Jayce's eyes widen and he chokes on his sandwich when his friend relays him the news.
He drops the food on his plate and hits himself in the chest a couple of times, trying to ease the food down.
"I know right!?" Vi says heatedly, throws her hands up.
"You serious?" He rasps out when he's sure he won't throw up. "Shouldn't, should you even be anywhere close?- I mean you caught her, isn't there something against that in regs?"
There damn well should be, Vi's the woman everyone in the know hinged on to be the one who would eventually catch Jinx. An unsurprisingly, she's done that. And now the same person who has a near personal involvement is also supposed to be guarding the aforementioned criminal? Bullshit, she's done her part already. It would do her good were she reassigned to show kids around for a month or so. Too much violence, too much death. And too proud a woman to accept that fact.
"Only if you're personally involved, like, have someone close or family or whatever killed. But that's not the damned point! She knew I'd hate it! Said as much and I still gotta go sit my ass in there and be a personal fucking bodyguard to a grade A terrorist." She takes a swig of her cherry juice and grimaces at the taste, he wouldn't normally force the drink on her but he's not willing to be dealing with an angry, tipsy Vi. Things tend to get loud and it wouldn't be long till they'd have to leave the bar. They already have too much attention focused on them thanks to Vi being the hero of the day, and thanks to the fact that with Jinx arrested, people are making up for the days spent hiding in their houses.
"Did she tell you why at least?" Vi snorts at the question.
"Of course she did, it was all logical 'n shit... like always, you know I'm thinking she's forgetting we're not all cold hearted bitches like her."
"Don't." The Inventor warns her sternly. He knew she needed to vent when she called him but he's not going to stand her badmouthing Caitlyn because of her foul humour.
"Don't what? Call her a bitch?" she bites back, looking ready to start an argument.
"Cold hearted. Though yeah that too."
"Cause what? Maybe she doesn't care but I for one wanna get smashed and forget about everything for a day or two-" she pauses as she runs out of breath" At least that! I've seen some shit but this yesterday? I'm putting in some work trying not to think about it, I don't know how she copes but-"
"She doesn't" Jayce cuts in.
"I for o- what?" Her angry eyes show just a bit of confusion.
"She doesn't cope. I went with her later and when she finished the letters she was just so... defeated. She got it under control but not over with, just buried underneath everything else. You think she doesn't care?" Jayce knows, or at least believes the pinkette doesn't think that. It's not the point either way, she needs to calm down.
"Don't stuff words in my mouth."
"Don't be a bitch then, you knew those twenty?" She shakes her head. "She did, not well, but she did. They were her people and it's on her, in the end it's her fault they died because someone else under her screwed up and she didn't know about the mercenaries. And nobody can blame her for that, shit like that just happens, she knows that. But it's still gnawing at her, it was like she'd burnt out when she finished. You know what I'm talking about don't you?"
An ugly sneer flashes across Vi's face and she looks away, deflating a bit as her memories surface.
"Yeah, I know."
"Then cut the crap, she's not the most expressive person, I know, but she cares, and must have a good reason to give you that assignment."
"Doesn't change a thing." She doesn't sound so angry any longer, more upset. "Maybe she can force herself not to think about it but guess what, in the morning I'm starting to babysit Jinx. For as long as she's in hospital. And what am I gonna do there? Play spillikins?"
If that could take her mind off things...
"What did she say exactly?"
She sighs. "That I've already proven my- capability? Uh, and that out of all her choices I'll be the most suited for guard duty since the mercs are already basically wrecked... not her words, and since I get sitting duty and just make sure nobody who slipped past the others gets to Jinx, there will be two others with me but I'm the one who has to sit with her most of the day."
Huh. This does sound a bit off the course which Caitlyn always sets Vi up to do. And she always has reasons to do everything she does, always planning in advance and obsessively stacking odds in her favour until she can't. It figures that Vi can't really be out on patrols with both her arms injured, but setting her up to guard the Loose Cannon? That's...
If his train of thought hasn't just led him astray, that's actually brilliant.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only people that can approach an injured prisoner of Jinx's caliber are the assigned guards and doctors right?" It came up when he was last talking with Cait, had she already been planning this so soon after catching the terrorist? Or rather, had she planned for him to realise her intentions when he'd inevitably end up listening to Vi's complaints?
