CHAPTER 2:2
"I really need your help with this, please—"
"I can't, Jayce. I'm sorry, but I simply can't."
He angrily slammed his fist into her worn-out desk and the wood creaked loudly in protest. "I can't just let him walk away with it!" he snarled and gritted his teeth. "No way!"
All day, he and Caitlyn had argued about the theft of the ancient object and its perpetrator, Viktor. Jayce shivered in discomfort whenever his former friend's name was mentioned, as a mental image of the mad scientist etched into his brain, as vivid as if it was real. The thought was omnipresent and horrifying, even in the back of his mind, and Jayce had tried to forget as much of it as possible – to no success. He had immediately after the cyborg's relatively calm and silent departure, stumbled his way down to his bike and driven to the police station, hoping to meet the famous Sheriff. Unfortunately enough, only a sleepy Vi had been there to receive him, mumbling something about Caitlyn taking a "chillpill" – then fallen asleep soon afterwards on a lounge couch that he had no idea when it got to there – and Jayce had preoccupied the rest of the night with completing necessary paperwork, mandatory to apply a case for the Sheriff of Piltover. He had also fallen asleep, exhausted both physically and mentally, and woken up to the smell of cupcakes and coffee. Vi and Caitlyn were already enjoying their brunch but quietly, to the brown-haired inventor's surprise, and laughing at an old joke. The sight had pleased him greatly since he knew how worried Cait was due to Vi's irresponsible and uncontrollable behavior – and her temper – and he had woken up with a happy grin... which now later on during the day, had been replaced with an annoyed frown.
Caitlyn casually leaned back in her seat and whirled a strand of hair between her slender fingers. Her dark turquoise-colored eyes examined him closely, almost like he was one of the suspects in a major crime scene, and sighed, throwing his filed report into a overflowing trashcan.
"It's impossible," she said and ignored his shocked expression as she bent down to pick up one of the papers flying out of the file. "Everyone you've mentioned here," she waved the sheet, "denies everything. Even Ezreal, surprisingly enough. It's like your 'crystal' never existed in the first placed. I can't find any proofs if even the government is restraining my authoritarian power. I got a call earlier this morning that I should ignore you."
Jayce didn't know what to reply with at first, completely stunned by her words. How... why is this happening? "I gotta talk to someone, please. You saw the box yourself, Cait, you must be able to do something at least."
She shook her head and straightened, clasping her hands together on the desk. "Jayce, if I could, I would've already dealt with it. I'm powerless," she answered and her voice caught a soothing tone. "I apologize, but—"
"No!" he growled and brought down his fist again, only this time a large crack split the table into two. "This is outrageous; what nation won't provide its denizens with justice?! What the hell is wrong with this place?!"
"Silence," snapped Caitlyn coolly. "Don't you dare talk to me like that. Piltover has done everything for you, every success and every bit of fame is all thanks to the government and its hardworking employees." She sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her pointy nose. "I'm sorry, it was rude to yell at you. But Jayce, I beg you to listen: I can't do anything."
He had known that the words were going to hurt him but hadn't estimated in what quantity the knowledge would pain. It was like he was all alone in a dark maze, searching for the nonexistent exit without any source of light. "Caitlyn..." he started and swallowed.
"What is it?" she asked softly.
Jayce fell down on his knees and pleadingly held out his hands towards her, facing the floor instead of her. She must listen to me. I need her help. "Couldn't you do this as a favor for me? Please," he begged and his voice wavered. "I-I can't do this alone... I need you, Cait. And if you can't do this as the Sheriff, could you do this as yourself?"
I've risked it all, Jayce thought grimly and tried to not crumble in despair. She must surely understand what I mean by this. I'm certain that she feels something for me as well – as for the late nights now and then – but will she embrace it? His arms were shaking in tension but he waited patiently, ready to hear her answer, but when she stayed continuously silent for a couple of minutes, he spoke again. "Caitlyn, I lo—"
"Get out."
It felt like she had hit him straight across his jaw. Jayce abruptly rose up to his feet and searched for her face in the process. Caitlyn had turned away the chair, directing it towards the window, and he was unable to see her. The only thing disturbing the perfect silhouette of her office chair was Caitlyn's signature purple hat.
