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“Remind me why we’re here?” Natalie complained from her spot on the bridge, tapping her fingers impatiently against the cool metal railing.
“Van wants to grab lunch at Jericho’s,” Lottie replied, leaning casually against the bridge's edge, her eyes drifting over the towering structures of Piltover. The golden sunlight glinted off the hextech-powered street lamps, giving the city an artificial glow even in the daytime. “Plus, you insisted that we go.”
“If I knew I’d be waiting for Shipman and Taylor, I’d have passed,” Natalie muttered, pulling a cigarette from behind her ear and rolling it between her fingers. She didn't light it—no smoking on the bridge unless you wanted to piss off the enforcers.
“They should be here soon,” Taissa stated, shifting her weight onto one leg, arms crossed in frustration.
Van scoffed. “You said that ten minutes ago, and I’m starving.” Her stomach growled in protest as if to emphasize the point. She adjusted her jacket and gave Tai a pointed look.
“They’ll be here soon,” Tai repeated, sounding less confident this time. Sighing, Nat turned to Lottie. “What time is it?”
“2.15,” Lottie replied, barely glancing at her watch, “Should we wait for them there?”
“And let those two navigate the lanes by themselves?” Van snorted. “The last time Shippy led Jackie through the lanes, she got into a fight with some assholes and broke her hand.”
Lottie smirked. “And Mrs. Taylor would go insane if she found out her precious daughter got into trouble again.”
“She already thinks Jackie’s a walking disaster,” Tai added, shaking her head. “One more incident, and she’ll probably lock her in the house with a stack of etiquette books.”
“Jackie wouldn’t read them,” Van said.
“No,” Lottie agreed, “but she’d make Shauna read those to her.”
Natalie groaned, rubbing her temples. “Alright, five more minutes. If they’re not here, we’re going without them.”
Van grinned. “That’s the best thing you’ve said all day.”
Just as she finished speaking, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed on the metal bridge. Jackie, Shauna came and Mari into view, Jackie and Mari looking slightly winded and Shauna rolling her eyes.
Tai blinked. “Okay, what the hell?”
“Mari?” Lottie asked, looking between her and Jackie. “Since when does she show up to these things?”
“About damn time,” Van muttered, pushing off the railing.
Shauna scowled, “Yeah, yeah, nice to see you too, Van.”
Jackie raised an eyebrow. “Are we going, or are you all just going to stand around gossiping like a bunch of council wives?”
Natalie smirked and flicked her unlit cigarette at Jackie. “Took you long enough, princess.”
Jackie caught it, narrowing her eyes. “Bite me, Nat.”
“Later,” Nat teased, shoving her hands into her pockets, starting the move, “Let’s eat before Van starts gnawing on someone’s arm.”
“That was an accident!” Van protested, “That wasn’t a real bite. It was barely a nibble.”
“I had a bite mark on my arm for two weeks! I had to keep it covered because people kept asking if I got attacked by a sewer rat,” Nat shot back before she slung one arm around Shauna’s shoulders, tugging her forward, drawing a look from Jackie, “What’s Mari doing here and what took you two so long?”
“We bumped into her on the way here and she invited herself and Jackie was busy calling Jeff,” Shauna replied.
“Didn’t they break up last week?” Nat asked, drawing a groan from Shauna, “They did but as always, they got back together. I don’t know what she sees in him.”
“Jealous much Shipman?” Nat teased her, earning an elbow to the gut, meaning that she’d touched on a delicate subject, which to Shauna, always involved Jackie.
“He can barely read, yet alone spell his own name but somehow, she still chose to date him.”
“Love is blind,” Nat quipped, making Shauna scoff.
“You guys should be glad that we didn’t bump into Misty,” Jackie’s voice cut in, “No way I’m going into the lanes with her again.”
That sentence immediately drew shudders from the group, the previous incident of being poisoned by Misty still fresh on their minds.
“I told you all not to drink anything she made,” Mari added, shaking her head.
Lottie sighed dramatically. “In our defense, it smelled fine and you’re one to talk, you practically inhaled your cup.”
“It was not fine,” Nat grumbled. “I was hallucinating for hours. I thought my boots were trying to eat me.”
“I threw up in a gutter,” Shauna added flatly.
