Chapter 9
Ivy shifted slightly, resting her elbow on the armrest of the couch as she played with the hem of her sleeve, her dagger belt catching the soft glow of the room's dim lighting. Her playful smirk softened, replaced by a more casual, inquisitive look as she decided to steer the conversation toward something more useful.
"So," she began, her voice smooth and deliberate, "you seem like the type who hears a lot of interesting things around here." She tilted her head slightly, her expression a mix of curiosity and charm. "Anything stirring on the streets lately? Trouble brewing, maybe?"
The woman raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. She leaned back, taking another slow drag from her pipe before responding. "You don't strike me as the type to care about street gossip," she said, exhaling a stream of purple smoke that seemed to curl lazily in the air between them. "What's got you so curious?"
Ivy chuckled softly, playing off the question with an air of nonchalance. "Let's just say I like to stay informed," she replied, leaning forward slightly as if to emphasize her point. "Knowledge is power, after all. And someone like you? I'm guessing you've got plenty of it."
The woman's eyes glimmered with intrigue, and she tapped the edge of her pipe thoughtfully. "You're not wrong," she admitted. "But information doesn't come cheap, even for someone as... interesting as you."
Ivy smirked, unphased by the veiled challenge. She reached for her own drink, taking a slow sip before responding. "Oh, I'm sure we could work something out," she said, her voice low and confident. "Besides, you're enjoying this conversation as much as I am. Why not share a little?"
The woman chuckled, clearly entertained by Ivy's boldness. "Alright," she said, leaning in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "There's been talk of a new player in town—someone stirring up trouble in the undercity. No one seems to know much, but they're making waves. Smuggling, sabotage, you name it."
Ivy's expression didn't falter, but her mind immediately latched onto the information. She nodded slightly, as if encouraging the woman to continue. "And this... new player?" she asked, her tone light but probing. "Any idea who they are, or what they want?"
The woman shrugged, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Personally, Not yet. But whoever they are, they're bold. Too bold for their own good, if you ask me." She took another drag from her pipe, exhaling slowly before adding, "Word is, they've got connections in both Piltover and the undercity. Dangerous connections."
She leaned back, processing the woman's words as she maintained her relaxed facade. This was exactly the kind of lead they needed, and she couldn't afford to let it slip through her fingers.
"Interesting," she said, her smirk returning. "Sounds like someone worth keeping an eye on."
Ivy knew she had to play along, at least until Vi returned, but part of her was starting to wonder if she wasn't playing just a little too well. She shifted on the couch, leaning in just enough to blur the line between playful and serious, a smirk tugging at her lips. The heat of the place gave her the perfect excuse to up the ante. With deliberate ease, she reached up, pulling back her hood and unwinding the scarf from around her neck.
The faint glow of the dim room illuminated her pale features, and she ruffled her hair lightly to shake it free from the weight of the fabric. Now sitting more comfortably, her tight-fitting pants and dagger belt emphasized her ready-for-anything demeanor, but it was the off-white blouse, slightly unbuttoned at the top, that added a touch of casual dishevelment to her otherwise sharp presentation.
She leaned back into the couch, her body language relaxed but her sharp gaze locked on the woman in front of her. Ivy played her part effortlessly, as if she belonged in this world of smoke and secrets, but inside, her mind was constantly analyzing the situation, every word and glance exchanged.
"Is it always this warm in here, or is it just me?" Ivy quipped, her voice low and teasing, as she draped her scarf lazily across the back of the couch. She rested her elbow on the armrest, chin propped on her knuckles as she regarded the woman with an almost predatory amusement.
The woman's eyes flicked over Ivy, her smile growing just a touch wider as if she appreciated the game Ivy was playing. "It's not the room, darling," the woman said, leaning slightly closer, her voice a sultry murmur. "Though I'm not complaining about the view."
Ivy chuckled softly, her smirk deepening. "You've got a silver tongue," she said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "I'm starting to wonder how many people you've reeled in with lines like that."
The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by the banter. "Only the ones worth my time," she replied, her tone as smooth as silk. "And you? Are you always this charming, or am I just lucky?"
She let out a quiet laugh, leaning forward slightly as if to close the distance between them. "Maybe I just like a challenge," she said, her voice soft but edged with a hint of danger.
The woman mirrored Ivy's movement, her expression unreadable but her gaze intense. "Careful," she murmured. "Challenges can be... unpredictable."
Ivy's smirk widened, her confidence bolstered by the interplay. She shifted her weight slightly, her hand brushing the hilt of the dagger at her belt—a subtle reminder that she wasn't just playing games. "I've never been one to back down from the unpredictable," she said. "Keeps life interesting."
The woman chuckled, leaning back just enough to let the tension linger between them. "I can see that," she said, her eyes lingering on Ivy's dagger belt for a moment before meeting her gaze again. "You're full of surprises."
Ivy didn't respond immediately, letting the silence stretch for just a beat too long before she leaned back into the couch, her smirk still firmly in place. "You have no idea," she said, her tone both playful and challenging. She smirked, leaning in closer as she let her hand brush lightly against the woman's cheek, her fingers grazing her skin with calculated softness. It was a bold move, but Ivy was always one to gamble when the stakes were high. She needed to keep the woman entertained—and distracted—long enough for Vi to return with whatever they needed.
