Variables

Blasted variables

She came through the door, pressed against the left wall, her right foot stepped into a trap.

Then she ripped the damn thing off her foot.

Never have I ever seen someone simply pry the teeth of the trap off their foot.

It's impossible, but not to her

She can see in the dark, side stepping the other two traps, I rely on the aid of the scopes on my hat, but even with those, I can barely make out her crouching silhouette. There isn't enough light for the scope to pick up.

She's up on the makeshift pallet walls, she has the high ground. I am at a disadvantage; armed with only my net gun and blind in the darkness. I know I'm not in too much danger; she won't use lethal force, it's against her code.

Stanly is trigger happy, he better stand down if he wants to keep his job.

She doesn't believe me when I say I'm here to talk. Of course, if it had gone as planned, I wouldn't need to shout it out. She would be at my feet, she would take my offer, we'd go home for the day.

Mission accomplished

No. The circumstances now obviously disagree with my statement. I'm in her territory, with my traps set up strategically around the ground. She is no doubt very protective of the people she lives with, and she does not fancy the Piltover law enforcement. She is not afraid to physically fight off anything that threatens her or her people.

She's violent, powerful, but rash.

She'll try to strike soon.

I give her my offer.

"Yeah, and I'm offering you to get the fuck out of my home and my life. I don't need some pencil pusher ghosting me on my runs."

Her jeer stings more than it should. I wouldn't be "some pencil pusher" if it weren't for the mayor. I hate the man. Another change, Stanly is going to shoot her for that comment, he doesn't like being called a pencil pusher, even if its indirect. It's too late to stop him; he's lined up by now.

Focus Caitlyn

Any moment now.

There

Two shots fired by Stanly.

I can hear the first burrow itself into the wood of the walls; the second one hits its mark. I swear I'll fire the man. I scream at him.

He's going to get hurt

"All you want to do is talk, huh?!" She's angry, hurt, but not from the pain of the dart. No, she's moving far too fast, is she immune?

Retaliation, the dart flies to where he is hiding.

She has a good arm and a good eye

He hits the ground like a sack of potatoes; he'll have a broken bone at the most from the fall. Undisciplined, he should've waited for my signal.

She disappears from sight; she's on the ground with me. Hiding behind some wall, I can smell her blood, it stains the floor. She's going to strike. Her movements have only slowed minutely.

Where

Focus Caitlyn

I ready my net gun, her style is close combat. She'll have to get up close. Listen for her battle cry, listen for her charge. Be ready.

She needs to know that I don't want to hurt her, that I have now interest in arresting her. She is in pain, alone, dejected. She needs to help me with fixing what has become of the lowercity.

I want to give her a new chance, a new life.

It's something she deserves

She attacks from behind me, predictable, the traps are evaded, and she lets out a shout. She can see my eyes, I want to understand her.

She hesitates ever so slightly.

"Get dunked!"

Side-step to the left let her charge past you. Momentum will carry her forward.

Three steps forward, left foot into a trap.

Aim. Fire.

The net from my gun ensnares her legs, she can't get to the trap this time, there's no escape. She should be knocked out by now, but she fights it, trying to rip apart the heavy ropes. It's like the sedative had little effect on her at all.

But she's tired; her eyes are crystal windows to her soul.

My heart stings.

I am surprised, when I show myself she stops struggling. She accepts her defeat, running a hand through her rambunctious hair. She smirks, "Takes a lot to knock out this girl."

The statement fits her well

Adorable

Focus Caitlyn

I extend my hand and present her my offer once more. She'll take it this time. She's going to ask for something in return.

"Where is the rest of warehouse 10C?" Of course, she is more concerned about the wellbeing of others before herself. Commendable, it'll get her hurt one day, perhaps even killed.

I reassure her, she seems satisfied.

But she still she doesn't understand. She knows of the trouble I went to track her down, following her for upwards of two weeks, I don't quite understand it myself. Something about her tells me that it's all worth it. She wants to understand as much as I do.

"Why? Why me, all this shit for a single person?" There's the million dollar question, the same question the mayor asked me.

I struggle to remember the diplomatic answer I gave to the mayor. But like most conversations with him, the words are gone from my memory, unimportant. I try to explain the best way I can, I realize that I'm trying to ration it out to myself, I speak true from my heart when I admit she is more decent of a person than anyone of the uppercity.

Even myself

She doesn't see my furrowed brows when I look away.

Is it pride that swells in my chest?

She shakes my hand after removing her gloves; her hands are rough with dry skin. It's a gesture, skin to skin, no false pretenses; I had removed my gloves to shake her hands. The gauntlets must be hot to wear. She still has yet to ask for something in return.

"On one condition."

Predictable

"I work for you, with you, and only you."

A partnership, her handshake is strong, it reflects who she is. However, I can tell she is haunted by something. By her past? I'll understand soon.

I return the gesture; I want her to trust me. I smile before I can stop myself.

I agree to her terms.

Partner

I like the sound of that.