Mari snickered. “Yeah, and Misty had the nerve to act surprised. Like, ‘Oh no, I only added a little venom!’” She mimicked Misty’s peppy voice, rolling her eyes.
Jackie groaned. “I still don’t know what was worse—the actual poisoning or Misty hovering over us, taking notes the whole time.”
“Oh, definitely the notes,” Van said. “And the part where she kept asking how the walls were melting. Like, I don’t know, Misty, I’m too busy dying to analyze the specifics.”
Tai gestured ahead. “Anyway, we’re not dealing with Misty today. Let’s get to Jericho’s before something else goes wrong.”
With that, the group set off, Mari’s unexpected presence still a topic of silent confusion, but hunger winning out over curiosity—for now.
The moment they crossed the checkpoint, the shift between Piltover and Zaun was impossible to ignore. The polished streets of Piltover gave way to uneven cobblestone paths, and the air grew heavier with the scent of oil, metal, and spice-heavy street food. The golden light of Piltover’s sun lamps faded into the hazy, neon glow of Zaun’s many signs, flickering above narrow alleyways.
Tai wrinkled her nose. “Every time I come down here, I feel like I need a shower afterward.”
“Me too,” Mari added.
Nat scoffed, giving her a playful shove. “Every time you complain about it, I feel like I need to shove you into a canal.”
Shauna smirked. “You’d be doing her a favor. She probably needs a bath anyway.”
“I heard that,” Tai muttered.
“Quit picking on Tai,” Van pitched in, coming to Taissa’s defense. Then, before Tai could thank her, Van added, “Only I get to pick on her.”
“Wow, thanks Van,” Taissa gave her a fake smile which had the redhead doing a mock salute, “You’re welcome Ms Turner.”
Mari, meanwhile, had an arm wrapped protectively around her own waist, eyes darting around like she expected someone to jump them at any moment. “Why do I feel like we’re about to get mugged?”
“Because you look like the perfect target,” Nat said bluntly. “Seriously, Mar, you’ve been down here countless times and yet, you still don’t know what to wear. I mean look at your pants.”
“What’s wrong with my pants?”
“You're screaming rich kid lost in the slums right now,” Nat replied.
Lottie, who at least looked more comfortable than Mari, tilted her head as she took in the familiar sights of Zaun. “It’s not that bad. I mean, sure, it’s a little... gritty, but it’s got its charm.”
“It’s home, ” Van said with a grin, walking ahead of the others with the confidence of someone who knew these streets inside and out. “And unlike Piltover, you don’t have to worry about some stuck-up enforcer breathing down your neck every time you do something fun.”
“Because your idea of fun is vandalizing public property,” Shauna deadpanned.
“Exactly, fun,” Van gave her a pointed look, making Shauna roll her eyes.
“Are you sure you’re from Zaun?” Nat asked.
“Excuse me for wanting to stay out of jail,” Shauna retorted.
Van snorted. “Yeah, yeah, we get it. You grew up with one foot in Piltover. But come on, Shauna, you’re acting like you’ve never been in the lanes before.”
“I have ,” Shauna defended, tucking her hands into her pockets. “I just— I’m cautious. ”
“That’s just a polite way of saying ‘soft,’” Nat teased, smirking as she took a long drag of her cigarette.
Tai, who had been observing quietly, crossed her arms with an amused look. “To be fair, Shauna’s probably the least ‘Zaun’ out of the three of you, hell, even Jackie’s more of a Zaunite than her.”
“Hey!” Shauna protested.
“She’s right,” Jackie said, nudging her best friend who protested with, “You gagged the first time we went into Zaun.”
“I had food poisoning.”
“Whatever,” Shauna huffed.
“I think it’s cute,” Lottie added, grinning at Shauna before tilting her head at Nat. “You, on the other hand? You fit the Zaun stereotype perfectly. ”
Nat shrugged. “What can I say? Some of us are just built for this place.”
Van nudged her shoulder. “Hell yeah, we are.”
Jackie sighed dramatically. “You two revel in the chaos too much.”
“Maybe if Piltover wasn’t so boring, you’d get it,” Van turned to her, shooting her with a smirk.
“Oh no,” Nat’s voice stopped them in their tracks.