"Cait—"
"Get out."
Her voice was perfectly composed, sounding neutral but harsh enough to clarify her statement. She didn't want him here. "Is it hard to understand what I'm telling you? Leave."
"I do understand," he replied and tried to sound calm even though his mind was rioting. See what you did? Now it's over. She's never going to be yours. "But I wonder why," he continued, clenching his fists. "What did I say wrong? Oh, I never got to finish the sentence. Cait, I lo—"
All of a sudden, he was staring into the gun barrel of her specially designed rifle.
Not a sentimental nor poetic person, Caitlyn had never chosen a name for the intricate weapon and only few knew who had really made it. Officially, it was stated that her mother had constructed the rifle, but Jayce had been told by her personally that she stole it from an investigation years ago. It had been lying packaged in a box, as if the weapon was waiting for her to come and get it, and the Sheriff became persuaded by the complicated design and its many capabilities, seizing the rifle for herself. It was her darkest secret – if not the only secret – one could find about her, and Caitlyn had shared it with him soon after they became lovers in bed. "It is one of few things I cherish the most in the world," she had told him and Jayce had expected something else, something about him, to be mentioned shortly afterwards, but she had ended the conversation immediately and fallen asleep in his arms. It was definitely one of his happiest memories with her, a time when he wasn't so foolishly in love with her.
"Cait," he said slowly, abhorred that she might pull the trigger. "Please—"
"Get the fuck out of my office and don't you dare try to enter again."
Her back was still turned to him and she was holding the rifle in her right hand, bending her arm backwards and resting the weapon on the top of the chair's backseat. The heavy gun sank down into the brown leather and a sharp, protruding object made a mark in the material. Caitlyn could shoot as well with her left arm as with her right, even though she was right-handed, and facts didn't terrify less if one knew about her exceptionally, almost unnaturally, sharp aim.
"Leave," she said, her voice slightly colder.
Jayce winced involuntarily and gestured for her to calm down, even though he knew that she couldn't see him. "Cait, take it easy, I just—"
"I will restrain you for harassing a police officer. This could lead to trial and prison. Are you aware of that?"
He realized that she was impossible to reach and abstained from answering. It's over. The brilliant inventor exited the Sheriff's office in silence, his head slightly lowered in defeat and disappointment. I really thought she would do this for me... Seems like I'm nothing more than an idiot. I was her pet all along, wasn't I? Some kind of sextoy, right? How repulsive.
"'Sup, Jayce? Where you at?"
Jayce waved her away but the pink-haired woman was armed with her gigantic gauntlets, and she easily blocked his way. "Trouble in paradise?"
Her tone was playful but also comforting in a way. He inhaled deeply before meeting her curious, sapphire-colored eyes and shook his head.
"It seems like the two of us were on different terms," he replied without even knowing why he was trusting her. She'll probably tell Caitlyn all about this but who cares. My life is shattered. "You understand, I hope. Now could you please let me pass?"
Vi stared at him in disbelief but he saw that she had immediately realized what he meant. Jayce tried to avert his gaze but he was unable to; the short woman in front of him seemed utterly taken aback... almost like he had bought her an expensive gift. "Excuse me?" he asked carefully, well aware that even a "friendly" hit from Vi would crush his bones. "I don't want to stick around longer than necessary; Cait threatened to shoot me."
Vi peeked over his shoulder – she was forced to jump – and raised a pink eyebrow. "I told you she's on her monthly. What did you call her? Fat?"
Jayce chuckled. "If only it would be that easy. I was trying to tell her that I lo—"
"Uh-uh," interrupted Vi and sighed. "She really hates that word."
"I noticed," he answered dryly and rubbed his chin. I need to shave. "Do you perhaps think that I could give you a message to pass to her?"
"No way." She cleared he throat. "She almost shot me last time we argued and now since we are on relatively good terms, I don't wanna get into any shit. You're on your own, handsome."
Jayce finally looked away. "Alright," he simply said. "Am I allowed to leave?"
She nodded and he hurried out of the police station, as quickly as he could, and headed directly towards his apartment with only one thought processing in his mind – I got to make a weapon strong enough to defeat Viktor.
