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This... Pink. She knew more than let on, the spark in her eyes just from the information in her journal told Caitlyn she knew something. More than perhaps the other inmate she had originally come to see. Caitlyn didn't believe in fate, she made her own choices just as everyone else did. But this was a coincidence that worked out fully in her favor. To think, she had come face to face with this woman before. A few years ago, simple training and walking through the prison, was the standard routine. Yet Pink threatened the new group with a flying lunch tray. It barely missed her head and the strength that came from those arms meant she knew just how and where to throw it. Caitlyn couldn't forget that magenta hair, the shift of her shoulders rolling. The thrill of facing the woman still couldn't be contained though her outward expression continued to be professional and firm. The glint in her blue eyes though, spoke volumes that Pink no doubt noticed.
Standing in the elevator like a sentinel, she twisted the keys in her hand, like a ticking hourglass of time til the door opened. Her heels clicked along the ground. Tap tap tap, as she held the single key in her palm. Eyes flicked toward the other cells of solitary confinement; every single one of them empty. As if this was designated Pink's hall. A deep breath left her lips, and her eyes fell onto the key. She was about to open up the cage of this criminal; the one who had murdered at least a dozen enforcers, killed other inmates, and wounded even more. The regard in the chief Warden's eyes had a bemused tone; as if debating on whether or not Caitlyn would survive when those doors opened. Her steps slowed, glancing through the bars once more.
Pink faced the wall, once more in the shadows of her cell. Caged like an animal, the former enforcer's eyes spotted the roll of her shoulder. Tension bricked along the sharp lines of her muscles; ready to snap.
"How many chats have you had with her?"
"you know, I never even thought to count..."
Ready for a fight. Fist curled a slight snarl from her lips. Pink looked ready for a 'chat'. Disgust lingered at the tip of Caitlyn's tongue as she narrowed her eyes at such behavior. Eight years was a lot of time for these chats, and Pink had been expecting it. Instead, Caitlyn put the key into the lock and twisted it as the mechanism creaked open and slid the bars sideways. Clanking gears of old squeak from rusted use, as Caitlyn took a step back. Pink's tension built, another tick of her shoulder twisted, and then darkened eyes turned to glare at Caitlyn. Green eyes met blue and Caitlyn briefly expected this feline to pounce. Slam her fist into her in justified rage with the fury of a tiger. Shadowed eyes froze upon Caitlyn's visage as they stood face to face without bars for the first time; allowing her to process. Her eyes, the sense of aggression faded and replaced with bafflement. Despite the cell door being open, Pink didn't budge. It reminded her of the little protector she had saved from the cage of the men all these years back. Despite opening the cage, the little feline wouldn't move. She had to coax her out.
Caitlyn let out a sigh, a slight sneer of annoyance not at Pink but at the wardens of Stillwater. Caitlyn turned sideways and tilted her head. Silence lingered on her tongue saying nothing but turned to walk. After three steps, she heard the noise behind her. A breath of relief left her lips, glad that Pink understood what it meant. At that point, they traveled in silence, as Caitlyn held the keys in her hand and pressed the elevator button. "I need your help, but I will explain more once we are out of here," Caitlyn finally expressed as she looked over to the woman standing staring at the elevator doors with defiance in her eyes. Her hand continued to grip her journal while Pink said nothing. Caitlyn didn't expect any words, she couldn't help but wonder if Pink thought this might be a trick. Still, she gave her credit for not attacking her just yet. Fur bristled underneath her shoulderpads of her enforcer uniform as she reached up to brush her hair behind her ear and the clank of metal opened the elevator doors.
Caitlyn continued to take the lead, a small hint of trust by giving her back to Pink. It wasn't something she did with anyone, she never turned her back on people else they could attack her weak points. After a few silent steps from Caitlyn, Pink trekked into the elevator, leaning up against the corner with her arms crossed and lowering her chin slightly toward her chest, glaring down Caitlyn. "So you want my help, blackmail? Seems typical," Pink stated, a snarl against the end of her lips as she flexed one of her hands and Caitlyn lowered her brows.
"What? No. You want to stop Silco, and I need proof. We can work together. You have your freedom already, you've been pardoned. It's been signed and submitted," Though she didn't quite admit yet that she had forged the signature and practically broke Pink out of prison. Pink just raised a brow unconvinced by these words. "Look, if this is going to work, we have to have a little trust," Pink scoffed and immediately cut Caitlyn off.