The others followed her gaze, and there she was—standing just ahead, smiling like she had been expecting them.
Misty.
She barely had time to groan before Misty’s sharp eyes locked onto them, her face lighting up with an unsettling amount of enthusiasm.
“Hey, guys!” Misty chirped, weaving her way through the bustling crowd with unnatural speed. “Guess what? I’ve been working on—”
“Nope!” Van said immediately, sidestepping Misty like she was dodging a live grenade. She grabbed Tai’s sleeve and rushed past without looking back.
“We gotta go,” Nat added, already shoving Jackie and Mari forward with a forceful hand on their backs. Jackie, for once, didn’t complain.
“Emergency, sorry!” Lottie chimed in, yanking Shauna’s wrist as they made a hasty retreat.
Tai, being the only one who actually had the decency to slow down, sighed and turned to Misty, who now looked like a kicked puppy. “They’re just hungry.”
Misty brightened. “Oh! Can I join—”
“Maybe next time,” Van called over her shoulder before Tai could answer, gripping her friend’s wrist and tugging her away.
Misty stood there for a moment, watching them go, her expression thoughtful. Then, with a knowing smile, she pulled out a small notebook and jotted something down.
“ Next time… ” she murmured, before vanishing back into the crowd.
The group didn’t slow down until they were well past the checkpoint, the scent of oil, metal, and spice-heavy street food filling the air as they entered Zaun’s bustling lanes.
Shauna exhaled sharply, brushing a hand through her hair. “That was too close.”
I can’t believe we managed to ditch her,” Jackie muttered, glancing back over her shoulder like Misty might materialize out of thin air.
“Don’t jinx it,” Mari quipped, elbowing Jackie, who groaned.
“Don’t start.”
Van, however, was focused on something far more pressing. She turned toward the others, hands on her hips. “Okay, now can we please get to Jericho’s before I die of starvation?”
Nat rolled her eyes but started walking. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go before you start chewing on people again.”
“How many times do I have to apologize?” Van shot back.
Natalie just grinned. “You’re never gonna win this argument, Van.”
Lottie shook her head with a smirk, then nudged Tai. “You think Misty actually left?”
Tai huffed. “No chance. She’s probably already planning ‘next time.’”
“Let’s just hope ‘next time’ isn’t today,” Jackie muttered.
With that ominous thought hanging in the air, the group picked up the pace, weaving through the lively streets of Zaun. They passed vendors shouting about their latest wares, kids darting between stalls, and the occasional enforcer patrolling the lanes with wary eyes.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Van, they reached Jericho’s—a cozy, dimly lit eatery tucked between two towering buildings. The neon sign flickered slightly, but the smell of grilled meat, fried potatoes, and warm bread was enough to make her mouth water.
Van practically kicked open the door, making the bell above it jingle wildly. “Alright, nobody talks to me until I’ve got food in front of me.”
Heading directly for the counter, Van practically slammed her hands on the counter. “Jericho, my man , I am starving .”
Behind the counter, Jericho grunted with a roll of his eyes, “You say that every time.”
“Because it’s true every time,” Van shot back. “Now, give me four orders of—”
She’ll take two,” Tai cut in, pulling her back before she over-ordered for herself, again.
Van groaned. “Fine. But I am stealing your portion.”
The group rattled off their orders—Jericho’s daily special of whatever he added into the slop and mugs of something strong-smelling that Jericho promised would “put hair on their chests.” Jackie looked vaguely horrified by that description but ordered one anyway.
As they grabbed a booth in the corner, the tension from earlier started to fade. Conversations overlapped as they dug into their food—Mari making a jab at Jackie, Nat stealing a spoonful of slop from Lottie’s bowl, Van practically inhaling her meal while Tai and Shauna debated over which city had the best food.
“Alright, I’m grabbing another drink, who else wants one?” Nat asked, standing up.
“Me,” Van replied in between slurps.
Shaking her head at her friend’s table manners, Nat walked over to the counter and leaned over, waiting for Jericho to turn his attention to her.
“—warehouse in Piltover, district three. Shipment’s coming in at midnight. No security, just an easy grab.”
That caught Nat’s attention.
Glancing to her right, she spotted two men conversing with each other, clearly unaware that they were spilling details of their heist to everyone.