"The truth is," Ivy began, her voice low and sultry, her eyes glinting with mischief, "I came here to experience something new. Something... different."
The woman's eyebrow arched, her playful grin returning as she tilted her head, clearly intrigued by Ivy's words and her touch. "Is that so?" she murmured, her voice a smoky purr. "And have you found what you were looking for?"
Her hand retreating as she leaned back, letting the tension between them simmer. "Not yet," she said, her tone coy. "But I have a feeling I'm getting close."
The woman laughed, a warm, throaty sound that filled the hazy room.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her grin fading into a curious smirk. "You're an enigma, Ivy," she said. "And I have a feeling you like it that way."
Ivy simply shrugged, her smirk still firmly in place. "Maybe," she said. "Or maybe I just enjoy keeping people guessing."
The woman laughed again, clearly entertained by Ivy's evasiveness. "Fair enough," she said. "But be careful, darling. Games like this have a way of catching up to you."
Ivy's hand brushed the hilt of her makeshift dagger, a subtle reminder of her readiness for anything. "Don't worry about me," she said, her voice soft but firm. "I've always known how to handle myself."
The woman's eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before she leaned back, taking another slow drag from her pipe. "I believe you," she said finally. "But that only makes you more dangerous."
Letting the tension in her shoulders ease just slightly, she laughed. The longer she kept the woman engaged, the more time Vi and Caitlyn had to work.
Ivy's breath caught in her throat for a moment as the woman leaned in, her lips curling into a sly smile before exhaling a soft stream of smoke into Ivy's face. The haze clouded the space between them, wrapping them in an air of intimacy and tension. The woman's fingers brushed lightly against Ivy's jaw as she gently pushed a strand of Ivy's hair aside, her movements deliberate and slow.
She knew exactly what was about to happen. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to keep her guard up, to stay in control of the situation. But instead, she let it happen. Maybe it was the need to keep the woman hooked, to buy a little more time. Or maybe it was something else entirely—something about the confidence in the woman's touch, the way she moved with such certainty, that made Ivy hesitate.
The woman's gaze never left Ivy's face. "I never got my payment for that information you wanted." She said in a. seductive hushed tone.
"Name your price." Ivy said, her eyes glued to the woman's.
She chuckled, her eyes flickering down to Ivy's lips "You know what it is." she said leaning in and closing her eyes.
When their lips met, it was soft at first, almost hesitant, but quickly deepened as the woman tilted her head, her hand still resting on Ivy's jaw. Ivy found herself responding instinctively, leaning into the kiss despite the logical part of her brain warning her to pull back. Her hands went down to the woman's hips, gripping them tight. As she kissed the woman she could smell a small hint of lavender wafting in from her hair. She knew she shouldn't be kissing this stranger she barely knew, especially on the mission.
The air around them seemed to still, the world outside the room fading into irrelevance as the kiss lingered. Their lips moved together in sync, dancing together. The woman pulled away for a moment her breath hot against Ivy's face. Their eyes locked with one another for a moment before she then started trailing kisses down Ivy's neck. She left small love bites on her neck before sliding her tongue across the bite marks. A small groan left Ivy's mouth as she leaned her head back. Ivy knew It wasn't just a kiss—it was a power play, a test, a game of control. And for once, Ivy wasn't sure who was winning.
The woman suddenly pulled away, Ivy's eyes opening again to look at her. The woman's lips curled into a knowing smirk as she met Ivy's gaze, her eyes dancing with amusement and intrigue. "Enjoying it, aren't you?" she murmured, her voice low and teasing.
Ivy chuckled softly, masking the swirl of emotions behind her usual smirk. "I could say the same to you" she replied, her tone steady despite the faint heat and disappointment still lingering on her face.
The woman leaned back slightly, taking her pipe from the small table as she studied Ivy with a satisfied expression. "I think I like you," she said, her voice soft but firm. "You're not like the others who come through here. You've got an edge to you. A spark."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Glad I could leave an impression," she said, her tone light but guarded.
The woman laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Oh, you've left more than that," she said. "But don't think I'll go easy on you because of it. You still owe me."
Ivy's eyes narrowed slightly, her smirk fading into something more thoughtful. "Owe you what?" she asked, her tone cautious. "Ive already given you your payment."
The woman's grin widened as she leaned closer again, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There's plenty more payments you could give me."
Before Ivy could respond, the door frame creaked slightly, and a familiar figure appeared in the doorway. Vi's silhouette was unmistakable, her casual stance betraying none of the urgency Ivy knew she must feel.
"Ivy," Vi said, her tone calm but firm, "time's up. Let's go."
Ivy glanced at the woman one last time, her smirk returning as she stood and adjusted her dagger belt. "Guess that's my cue," she said, her tone light but edged with finality. She grabbed her coat off the couch.
The woman leaned back, her grin never wavering. "Until next time, darling," she said, her voice a playful purr.
She didn't reply, simply offering a small nod and smile before following Vi out of the room. As the room grew on distance behind her, she let out a slow breath, her expression hardening once more. Whatever had just happened in that room, she couldn't afford to let it distract her. There was work to be done—and this was only the beginning.