It wouldn't surprise him. Her mind is rarely (if ever) at rest. The only workaholic that can rival her (or rather straight-out beat her to it) that he knows of is Heimerdinger, and that's saying a lot. Mental exercise puts her at ease so he didn't think much of it when she brought up legal matters alongside the issue of nosy media during their breakfast. Besides, she does have to actually ensure Jinx's security, there are more than just Zaunites lurking in the dark, a lot of people (many of them in her very own Force) that would take an opportunity to exact justice of their own.
"I don't remember the regs but... I think so? Cait said I can only allow three people into the room, all medical. What about it?"
"How long is she going to stay there?" he prods.
"Rust- I don't- there's a point to this?" Jayce smirks, it's a bad habit but really, he just can't help himself when he gets an opportunity to be smug.
"And how long is the administration conducting its investigation?"
Vi opens her mouth to answer and freezes, making quite a good impression of a fish for a moment, before leaning back in her seat, thoughtful.
"Huh."
"Yeah, huh. You know I'm surprised she didn't tell you herself." A blush creeps up the pinkette's cheeks.
"Uh, I kinda didn't stay? Walked out on her the moment she gave all the operational details."
"Kinda? Seriously?" What a boss to be had, had he done that to his old one his career would be in quite a different place right now.
"Don't- just, don't okay? Cait already made me look like an idiot today-" As if that's the Sheriff's fault, the man doesn't say. "-and I don't need you channelling her here. Fff- Man I feel like an ass now. Again."
"You are an ass, no need to beat around the bush here." The scientist raises his hands in surrender when his friend shoots him a dirty glare. But it quickly loses its fire.
"See? That's what I mean, I'm so not over the other night, can't even take a stupid joke." She sighs. "And instead of curing a hangover or- I don't know, washing sheets in the morning. I get to babysit that psycho." She glares at a passing man who dares to spare her a glance. "Joy."
"Worse than officials stringing you along half a day?" In his own experience there is nothing worse than the administration snooping around. The last time it happened to him, the amount of tech he had to scramble could almost rival the wreck that Jinx made of it.
"Psht, ask me that after I get laid tomorrow. Most clubs are opening tonight again but-" She raises her still bandaged hands up and rolls her eyes. Of course. Well, he can't deny how Vi's method puts things in perspective. And unless all her tells suddenly changed sometime last month, she hasn't picked anyone up in... hm, at least since the Zaunite terrorist's arrival. He can understand the sentiment, he still catches himself brooding over his trashed laboratory. Wait.
"Hasn't the doctor forbidden you from any strenuous activity?" She throws him an exasperated look. "Alright, fine, but do say, how are your arms?"
A sly smile spreads across her lips, without however, reaching her eyes.
"Ask me when I'm done with my strenuous activities." Of course. So she feels good enough, he can assume. Just one issue with that.
"I'm afraid that I won't have much time to visit."
"Hm? Oh yeah we have to move your stuff before we... "Right." They both look at a clock over the bar, Ten thirteen PM, Jayce got called right after Vi came home after receiving her orders, took them a bit to meet up but they still made good time. "You know, I could give it a look tonight, see what kind of warehouse you'd need for that stuff."
"That's- not exactly what I mean but sure, thanks," he says pointedly, Vi raises her one eyebrow and grins.
"Whatever you say Futureman."
…Somehow, whenever she says it, she manages to make the word sound like a bad joke instead of a reason to be proud. It's a good nickname, simple, easy to remember, appropriately corny for a hero and all that. But the way the Enforcer says it, it always reminds him of how he, a grown man, a respected scientist and a known socialite to boot, runs around at night. Chasing criminals and rescuing damsels (though admittedly, not only) in distress.
"Would you please start up the car? I'll catch up in a bit," the man says.
"Sure." They both stand from their booth, the woman instinctively reaching for the gauntlets beside her seat- ones that aren't there for once. She left them at home and took her gun instead for once, Jayce knows she won't admit it even to herself, but the last night's events shook her up, enough so that she has taken to carrying a gun. Granted, it's a replacement for her gauntlets but he doubts she'll just put it away once she can use her "babies" again. "By the way, you got a new car on your radar?"
"Yes I do, two actually, but I was thinking about buying one and taking what's left of my old one and refitting it again. I'm feeling sentimental I suppose." His friend barks out a laugh. "What?"
"No nothing, just do something low key with it this time, I bet you'll have it checked again in a month, tops." Figures.
They split up without another word, Vi on her way out and Jayce to pay for their orders, as he always does. A year ago he would have paid in advance just so that he could hold the door open for the woman, he even offered to carry her gauntlets once.
