Chapter 10
Ivy and Vi stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, the lingering haze of purple smoke following them as they moved. Ivy's smirk lingered from the room she had just left, but as they wandered down the corridor in search of Caitlyn, she couldn't help but feel a hint of curiosity about her enforcer companion's whereabouts.
When they finally found her, Caitlyn wasn't with the man they had seen earlier. Instead, she was sitting across from a striking woman with sharp features and a confident demeanor. The two were engaged in a conversation that had Caitlyn's full attention, her usual guarded expression replaced with genuine intrigue.
Vi leaned casually against the doorframe, crossing her arms as a slow grin spread across her face. "Well, well," she said in a low voice, just loud enough for Ivy to hear. "Looks like we've got our answer to that little question from earlier."
Ivy chuckled softly, folding her arms as she watched Caitlyn with an amused glint in her eyes. "Who would have thought?"
Caitlyn glanced up from her conversation, her eyes narrowing slightly when she noticed her companions standing there. She quickly excused herself from the woman and walked over, her expression a mix of irritation and embarrassment.
"Don't start," Caitlyn warned, her tone firm but colored with a faint blush as she adjusted her coat.
"Who, me?" Vi said, feigning innocence as she pushed off the wall and started walking down the hall. "Didn't say a word."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, her smirk lingering as she followed Vi. "Don't worry, sweetheart," she said over her shoulder to Caitlyn. "Your secret's safe with us."
Caitlyn sighed, clearly unimpressed, but said nothing as she fell into step behind them.
As they made their way out of the building and into the UnderCity streets, Vi grew more serious, her casual grin fading into something more focused. "Alright," she said, glancing at Ivy and Caitlyn. "There's someone I need to track down—Sevika. She's Silco's second and may know where he is... and maybe even where my sister is."
Ivy's eyebrows furrowed slightly at the mention of Vi's sister, but she said nothing, sensing the weight of the situation.
"And you think she'll just tell you?" Caitlyn asked, her tone skeptical.
Vi smirked faintly. "Well," she said. "Let's just say she'll end up talking."
Ivy shrugged, her smirk returning. "Basically that means If she doesn't, we'll make her."
Caitlyn shot Ivy a wary glance but didn't argue, instead turning her attention back to Vi. "Do you know where she is?"
"Not exactly," Vi admitted. "But I've got a pretty good idea where to start looking. And trust me, she's not the type to blend in."
With that, the trio set off into the labyrinthine streets of Zaun, each of them with their own thoughts and motivations driving them forward. The woman's words echoed in her head "they've got connections in both Piltover and the undercity. Dangerous connections."
The stakes were rising, and the path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the game was far from over.
The three of them moved through the dimly lit streets of Zaun, the air thick with the smell of oil and metal, a faint purple haze still lingering from the building they'd left behind. Vi strode ahead, her shoulders tense and her focus unshakable. She walked with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning the alleyways and side streets for any signs of trouble—or Sevika.
Behind her, Caitlyn and Ivy trailed like two mismatched shadows. Caitlyn's expression was thoughtful, her hands tucked into her coat pockets as her eyes occasionally darted to Ivy. Ivy, on the other hand, walked with her usual casual confidence, though she was clearly content to let Vi take the lead.
After a few minutes of silence, Caitlyn turned her head slightly toward Ivy, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So," Caitlyn began, her voice calm but laced with intrigue, "how did it go in there? With... the woman?"
Ivy glanced at her, arching a brow as a sly smirk tugged at her lips. "Curious, are we?" she asked, her tone teasing.
Caitlyn frowned slightly but didn't back down. "I'm just trying to get a sense of how... productive it was," she said, her words carefully measured. "Did you get any useful information?"
Ivy chuckled softly, shoving her hands into her pockets as they walked. "Oh, it was plenty productive," she said, her tone light. "Though I'm not sure if you'd call it 'useful.'"
Caitlyn's brow furrowed, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That doesn't answer my question," she said pointedly.
Ivy shrugged, her smirk widening. "She had a lot to say," she admitted, "but it was mostly just... games. Testing me. Trying to figure out what I wanted."
