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Stealing. That's the one thing that connects Sevika and Jinx. Being good at it is another skill they share.
So, naturally, when Silco proposed an idea where the pair could work on that very skill plus get paid double of what they usually are, they agreed.
Not that Jinx ever really had made a lot of money from working with Silco.
He paid the worrisome hours of her work by acting as a father figure.
Sevika was never really in it for the money, as much as she was for the cause of Zaun.
But to work once with the crazy rascal and get paid for the trouble — she wouldn't turn it down.
Couldn't.
So, here the two are.
Sneaking on the roof of Piltover's city hall in tailored, yet stolen suits, balancing on the slippery tiles.
Jinx's shoes are a size too big, making the task twice as hard, yet somehow Sevika is the one struggling.
"Hurry up!" Jinx sneers, poking at Sevika's shin from behind.
"There's only so fast I can go without falling down," Sevika spits back, hiding the slight tremor in her tone.
She refuses to look down.
"Never thought of you as SUCH a wimp." Jinx laughs. "Afraid of heights, huhhhh? How can that be?"
Sevika grumbles something under her breath about 'being too old for this shit.'
Jinx continues, insistent. "No, I mean- Sevika, the big scary lady is afraid of heights? Pick sumthin' else!"
Her overexaggerated hand gestures very crucial to all the talking make Jinx stumble over her own feet — who yelps and grabs at a windowsill just in time before slipping.
A pause.
"Oh. Whew, am I right?"
Jinx then chuckles carelessly.
The horror on Sevika's face is priceless; pure stun. She's appaled, breathing in puffs too shallow and panicked for someone with the reputation of a hardass.
"You- damnit, don't do that!" she exclaims.
"Fuckin' kid, givin' me heart attacks..." she mutters as she turns back around — eyes on the price; the price, as of right now, being just getting off of the roof.
Whatever Silco really sent them out for can be worried about later.
"Jeeeez, relax you brute," Jinx drawls in that annoyingly raspy tone of hers.
Sevika ignores whatever insults the other throws at her, and soon enough — reaches the open window. Southern wing. Their ticket to the party they have no invatition for.
Who needs one, anyways?
"Get in," she grumbles, holding out a hand to Jinx who grabs it and cocks an eyebrow.
"A-ha, chivarlious lady," she teases, grunting as she climbs up.
"No wonder you're the talk of dang near all the brothels down in- WHOA-"
Sevika pushes Jinx in the window by the rear; earning great pleasure from the other's suffering as she plants face first onto the floor.
Giving a quick glare at Sevika, Jinx rubs at her face and stands to her feet, swaying slightly.
"Whole carpet. Nice."
She then says and spits a drop of blood right onto the creamy-white material.
Sevika, the asshole she can be, gracefully gets down from the window and offers Jinx a smug smirk, almost close to what could count as a smile.
Half-assed one, maybe.
"Got blood on yer lip," she strides past her.
"Well you don't say!" Jinx hisses when Sevika motions her to keep it down, if shoving the palm of her hand to the others face even counts as motioning.
Works very well.
Muffles any of Jinx's protests.
"Oh, shut it."
Sevika then pushes Jinx a good few feet away with just the power of her hand, not even looking her way as she goes through her pocket.
Before Jinx can burst into complaints, Sevika throws her an earpiece.
Jinx catches it, wiping blood off her lip.
"Put it on."
"Put it on," Jinx mocks in a condescending way, voice high pitched.
Sevika smacks her on the arm.
"Ow! Hey-"
"No bullshit. You don't pull crap out there," Sevika cuts her off, voice stern as she fixes her own earpiece.
Jinx rolls her eyes. "Fine. Yeah, yeah."
"Good. 'S all I fucking ask."
Their steps are light as they creep toward the rooms door, trying to hear what's going on on the other side.
Loads of elegant, arrogant people, most likely.
The reception is waiting out there.
Now all they have to do is manage to sneak in there without looking like a pair of robbers.
So easy, when one has bright blue hair and the other's size compares to a tank.
Not suspicious at all. Nope.
Sevika adjusts her tie with one hand — the metal one, her other one raising so she can read her watch. She tap it with her finger when the hour hand slows down.
Of course it decides to start acting up now, out of all moments.
"Dang it." Sevika grumbles.
Time is money and it is ticking away.
She throws Jinx a look, serious as they come. "Act proper out there, or I swear-"
"You'll kill me, it'll be so much fun, blah, blah, blah..." Jinx pushes past her and swipes her sidebang out of her face.
"Can't wait!"
She pushes open the door.
Chatter buzzes in every corner of the room, rich airheads too busy in their converstations about dogbreeds and investments to notice their sudden appearance.
A wealthy laugh from somewhere down the hall bounces off the marbly walls.
They slip out of the room and shut the door.