Idiots
“Are you sure? I heard they upgraded after the last time.”
“Not this one. It’s been sitting untouched for weeks. Just crates of old tech, some artifacts. Nothing important.”
“But valuable?”
A pause. Then—
“Very.”
“Piltover warehouse. Midnight. No security ,” Nat summarized in her head, “ This waa going to be easy.”
“What made you so happy all of a sudden?” Shauna noticed the grin on Nat’s face as she headed back to their booth.
“Where’s my drink?” Van asked but was ignored when Nat leaned forward and posed the question, “Alright,” she started, voice low but laced with intent. “I might have just found a way to get seriously rich.”
Tai groaned, immediately sensing where this was going. “Nat, no.”
Jackie frowned. “What do you mean, ‘rich’?”
Nat smirked. Hooked. “Piltover warehouse. Midnight. Barely any security, full of old tech and artifacts. The kind of stuff rich idiots would pay through the nose for.”
Van leaned in, interested. “What kind of ‘barely any security’ are we talking about?”
“Word is it’s been untouched for weeks,” Nat replied. “No upgraded defenses, nothing high-priority. Just a couple of guards and some old crates waiting to be ‘relocated.’”
Shauna crossed her arms. “And you know this how?”
“I overheard some guys talking about it,” Nat admitted. “Sounds like they’re planning on taking a shot at it themselves, but if we move first…”
Lottie tilted her head. “We could get there before them.”
Jackie looked skeptical. “And do what, exactly? Steal from a Piltover warehouse? You realize how bad an idea that is, right?”
Nat rolled her eyes. “Come on, Jackie. Since when are you not up for an adrenaline rush?”
Jackie hesitated but didn’t outright refuse.
Shauna exhaled sharply. “It’s Piltover. That means council guards, enforcers, maybe even—”
“ Maybe , but not likely,” Nat cut in. “If it were something important, security would be way tighter.”
Tai, still looking unimpressed, shook her head. “And if you’re wrong?”
Nat grinned. “Then we run. Like we always do.”
Mari, who had been listening quietly, smirked. “You know, this actually sounds kinda fun.”
Jackie gave her a deadpan look. “Of course you’d think that.”
Van tapped her fingers against the table, already weighing the pros and cons. “Honestly? It’s not the worst plan.”
Jackie groaned. “We can’t just keep doing this reckless shit—”
“ You don’t have to come,” Nat said with a shrug. “But I’m going. And when was the last time we did anything remotely fun?”
“You know, I’m kind of amazed you guys are even considering including Jackie in this,” Mari stated.
Van raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You all know what I’m talking about,” Mari grumbled. “Jackie’s the jinx . You want to be associated with her when this blows up in our faces?”
“Jackie’s not a jinx,” Shauna immediately jumped to the defense, “ She’s just unlucky. There’s a difference.”
“Thanks for clarifying,” Jackie added sarcastically.
“Let’s be real,” Mari said, tapping the table lightly, “ Everything goes wrong when we’re with you. Remember the time we tried to steal that shipment of rare minerals from the docks? It was going smoothly until you stepped on that damn crate and set off an alarm.”
Tai raised a brow. “You stepped on it.”
“And you pushed me into it, so it’s your fault!” Jackie shot back.
Mari smirked, leaning back in her seat. “Face it, Jackie. When shit hits the fan, you’re the first to blame.”
“Mari, back off,” Shauna warned her, fists clenching which caught Lottie’s attention
“And you’re one to talk,” Lottie interjected before Shauna did something rash, “Remember when you dragged us into that alleyway in Zaun, and we nearly got stuck in a gang war?”
“Well, that was a different situation!” Mari snapped.
Jackie crossed her arms, leaning back in her seat with a grin that didn’t quite mask her annoyance. “Yeah, sure, different situation . But you’re still the one who got us into it.”
Mari shot her a look. “I’m pretty sure we were all just as eager to join in on that mess.”
Lottie raised an eyebrow. “That’s because you make it sound fun until we’re running from a bunch of pissed-off gang members with knives.”
Tai sighed and rubbed her forehead. “We’re all idiots, okay? Can we focus on the heist instead of rehashing every time something went wrong?”
