Aishwarya rather enjoyed the rain, but that didn't mean she wanted to see it everyday. A thought that floated into her mind as she watched the drops pelt against the window. She'd lost track of how long she'd been here, determined to win her way into the Enclave. It was either that or run around the ruins being hunted by the Prabakar brothers.
The unfortunate side of things was well the Prabakar brothers couldn't touch her in here, the Hunters did a fine job of making her regret her life choices. She was free to retry as many times as she'd like, although few took up the offer more than a handful of times. The brutal ways some of the Hunters ended their opponents was a sure-fire way to turn many away. Those of them that were not there by choice unfortunately didn't have the luxury of opting out as easily. Although the majority of criminal Scavengers didn't meander around the lobbies as often.
With a grunt she straightened herself out, rolling her shoulders before cracking her back. The lingering sleep in her body was slowly filtering out. She'd guess it was nearing six in the morning. A vague assumption despite being hindered by the clouds blocking the sun and the lack of clocks available. The only ways to tell time were by announcements and asking any of the shopkeepers. The lack of crowds contributed to her guess, spotting few souls similar to herself in the area. Many were either still fast asleep or glaring down at their breakfast.
"You're still here," A voice from behind caught her attention.
She peered over her shoulder, finding a white haired woman much shorter than herself watching her. "Do I know you?"
"No," She replied, ambling over to a nearby bench adjacent to her own. She relaxed into the seat, watching the rain. "You stand out."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?" She asked, feeling out the situation's tone.
"It's an observation," She replied, propping one leg up against the bench's edge. "Your tattoos are...interesting."
"Thanks…" she studied her company, eyes tracing the woman's own facial markings. The black ink complimented her dark makeup perfectly. "Yours a bird?"
"Doesn't matter, it's not biometric." She stated simply, making Aishwarya's heart leap. It wasn't like the brothers could drag her out of the Garden. Once someone was in, they were protected from anyone outside (save for any Enclave suits if a scavenger had managed to piss one off).
She sighed, already mentally exhausted from the prospect of hearing threats told through a messenger. "Did the brothers send you?"
"Brothers?" The woman sounded genuinely confused and the tension in her body lifted by an inch. "You'll have to be more specific than that."
"You mean the Prabakar brothers didn't send you in here to harass me?" She gave a light smile, the question half-rhetorical.
"Never heard of them," She confessed, shrugging it off. "So you're in here to run away? That's a shame."
There was a beat of silence between them as Aishwarya let her mind ponder. "You seem interested in me, why?"
"The only people with biometric tattoos are those old enough to remember the early days of scavengers," The woman finally met her gaze with a knowing smirk, "I know it's rude to ask a lady her age, but you look a little too young for that."
"You wanna know where I got them," she posed it like a fact rather than a question.
"Something like that."
She hummed, now her turn to look out towards the rain. "An older runner laid the groundwork, he taught me about the old ways. I've worked hard to reconstruct it after his passing."
"So you made them, huh?" She asked more to herself than Aishwarya. "Got any plans for them?"
"Can't do much with the Prabakar brothers on my ass," she explained, annoyance briefly seeping into her tone. "So I'm getting out of here. I'll make my home in another country's ruins and return the power scavengers once had back to them."
The woman nodded slowly, repeating the motion several times as she appeared to think. "No plans to sell it?"
"Not particularly," she answered, "I aim to throw a wrench into the current system, not empty people's wallets of what little they have."
"A noble goal is nice and all but how are you going to survive?" A bitterness tainted her words, "good intentions won't stop this world from eating you alive."
Aishwarya remained quiet, letting an air of discomfort settle in-between them. A sour taste filled her mouth thinking of the Brother's greed, mixed with a distaste for the woman's pessimism. "Why are you so invested in what I do?"
"Because I think we could work very well together," she replied, leaning forward as her head fell lopsided like a doll.
She raised a brow, looking at her with skepticism. "How so?"
"You work with technology, I work with technology." She began to explain slowly, "I've discovered an…interesting way to cheat the system. I think together we could really do some damage, as long as you get over your little inferiority complex."
"Yeah, not interested." She stood as the buzzer went off, followed by the automated voice calling for the first round of participants for the morning match.
"Suit yourself," she shrugged, "the offers on the table if you ever change your mind. Gotta put food on the table one way or another."
Aishwarya left without a word. Her boots clacked against the cold floor, bouncing off the dreary walls. If she could win just one more, she'd be able to enter the Enclave. After that, fleeing the country and she wouldn't have to worry about any of this again. Still, the woman's words itched at the back of her head. Her reasoning had been vague enough to tug on her curiosity, but her outlook had been grating. She could always feed herself by doing work around the city, then again how badly would that run her ragged if she found herself with enough clients.
She shook her head. They were questions for another time. She had to focus on her match for now, she could deal with the details afterwards.
AN:I could write this as a multi-chapter fic with them becoming partners and eventually falling in love, but unfortunately my motivation is just not there right now. Also my friend nicknamed this ship "Bits and Pieces"
"Business Partners" is available on Archive of Our Own and SquidgeWorld under the same title and username.