Once.
As for Vi? She hasn't ever complained but clearly found his hard-wired manners amusing (not exactly in a flattering sense either), and in Jayce's unvoiced opinion, tad bit embarrassing, as at times, she simply doesn't know how to properly respond to courtesy. Small wonder, their upbringing is almost contrasting each other's after all
It was... strange, in the beginning, this friendship of theirs. While he might had been somewhat sheltered before earning his name, he's still relatively sure there aren't many women like Vi in Piltover. It's not even the ever apparent bridge between the high and low class, the defining difference between those is financial capability to express themselves. Vi? She's simply outside the norm. Perhaps it has to do with her city of origin, he never asked. Despite Zaun being so close he doesn't know much about its peoples. Frankly, were it not for Caitlyn they would likely never have talked, or even met for that matter. The bench in front of Piltover's sheriff office is a powerful ice breaker indeed. He'll never forget the first words they exchanged.
"Sooo... you in for ass-chewing too?"
"Bwuah?"
Mostly because his mother would burn with shame had she heard them. Partially thanks to the Enforcer's choice of words and his own stunning eloquence. To his defence, he was still reeling from seeing the piercing in her nose, and her hairdo, and the tattoo... her everything really. All done, as he later learned, in equal parts because she simply likes it, and to rile up the "stuck-up salon hags she has to deal with way too often", throws them off their game she says.
He can attest to that.
The inventor was surprised to find a ruffian like her to make for such a good company, just as Vi was surprised by not having an urge to gag while talking with a "rich boy", as she used to call university graduates. He was even more surprised to learn of her mechanics skills, a self taught street thief knowing how to work with hextech? Stripping a car of its engine is one thing, modifying a mining suit on the fly is another.
She'd be an amazing engineer.
If he could manage to convince her to finally sign up at the polytechnic. Something which he's fairly sure she won't do. She prefers punching faces in, which, Jayce supposes, is a respectable enough occupation. Still. It's not like she'd have to give up her work, he's the living proof.
The scientist finds Vi in her car when he's fnished paying, browsing radio stations in search of something different than adverts. They take off the moment Jayce closes the door behind him without waiting for him to buckle up, the pinkette still distracted by the radio. She eventually settles for jazz and turns some of her attention to him.
"Sooo. What you gonna be busy with?" She asks nonchalantly, tough without really trying to cover her interest.
"I'm planning to find the Zaunites that got away from you."
Her brows furrow, eyes thankfully still on the road. It's a bad habit of hers that she glances at her company while driving.
"Cupcake put you up to this?"
"No actually, this one is all me. I used to be a lone wolf remember?"
"Psht, yeah- lone wolf... What was it, two or three weeks before Cait caught up?" Of course she'd mention it. She takes it as a point of pride that she managed to evade Piltover's Sheriff longer than he had. Makes sense, in a way, both that she managed that, and the pride she takes in it. She was a criminal after all.
"Well I still was one. You can't fault me for her being a good detective." It's not like the little difference of time matters much, the end result being them both working for Caitlyn, albeit in different ways.
"Guess I can't. Anyway, you said you'll be hunting those mercs down?"
"Yes,they remain a danger as long as they stay in Piltover. Can't hurt to have another pair of eyes on the lookout can it?" The Enforcer hums in agreement, her boss might have a different opinion on the subject since she hasn't asked him for help. But the Sheriff has not got the sole right to help the city and its people.
It's with resigned acceptance that Vi speaks again.
"So you're gonna be smashing faces in while I'm stuck babysitting a death-row." She clicks her tongue. "Golly, keep me in the loop at least? I've got fourteen hours shifts now, guess who," she drawls dejectedly.
Ah, working two thirds of the day. Good times, he remembers his internship all to well. Officially, he wasn't really doing much of anything, his talent waisted on keeping the PSID lab operational. Leaving him only with his own thoughts and machines late into nights, without anyone to interrupt them, he wasn't technically supposed to use them but what PSID doesn't know won't hurt it.
Vi on the other hand will be stuck in a room with Jinx most of her shift. No hextech to entertain herself with, or even gear to tinker with her gauntlets. The vigilante used to fall asleep on stakeouts all the time when he was still doing them. He can't even begin to imagine how bored his friend will be. Yes, the least he can do is keep her posted.
"Wouldn't dream otherwise."
Aaand there we go, another one, a bit on the short side but interludes aren't generally on the long side are they?
Next up, Jinx!