"And what did you tell her?" Caitlyn asked, her gaze narrowing slightly.
"Enough to keep her interested," Ivy replied smoothly. "But not enough to give her anything real. Don't worry, Caitlyn—I can handle myself." She was hesitant on telling Caitlyn and Vi about the information the woman told. No ones telling anyone the full story, she thought. She could tell that there was something that Vi was hiding. She could tell she wasn't telling her and Caitlyn the full story. It was clear as day that Caitlyn wasn't telling them anything she didn't need to say. So why should Ivy share what she found out?
Caitlyn sighed, clearly unsatisfied with the vague answer. "I'm just saying, this isn't a game," she said, her tone firm. "We're dealing with dangerous people. Every move we make has consequences."
Ivy stopped walking for a moment, turning to face Caitlyn with a raised eyebrow. "You think I don't know that?" she asked, her voice low but sharp. "I've lived in this world a hell of a lot longer than you have, sweetheart. I know exactly how dangerous it is."
The tension between them hung in the air for a moment before Vi's voice cut through it like a knife.
"Hey," Vi called back, her tone firm and no-nonsense. "Save it. We've got bigger things to worry about right now."
Both Caitlyn and Ivy turned their attention back to Vi, who had stopped a few steps ahead, her arms crossed as she waited for them to catch up.
"You two can bicker all you want later," Vi said, her gaze flicking between them. "Right now, we've got a job to do. Let's focus."
Ivy shot Caitlyn one last scowl before turning on her heel and following Vi. Caitlyn hesitated for a moment, her frustration evident, but eventually fell back into step behind them. As they walked, Ivy fell into step beside Caitlyn, her sharp eyes glinting with amusement as she turned her attention to the enforcer. Vi remained ahead, unbothered by the conversation starting behind her.
"So, Caitlyn," Ivy began, her tone light but laced with curiosity, "what about your little meeting? Did you get anything useful?"
Caitlyn glanced at Ivy, her expression guarded. "It went... fine," she replied, her tone measured.
Ivy's smirk widened as she tilted her head, her voice taking on a teasing edge. "Just 'fine'? Come on, Sheriff, you can do better than that."
Caitlyn sighed, her shoulders stiffening slightly as she avoided Ivy's gaze. "I spoke to a couple of people," she said. "The conversation shifted, that's all."
Ivy hummed thoughtfully, the smirk on her lips never wavering. "Funny how it shifted, though," she mused, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "From that tall guy to... what was it? The intriguing woman? Didn't peg you for someone who'd swing that way, but hey, we're all learning new things about each other, right?"
Caitlyn's cheeks flushed, her usual composure cracking ever so slightly. "It wasn't like that," she said quickly, her voice a touch defensive. "She seemed more knowledgeable about the things we needed to know."
She raised an eyebrow, her smirk now a full grin. "Oh, is that what it was?" she asked, clearly enjoying Caitlyn's discomfort. "Because it looked like she had your full attention for reasons other than her intel."
"Ivy," Caitlyn said firmly, her voice lowering as she glanced around, "keep your voice down. We don't need the entire undercut knowing we are on a mission."
Ivy chuckled softly, holding her hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get all flustered," she said. "I'm just curious if your time was productive. You know, since you're so concerned about mine."
Caitlyn took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I did my job," she said, her voice regaining some of its usual firmness. "She mentioned a name, that's all."
"Sure, that's all," Ivy said, her tone still playful but softening just slightly. "Good to know you're keeping your eyes on the prize."
Caitlyn glared at her, her blush still faintly visible. "Unlike some people, I don't let distractions get in the way."
Ivy snorted, shaking her head as she fell back a step to let Caitlyn walk ahead. "Whatever you say, princess," she murmured, her smirk lingering.
Ahead of them, Vi had clearly heard the conversation but said nothing, a small grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. For once, she decided to let them sort it out on their own, her focus still locked on the mission ahead.
The group pressed on, the faint tension between Ivy and Caitlyn lingering but tempered by the shared purpose driving them forward. For all their differences, they were in this together—and the road ahead was far from simple.