"I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you. You are just another enforcer throwing around her weight and power like a buffalo," Caitlyn took a breath, and a chuff of rumbling air left her lips and shook her head. Yet still, Pink did not attack nor aggressively react. They stood silent as the creaking elevator continued upward til they were on the main floor once more. The door slowly opened as Caitlyn moved past the doors and the smell of the tiger followed the woman. It couldn't be ignored, the whispers in the shadow as her eyes flicked over toward a pair of wardens, the ones who had made the bet on Caitlyn as they exchanged some gold with a grumble of confusion. As Pink came into view, every enforcer looked on guard, grouping like a herd of animals preparing to either fight or flee. Even Caitlyn heard the deep rumbling growl which caused a few hands to reach for their batons. "Come on," Caitlyn hushed as she moved toward the desk where the Warden stood.
"Here," Caitlyn stated, placing the keys down. "We'll be on our way," Caitlyn stated, though refusing to give any goodwill in his direction. Just as she turned to walk past Vi, the deep tone of the man echoed in the air as he stood up. "Hey, Pink," The words caught Caitlyn's ears as she turned her head and saw Pink do the same. A dark gaze brushed over Pink's face, narrowing her eyes with a firm stare down at the Warden.
"I hate to see you lose such a prime opportunity of freedom," He taunted, as his cane hit the ground. Instinctively, Pink recoiled back slightly and the warden huffed in amusement as he allowed a twisted smirk to dot his disfigured lips. "But don't worry, Imma sure yer give the enforcers a reason to lock you back up. We hate to lose our most prized tiger," Not a word left Pink's lips, instead her teeth bared as she growled, and the hair on the back of her neck started to bristle.
Without hesitation, Caitlyn stepped forward pressed her arm against Pink's chest, and pushed her back slightly. A growl emitted from her lips threatening the man far taller than she was. "Warden, The councillor Cassandra Kiramman has signed the approval paperwork for her release, she is no longer a prisoner of Stillwater but a citizen of the undercity. So watch your tone, before I give you a reason to watch it. Remember, I'm not just an enforcer," Caitlyn threatened, her fangs glinting against the light as the Warden stood quietly and the two stared down at each other.
"Of Course, Miss Kiramman. I would not insult the Kiramman house in such a fashion, only reminding the citizen of the undercity to watch her step. We all know how these trenchers are," Caitlyn cleared her throat to cut him off, making it clear she was in no mode for the conversation. "Enough. Or I'll have your badge stripped from you, and not even Marcus can stop it," That was enough for the Warden to glower down at Caitlyn but stop talking. Caitlyn's fingers flexed, her claws ready to fight if she had to, but her words were enough to dissuade any further interrogation. Her eyes snapped toward the other wardens, all standing there as if waiting for a reason to arrest Pink once more. Caitlyn let out a defensive growl, daring any of them to make a move as they all turned and went about their duties.
Immediately, she twisted on her feet, grabbed Pink's arm, and tugged her forward. "Come on, let's get out of here," Caitlyn spoke, though a small whisper echoed in her mind. 'Get out of here before they give me a reason to snap,'. Caitlyn hadn't thought about the fact she just grabbed Pink, which no doubt would have had an adverse reaction before. However, Pink looked more stunned than angry. She moved forward as Caitlyn let go of her arm and then left the front hall of Stillwater and out the doors. The sun had not yet crossed the horizon and fog pillowed around the water. Every councillor would be asleep, and hopefully, by the time anyone knew what she had attempted, Pink and she would be in the undercity. No one would be able to stop her. Law or no law, she had to do what was right in her own eyes, and if that meant defying the very law that continued to hinder her.
So be it.
"It's about an hour boat ride back to Piltover, make yourself comfortable. We'll pick you up some new clothes, and head to the undercity," Caitlyn offered, as Pink tilted her head and stared at her. The two felines exchanged a look, standing on the edge of the stairs in front of the ship and Pink let out a little huff. Afterward, Vi moved over the blank and plopped down against the front of the ship, leaning back against the wood. The ferryman looked a little nervous, as Caitlyn stepped onto the boat. While no words were exchanged, he twisted the ship back in the direction of the shimmering white city of marble, a place that never slept. Fingers reached out to grab a spare blanket and moved over to place it overtop of Pink, before sitting down herself and crossing her arms. For now, they would wait and see what would come next.
She hoped that Pink could help her, even though she had no reason to do so. Despite the view of Caitlyn freeing Pink, it was not something she would exploit upon Pink. Her freedom was hers now, Caitlyn could only hope that Pink would help her. In the end, she would go to the undercity one way or another; with or without help. It was the right thing to do, and no one else was going to do it but her.