“Tai’s right,” Nat chimed in, giving her a sharp look before turning back to the group. “We’re not talking about the past. We’re talking about now . And right now, I’m telling you this is our chance.”
Jackie raised an eyebrow, suddenly intrigued despite herself. “And you really think it’ll be that easy?”
Nat grinned. “Of course not. But it’s worth the risk. We’re due for some good luck, don’t you think?”
Van, who had been quietly listening to the back-and-forth, leaned over the table with a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Alright, enough with the banter. We’re doing this, right? Because if we’re doing it, we need to get moving before someone else does.”
The group fell silent for a moment, each of them weighing the decision.
Van leaned in. “Alright, if we’re doing this, we need a plan.”
Tai pointed a finger at Shauna. “No stabbing anyone this time.”
Shauna scoffed. “That was one time!”
Then, Tai turned to Nat, “No running off to do your own thing, if we’re doing this, we need to be a team.”
Nat nodded, “Got it boss, and maybe ease up a little?”
“I’ll ease up when all of you stop behaving like children,” Tai replied, drawing protests from everyone. But she ignored them and pointed to Lottie, “No daydreaming and wandering off.”
Lottie snorted, “I’ll try but no promises.”
Turning to Mari, Tai warned her, “If you tell anyone about this, we’re kicking you out, deal?”
“Got it,” Mari nodded.
Turning to Van, Tai addressed her, “Try to keep it down, the last thing we need are the enforcers to barge in.”
“Yes mam,” Van saluted Tai.
“Finally, Tai turned to Jackie, “Everyone needs to pitch in if we’re pulling this off, and that includes you, Jackie.”
“Just don’t jinx us,” Mari added, causing Shauna to elbow her in the side before shooting her another warning glare.
Rubbing her temple, Tai sighed, “But if we get caught, I’m blaming Nat.”
“Hey!”
…
The group huddled at the fence, the night air heavy with tension as they prepared to execute the heist. The warehouse loomed in front of them, its dark, imposing silhouette casting long shadows across the yard. They’d scouted the place from the outside for days, but now it was time to move.
“Everyone got their gear?” Van asked quietly.
Check,” Nat responded, adjusting the strap on her bag.
Jackie tightened her gloves, the anxiety building in her chest, but she pushed it down. They had a plan, and they were sticking to it.
Shauna looked over the area one last time, her sharp eyes scanning for any unexpected movement. “I’ll take point, make sure no one hears us coming,” she said, her voice low but confident.
Lottie nodded. “I’ll back you up.”
They all went over the plan again in their heads again, making sure everything was in place. That’s when they heard it—a soft pop and a familiar voice cutting through the quiet.
Hey, guys!”
“Jesus!” Jackie cursed, clutching her chest.
“What the fuck?” Tai exclaimed.
“Misty?” Shauna asked.
Misty?” Nat said flatly, trying not to let her frustration show. “What are you doing here?”
Misty waved a hand dismissively as she stood on the other side of the fence, grinning like she had been there all along. practically bouncing on her feet. “Oh, you know. I’ve been preparing .” She winked, as if that explained everything.
The group exchanged looks, but before anyone could protest, Misty leaned forward, her voice suddenly serious. “I’ve already canvassed the area. Got the layout of the guards, entry points, weak spots. I even scoped out the best way in.”
Van blinked, clearly taken aback. “You’ve been here this whole time ?”
Misty nodded enthusiastically. “Yup! I thought, you know, you guys might need a little extra help. Wouldn’t want you to mess this up , right?” She gave them a teasing smile, clearly pleased with herself.
Nat groaned, her hands on her hips. “This is exactly what I was trying to avoid. We don’t need another screw-up, Misty.”
“I’m not a screw-up,” Misty said, her expression suddenly turning mock-offended. “I just… think outside the box.” She stepped closer to the group, her eyes scanning the warehouse. “Trust me, you’re gonna need my skills for this.”
Nobody dared to ask what kind of skills she possessed.
Tai rubbed her temple. “You’re sure you’re not just here for the chaos?”
“Why not both?” Misty shrugged, completely unphased.
Lottie sighed but gave in. “Alright, fine. Just— please —don’t do anything crazy .”
