what the last scene is: a kiss shared in the pool with the water aglow from the sunset’s light. It will be beautiful, a perfect end to the video.
It’s just…
Although you haven’t known Caitlyn for long, the idea of kissing her feels different to the other few actresses you’ve kissed in past videos. Those were just friendly pecks, easily laughed off when the video finished, and done without any feeling. You aren’t quite sure what it is, exactly, but something about Caitlyn makes your nerves flare.
Caitlyn, meanwhile, looks absolutely unfazed. She sits by the edge of the pool, long legs dangling into the water. The sunset makes her look more beautiful, if that’s possible, blue eyes radiant in the light. She’s got the whole world in the palm of her hand, and now, you’re starting to realize that includes you.
Oh, you’re so fucked.
You carefully slide into the water, grimacing as the cold meets your skin. Caitlyn doesn’t flinch when she follows, but she smiles at the sight of your discomfort, almost amused. “Come on, we have to film before the sun sets,” she calls, a teasing lilt to her voice.
“Yeah, I know,” you grumble, already floating towards her. She catches you mid-way, adjusting her arms around your waist and gently pulling you through the water until you’re up against her. And oh, you know it’s just for the shot, but it’s undeniably attractive.
“Don’t worry,” she mumbles lowly as the crew sets up the camera. “I’ll keep you warm.”
Your cheeks flush, and it’s not just from the sun.
When the director yells action a moment later, you slip back into the scene, steadying your hands on Caitlyn’s shoulders as the last lines of the song play. Your slide your hands from her shoulders to wrap your arms around her neck, and Caitlyn’s affectionate gaze is so vivid that you let yourself pretend it’s real. When she kisses you, it’s so natural that those few moments feel like eternity.
You’re only snapped out of it when the director yells cut, and even then, Caitlyn leaves you with a soft bite to your lower lip. It’s almost teasing, even playful — something you hadn’t expected from her. And when your eyes open to meet hers, you find that the affection is still present in her eyes.
You’re rushed into a towel, then into your normal clothes, reset back to an ordinary look before you’re allowed to grab your bag and leave. It’s only then that you can fully process the day, the shoot, the kiss. Singers kiss actors all the time for their music videos; it’s not big deal.
Except it is a big deal. Because you’ve just kissed Caitlyn Kiramman, and if you’re being honest, you want to do it again.
“Hey!” Caitlyn’s voice echoes from behind you, and she jogs to catch up to you. “Planning on leaving without saying goodbye?”
“Sorry,” you tug on a stand of hair sheepishly, halting in your steps to face her. “I thought you had already left.”
“Well, I haven’t because I was wondering,” she pauses, as if searching for the right words. Caitlyn never hesitates, never second-guesses herself. Being sharp and well-spoken has been drilled into her ever since she was a child. “I was wondering if you wanted to grab takeout, or something. It’s late now, and I think we both need some food.”
Now it’s your turn to hesitate, looking up at her with widened eyes. “Ah— that sounds great, but are you sure? I know shooting can be tiring, so I don’t blame you if you want to rest.”
Caitlyn lifts one shoulder in a half-shrug. “Maybe. But we’re already out, and I really don’t feel like cooking. I wouldn’t think you do, either.”
“No, I don’t,” you admit, already opening up a delivery app on your phone. “Do you want to just order something here, then?”
“Actually, I was thinking we could go back to my place,” Caitlyn offers, and you realize she’s already called a car to come pick her up. 2 minutes away. “Is that alright?”
Really, all you can do is nod. “Yeah. That’s okay.”
|------» ~~~ «------|
Caitlyn asks you out that same night.
Between boxes of Ionian takeout, a movie on the TV, and maybe another kiss, you agree with a mix of excitement and nerves. Dating isn’t a foreign concept in the world of fame, but you’ve never been with someone quite like Caitlyn. You aren’t sure you’re were prepared for the amount of attention you’d get.
But when Caitlyn threads her fingers through your hair and whispers reassurances as she holds you close, you can’t find it in your heart to worry much more.
The music video premieres along with the rest of your album the following week, and it explodes. It hits ten million views in the first twenty-four hours, and it’s reposted countless times across social media — especially the kiss that you and Caitlyn had shared.
It’s been two days and I’m still thinking about this
Where do I find someone who looks at me like that???
THEIR SMILES I AM ON THE FLOOR
It’s a lot. But you find that, when you’re with Caitlyn, none of those people seem to matter. You’re too busy looking at her, admiring her, pressing kisses to her jawline, whispering soft praises of how beautiful she is. The media reports fall on deaf ears: they’re the least important thing in your world right now.
People only go more insane when you’re spotted with her after the music video is released. In between promotions for your album, you’re going on dates: little outings at random cafés, taking walks along a trail near her apartment, fancy restaurants that have you dressing up. Caitlyn always guides you in with a hand on your lower back, slipping around to your hip teasingly. She’d be taking the dress off of you later.
Your songs become softer, more lovesick in a way that’s obvious to everyone around you. You perform in front of crowds, eyes always searching for Caitlyn in the crowd. Sometimes she can’t be there due to her own projects, but she’s in attendance a surprising amount. She keeps it discreet, always somewhere in the back, but fans always notice.
The media really loses it when the two of you start attending award shows together. It’s your first time officially declaring yourself as a couple to the public, and you smile for the many photographers that bombard you with ridiculous questions. Everyone turns their cameras in your direction, attempting to be the first article announcing your official relationship.
“When did you start dating?!”
“Caitlyn! Are you going to be in any more music videos?!”
“Are you writing songs about Caitlyn?!”
That’s the only question you choose to answer. You just smile sweetly at the photographer, the camera capturing the warm light in your eyes. “Always.”
When you finally leave the afterparty later that night, you lean against Caitlyn, too exhausted to socialize anymore. She brushes stray hairs from your forehead and presses a soft kiss to your temple. “Don’t worry, darling. We’re going home.”
She keeps a firm grip on your arm as you leave the venue. Her arm comes up to shield you, blocking your face from the bright camera flashes, and preventing any more photos. She knows you well now. She knows when you’ve had enough, and damn it, she’s going to enforce it.
All of this feels like a distant memory when you’re curled against her chest at night, floating in and out of a dreamlike state. You’re torn between visions of the future, filled with Caitlyn joining you on stage for your upcoming tour, and the present moment. You inhale deeply, breathing in the scent of her floral perfume.
“What’re you thinking about?” Caitlyn murmurs in the dim lighting of her luxury apartment. She has one hand in your hair and the other stroking up and down your back. She smiles when she feels your breathing even out.
“Tour,” you mumble, eyes closed in sleepy content. It’s hard to care about much when you’re enveloped in her warmth and touch. “How I’ll miss you. How you can come on stage with me, make a special appearance.”
“Whatever you’d like,” Caitlyn hums, shifting slightly so she’s fully facing you. Her body melds into yours, naked under the sheets from previous activities. “I’ll take any excuse to be with you.”
“Even in front of an audience?”
She slides her hand from your back to your neck, fingers tracing the necklace she had given you. A gold chain with a singular initial: C.
“Especially in front of an audience.”
Inspired by the songs Fame is a Gun (Addison Rae) and Call It What You Want (Taylor Swift). Amaaaazing songs, so go listen!!
Also special shoutout to @shouyuus because I have been in love with their Vi x pop star!reader AU for the longest time. I'm sure some inspiration was taken from her AU as well because it's just so well written !!
I might be busy with life a lot, but writing brings me so much happiness. I might even bring back a some Vi content... but don't worry! Caitlyn Kiramman will always be my fixation <3
~Cherry 🍒