Sevika lingers by it, not looking at Jinx as she whispers suavely,
"Just don't... get caught. Al'right?"
"Pfft. Please," Jinx chuckles under her breath. "Have some faith in me, toots."
And then she's off.
Somehow blending right into the crowd, weaving, snaking, twisting her way through with some formal greetings; politely waving at anyone who bats an eye.
Charmingly tactful.
That's Jinx for you.
Under all that chaos — she can be a genius, and a damn good actor.
Sevika watches her go with an oddly fond smirk on her face, head shaking at her antics.
"Sneaky brat..." she mutters under her breath and pushes off the door to join a group near the open bar.
She trusts Jinx enough to let herself have drink before her part of the plan kicks in.
If the option is granted to her, ofcourse...
"Rather lavish work. I told you, Michel really knows his way around fancy attire."
Sevika eavesdrops on a conversation.
The woman's rings — gold, tap against her champagne glass with graceful calm, thumb tracing the round ridge before taking a sip.
"I could share you his contact. Proceed from there."
"I could use a stylish man's knowledge." Sevika cuts into the converstation, sliding beside the woman and offering her hand.
The woman gives her an inviting smile, shaking her hand graciously. Poise.
"You're looking for a stylist?" she tilts her head, taking Sevika in.
The groups attention shifts to her.
"I fail to understand why. I see you've got a dandy suit on you already."
"Ah, this old thing?" Sevika smoothens the front with the flat of her palm. "Well, my fashion plate is quite narrow. Wouldn't hurt to have some help," she notes, thanking a waitress as she gets handed a glass of fizzling alcohol, too.
"That, is true." Someone else from the table agrees. "Associates are important."
"Well, I think you're a sharp dresser already. Fits you like a glove, this suit." The woman clinks her glass with Sevika's, a shimmer of... something, in her golden eyes.
Hunger, maybe.
Sevika's look reflects hers. Hunger.
She is a vision.
A sight for sore eyes, and Sevika's pair is aching.
Piltovians usually just manage to piss her off.
How is this elegant woman getting under her skin with such courteousy?
"I didn't catch your name," the woman continues, eyes following Sevika's mouth as she downs some of her drink.
She swallows, throat bopping and eyes half-lid. If it wasn't for all the lavish people around, she'd lay it on thick and flirt all night.
"It's Sevika, miss."
"Ah," the woman hums. "And... the family name?"
"I have a rather difficult relationship with them. Don't use it unless necessary." Sevika lies suavely.
"Mhm, I understand. Family never has been my relish," the woman rolls her eyes lightly, clearly thinking of someone who shares her blood and she wishes they didn't.
Sevika hums in agreement, but mindlessly.
She's glancing around, trying to spot the guards.
No longer just standing by the front entrance, one of them is talking to their radiophone looking troubled. He calls over a colluege, discussing something.
Shit. Jinx.
The woman touches Sevika's forearm.
She turns her head back down, focus sharp again.
The woman's eyes meet hers again.
"It's Mel. Mel Medarda."
════════════════════════════
"Work, you piece of shit!" Jinx strikes her screwdiver at the wall next to the locked up control center.
"Sounds bad. Talk to me."
Sevika's voice sputters in Jinx's headseat.
She groans.
"It's smashed! Can't get this piece- of- shit- to- WORK!" Each of her words is punctuated with a thud as she bangs the scuttle.
"I met a woman. 'S buying me a drink. You better hurry the fuck up if you wish to see me again tonight," Sevika's voice comes out urgent, quiet.
She's not joking, and Jinx knows.
The opportunity to get laid has never been passed up by Sevika. Not once.
"Alright, alright!!" Jinx panics a little. "I don't want Silco hounding me," she whines.
Sevika grunts, urging her on.
"So?"
A soft sigh.
"I have an option left. Youuu're not gonna like it, thoughhh," Jinx drawls.
Sevika picks up the sound of something metallic clinking on Jinx's side of the earpiece.
"Jinx."
Sevika growls, a warning.
"What?" Jinx moans, a small granate in hand. "It's a quick fix! One BANG and i'll be done, promise!" she pleads.
A heavy sigh.
Sevika eyes the woman — Mel, finishing up her order by the bar.
"Okay. Do it," she gives in."You better pray we don't get caught."
"YES! I swear, okay- ba-bye!!!"
The line crackles.
Shuts off.
Sevika sighs just in time before her earlier companion returns with two drinks and a coy smile, a stride in her step.
"So... where were we-?"
A muffled bang quiets down everyone in the parlor.
The glasses on the bar shelves rattle slightly.
For just a second, the entire building sits still.
Sevika's ears burn.
Then-
Conversation returns. Chatters.
Those noble laughs Sevika swore she held hatred for, but feels immense relief when they fill the air.
Phew.
"What... was that?" Medarda chuckles.