Misty grinned. “You know I can’t promise that.”
Tai shot a glance at the rest of the group. “Alright, let’s move before things go south.”
“Please, your mom’s just gonna bail you out again,” Nat replied then gestured to Lottie, Jackie and Mari, “Your parents too. The rest of us will be shipped off to Stillwater.”
“Are you sure you still want to do this then?” Mari demanded, running out of patience.
“Guys,” Jackie cut in, “We’re already here, might as well get it over with. Plus, I hate to admit it but Misty’s right, we might need her.”
Her words hung in the air, and after a beat of silence, a collective groan echoed from the group.
“Great, just great,” Nat muttered, rolling her eyes as she adjusted the bag slung over her shoulder.
As the group started to slip through the gap in the fence, Nat couldn’t help but feel the weight of Misty’s unexpected presence. She had a feeling things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.
…
The group made their way into the Piltover warehouse, their movements quick and precise. The heavy iron doors creaked as they pushed them open, the dim glow of the streetlights outside casting long shadows over the dusty floors. They knew the place well enough—the warehouse had been rumored for months to house experimental tech, the kind of gear that would fetch a fortune on the black market. Tonight, they weren’t going for the big stuff. Just a few small valuables, enough to make it worth their while and get in and out without causing too much of a stir.
Nat led the way, her sharp eyes darting across the shelves, finding the most expensive-looking crates to raid. Van stood guard by the door, while the rest covered the rest of the room. But soon enough, they split into pairs; Nat with Lottie, Jackie with Shauna, Tai and Mari. And unsurprisingly, they quickly split from Misty.
“Lot, boost me up,” Nat said, glancing at a box high up on the shelf. However, Lottie simply reached up and grabbed said box, smirking at Nat as she did so.
“You don’t have to show off everytime,” Nat told her but Lottie shrugged before moving on.
“Do you think Jeff would like this?” Jackie asked Shauna, holding up a gold bracelet with intricate engravings on it. The metal caught the dim light of the warehouse, gleaming like it had been made for someone who knew how to appreciate the finer things.
Shauna’s mind immediately went elsewhere. Here we go again, she thought, her gaze shifting from Jackie to the bracelet. She could almost feel the frustration curling in her chest as she watched Jackie sift through the stolen goods like they were some sort of treasure trove for her boyfriend. Shauna wasn’t surprised by it, though. She never was. Jackie had been obsessed with Jeff from day one, always finding ways to get him things—gifts that were often more thoughtful than what he ever gave back. And yet, here they were, in the middle of a high-stakes heist, with Jackie still thinking about him.
The guy hasn’t gifted her anything in two years, Shauna thought bitterly, watching Jackie’s hopeful expression as she held up the bracelet. Two years, and every single gift Jackie has ever received has come from me.
Shauna swallowed the feeling that was bubbling up in her throat, the annoyance creeping under her skin. She didn’t even need to say anything for Jackie to know what was running through her mind. Shauna had never been good at hiding her feelings, especially not when it came to her best friend.
Jackie’s gaze flicked back to her. “What do you think?” she asked again, as though Shauna was supposed to suddenly care about what Jeff would like .
Why should I care? Shauna thought, her eyes flickering toward the others who were busy prepping for the next part of their plan. He’s never given you anything that showed he cared. Shauna clenched her fists at her sides, trying to bury the resentment that was threatening to spill out.
“I think Jeff would love it,” Shauna said, forcing a smile, her voice lacking any real enthusiasm. She wanted to say something else, something that would make Jackie stop and reconsider how much she was putting into this relationship, but she couldn’t. Not now. Not with everything else going on.
Instead, she looked away, trying to hide the frustration that was still simmering beneath the surface. Maybe if Jackie would open her eyes, she'd see what's right in front of her.
“Oooo, this would definitely fetch a high price,” Mari exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she held up an ivory vase. The intricate paintings on the surface depicted a series of bold, erotic images that made the object seem out of place in the otherwise high-end collection they were looting.
Shauna couldn’t help but glance at the vase, her face twisting in both amusement and disbelief. Really? she thought, This is what Mari gets excited about?
“No one would buy that,” Tai snorted, a wry smile spreading across her face as she gave Mari a skeptical look. "Unless you’re selling it to some perverted collector.”
Mari didn’t seem fazed by the comment at all, still entranced by the object. “Are you kidding me? This is a collector's item . Look at the craftsmanship! The attention to detail—this thing’s got history.”
Shauna raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. “Yeah, if by ‘history’ you mean something you’d find tucked away in a Zaun alley, sure.” She leaned against a shelf, glancing over her shoulder. “If you’re so eager to keep it, you can carry it out. I’m not putting that in my bag.”
Mari shot her a mischievous grin, clearly entertained by the reaction. “Oh, come on, Shauna. You never know. A few years down the line, someone’s gonna see the value in this. I could make a fortune.”
“Yeah,” Tai muttered sarcastically, “if you don’t get arrested for public indecency first.”
Mari waved her off, completely unfazed. “What they don’t know won’t hurt them.” She smirked at the vase once more, giving it a final once-over before tucking it into her bag, much to the dismay of Shauna and Tai.
“Let’s just hope no one else sees the value in it,” Shauna muttered under her breath as she moved toward the next pile of stolen goods, eager to put the weirdness of the vase behind her.
Meanwhile, Misty found herself wandering deeper into the warehouse, examining a set of shelves filled with chemicals, glass beakers, and vials of strange liquids.
Then, her eyes landed on a vial containing a purple shimmery liquid.
Picking it up, she examined it closely, when Nat suddenly spoke up from beside her, startling her, “What the hell are you doing?”
“N-Nothing,” Misty stammered but Nat’s attention was on the vial in Misty’s hands, “Misty, put that down now.”
“But—”
“I said put that—” Jackie started, her voice sharp, as she reached out toward Misty. But before she could finish her sentence, her foot caught the edge of a shelf, sending a loud clatter through the warehouse.
The shelf containing rows of neatly arranged glass vials of chemicals—volatile, dangerous substances—wobbled before tipping over completely. The bottles crashed to the floor in a chaotic symphony of shattering glass and hissing liquids, sending a wave of panic through the group.
The sound of the crash echoed far too loudly, far too dangerously. Jackie’s heart raced as she quickly jumped back, her mind racing with the consequences of what she had just done. Shit, shit, shit.
She cursed under her breath, barely able to breathe through the rising tension. "I didn’t—" She shook her head, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She hadn’t meant to knock it over. It had been an accident, but she knew that wasn’t going to save them now. The ticking clock of their heist was now more of a countdown to disaster.
The others froze, eyes wide with fear.
"Jackie!" Mari hissed, her voice laced with panic as she darted toward her. "What the hell did you do?!"
"I didn’t mean to!" Jackie snapped, her voice filled with frustration. "I just—"
The sound of the chemicals bubbling and sizzling on the ground cut her off. Something in the air seemed to thicken, the sharp, metallic scent of the chemicals mixing with the panic.
"Move!" Tai shouted, grabbing Jackie’s arm and yanking her away from the mess. "We need to get the hell out of here, now!"
Van, wide-eyed, darted back toward the door, holding up her hands like she was ready to bolt. "You’ve gotta be kidding me…"
The tension in the room was suffocating. Shauna, her eyes darting to the broken vials, quickly scanned the shelves for any signs of the worst-case scenario: something volatile mixing in the wrong way.
"Get the stuff we need and go, " Nat barked, already grabbing what she could from the shelves, stuffing it into a bag. "This place is about to blow, and we don't want to be around when it does."
Jackie felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on her. She had messed up—again. But there was no time to dwell on it. They had one shot at getting out alive.
“Let’s move!” Shauna shouted, pulling at Jackie’s arm.
With a last, desperate glance at the wreckage, Jackie followed, hoping to whatever gods were listening that they wouldn’t be caught in the aftermath.
They sprinted through the narrow, dimly lit corridors of the warehouse, hearts pounding, adrenaline surging through their veins. Behind them, the distant echo of cracking glass and the ominous hiss of chemicals mixing still hung in the air, sending a sense of dread crawling down their spines.
"Move faster!" Nat barked, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We’re not out of this yet!"
They pushed through the back exit, bursting into a dark alley that was just wide enough for the group to wedge themselves in without drawing too much attention. The sound of their hurried footsteps reverberated off the walls as they leaned against the rough brick buildings, gasping for air.