"Hmph. Beats me," Sevika shrugs her shoulders. Sips at her whiskey. "Maybe they had a kitchen malfunction," she offers a light joke.
The woman breaks into an earnest laugh, almost giggly in it's trueness.
"You are a riot!"
Sevika, captivated by the others tittering, breaks into a small grin of her own, teeth flashing, gap winking, mechanic arm creacking — glowing purple as her cheeks turn crimson.
"Don't butter me up, darlin'."
════════════════════════════
Jinx's fingers are tangled in endless, colorful wires — pulling, pressing, lingering over buttons she's unsure of whether to push or not.
All she needs is a brief blackout.
Not an ultimate short circuit, which, she thinks would be way more epic.
She finds the cable.
Crooks an evil smile — and pulls at it.
Snips it.
A sound, like something enveloping all your senses, crashes down on everyone.
Darkness settles.
...
A confused moan echoes from a hallway.
Sevika's lips are on Mel's, tongues tangled, bodies pressed and grinding together against what appears to be a granite column.
"Shit. I need to go."
Sevika pulls away, panting, nothing short of hot and bothered as she tries to regain her composure, running a hand through her hair and straightening up her suit.
"Wait!"
Sevika whips back around.
A headpiece, hits her chest after flying through the air.
"Must... be yours." Mel heaves, a knowing twinkle to her tone.
Oh, she knows.
"Y- yeah. Yeah, thanks."
And then Sevika's running.
Goddamn sprinting, despite the undeniable pain that shoots up and down her left leg.
Age doesn't come alone and all that shit.
A fact she refuses to acknowledge.
"Everyone stay calm. We've got the situation under control — there is no need to resort to panic."
Someone speaks into a microphone by the performance stage, even their voice holding a hint of fear.
A guard, oblivious enough looking, is standing by the gemstone stand.
Easy enough.
"Excuse me- is that the gemstone?"
Sevika asks calmly, breaths held.
He nods briskly.
"That'll be mine."
Sevika grabs the jewel and makes another run for it.
Enforcers are called over immediatly, and the one closest to her escape manages to grab Sevika by the shoulder.
She, without trouble, knocks him clean off down with a simple flick of her fist.
Laying on the floor, she can be sure that he's been rendered unconcious.
"Hey- you!" Another enforcer hollers at her from a distance.
Sevika turns on her heel and dashes.
Makes two quick turns, one left, one right, and is met with Jinx joining the exact route, breathless and grinning.
"Got it??"
"Got it." Sevika waves the diamond in her hand. Throws it to Jinx, who clicks it into one of her gadgets.
Safe and sound. Hidden from sight.
Enforcers are on their ass.
Racing to reach them from all directions, calling out all sort of picky nicknames. Most of them are dang near slurs directed just for Zaunites.
Another word is thief.
That one keeps ringing down the halls.
Fits them like a glove.
"Tell me why this was worth the risk again??" Sevika heaves, running beside Jinx.
"Because gramps here told us he'd pay loads of money!" Jinx points at a conviniently enough placed poster of Silco as they spring by.
Something about 'not falling for the propaganda,' like Piltover is clear from it.
What a joke.
"Hah. Right." Sevika makes a quick turn, shoving Jinx with.
Enforses yell after them, their shouts barking; commanding.
Another turn.
A near falling down.
A slippery hall.
But through it all — they start to shake off the enforcers.
That is, until the space to escape in runs out.
No more turns, lefts or rights.
But a window; a balcony.
Jinx looks too happy as she nears it.
"This wasn't in the plan!" Sevika growls. "What on earth happened to the maintenance tunnel?!" she demands.
When Jinx confidently smashes the window with her elbow and runs straight through,
Sevika curses yet again — and follows.
"You're the one who got all lovey-dovey with some lady!" Jinx fires back, hands trembling as they reach into the inside of her suit's jacket.
"What are you doing??" Sevika glances behind, urgency painting her tone.
"Getting us a way out?"
Jinx finds what she was searching for: a bomb, and sets it off ticking.
Throws it onto the other side of the balcony and jumps down the railing without a second thought.
Sevika's eyes widen.
"Shit- Jesus!"
A bang pierces their ears.
The edge of the building crumbles behind them both — soaked underwater.
Yells are muffled to their ears.
More shouts.
Bubbles form around the pair, rising to the surface.
The sounds distance.
"They're gone. Head to the Northern wing!"
...
Sevika gasps when she swims above water.
"Christ! You little shit!" she gasps, coughing up water. "My arm weights a GODDAMN ton!" she groans, spalshing water at Jinx — who's grinning like a maniac.
"Wait 'till you find out we have to go through the sewers. Not a change the bridge is still open!" Jinx cackles, spitting out a fountain of water that lands somewhere on Sevika's forehead.
The exaggerated, furious look on Sevika's face is worth all the money in the world.
Equivalent to hilarious.