Jackie stumbled slightly as they came to a halt, trying to steady herself after the mad dash. Her breath was sharp in her chest, her pulse still racing from the chaos of it all. The weight of what had just happened hit her, and she felt a pang of guilt, but there was no time to dwell on it now.
"Is everyone okay?" Tai asked, her voice tense but steady as she scanned the group.
"We’re good, but that was too close," Lottie said, her hand brushing her hair back as she glanced around, trying to get her bearings.
“You know,” Mari said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “I don’t mean to point fingers, but every time we go on one of these little adventures , it’s you who ends up blowing it. Can’t say I’m surprised you managed to knock over a whole shelf of chemicals.”
Jackie shot her a look, eyes narrowing. “Shut up, Mari,” she muttered, clearly irritated by her constant jabs.
Mari just shrugged, unfazed by the death glare Jackie shot her way. “I’m just saying, you’re like a walking disaster. You’re the jinx of the group, Jackie. Everything goes wrong when you’re around.”
Jackie bristled at the word. “I’m not a jinx,” she snapped, her voice low and tight. “I’m just... unlucky.”
“Oh, sure,” Mari quipped, her tone light but with an edge of mockery. “You’re the unluckiest person I know. Every time we do something like this, it’s like the universe conspires against us because you’re there. It’s like you’ve got a special curse.”
Shauna shot Mari a warning glance, but Jackie had already turned away, her jaw clenched as she tried to ignore the teasing.
Van, noticing the rising tension, stepped in between them, her voice firm. “Enough, both of you. We’ve got bigger problems than who’s the ‘jinx.’”
Mari raised her hands in mock surrender, still grinning. “Fine, fine. But I’m just saying...”
“Let it go,” Nat interjected, her voice tired. “We all survived, and that’s what matters. Jackie’s not a jinx. She’s just... well, she’s Jackie.”
Jackie gave Nat a grateful look, but the words stung. She knew they were trying to defend her, but the way Mari had called her a jinx struck deep.
As the group continued moving through the alley, Jackie fell a few steps behind, the sting of Mari’s words still hanging in the air. She kept her head down, her thoughts swirling—maybe she was cursed. Maybe there was something wrong with her. It wasn’t the first time she’d felt like the cause of the group's troubles.
A hand lightly touched her shoulder, and she looked up to find Shauna walking beside her, her usual sharp expression softened.
“Hey,” Shauna said quietly, her voice low enough that only Jackie could hear. “Ignore Mari. You know how she is. She’s always got to have something to complain about.”
Jackie let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “It’s not just her. I always mess things up. Every time we do something, it ends in disaster.”
“That’s not true,” Shauna replied firmly, stopping and gently gripping Jackie’s arm to make her pause. “We’ve pulled off plenty of jobs without a hitch. Things just... didn’t go the way we planned tonight. That’s all. It wasn’t your fault.”
Jackie looked down at the ground, guilt eating at her. “It was my foot that knocked over the shelf. It was me.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t on purpose,” Shauna said, lifting Jackie’s chin so she had to meet her gaze. “Accidents happen. It doesn’t make you a jinx, Jackie. You’ve been with us through every mess we’ve gotten into, and we still get out. That’s what matters.”
Jackie felt a lump form in her throat at Shauna’s words. There was no judgment in her eyes, just understanding.
“But it always feels like it’s me," Jackie murmured, the weight of everything settling on her shoulders. "I screw up and then I’m the one who has to fix it. I feel like I’m the reason we’re always in trouble.”
Shauna sighed and shook her head, taking a step closer to Jackie. “You’re not the reason, Jack. If we didn’t have you, we wouldn’t even be able to get through half of this shit. You always find a way out, even when everything goes wrong.”
Jackie bit her lip, glancing at the others ahead of them. “Thanks, Ship,” she said quietly, feeling the tension in her chest slowly start to ease.
Shauna gave her a smile. “Anytime. You’re one of us. Don’t forget that.”
Jackie nodded, grateful for Shauna’s reassurance, and together, they caught up with the others. For the first time that night, Jackie felt a little lighter. It didn’t make everything okay, but at least she didn’t feel so alone in it all.