Bullet in a Gun
Words: 704
Summary: Jinx finally falls into Caitlyn's scope and the sheriff has a decision to make. Can she pull the trigger?
~•~•~•~•~•
Caitlyn wasn't just a good shot. She was an excellent shot. That was a well-known fact, even before she became sheriff. Grayson recognized that when she was still young. When a target fell in her scope, the chances of escaping were minimal, almost non-existent. She lived her life on three basic principles:
Aim. Steady. Fire.
When Jinx finally fell in her scope, so graciously as miraculously, Caitlyn raised her rifle, aimed and kept steady. Her finger kept flirting with the trigger and all it required was one pull to end it all.
So why wouldn't she just do it?
Hesitation wasn't allowed on her line of work. A moment of hesitation could make the difference between life and death. She knew that all too well, and yet she remained frozen, with the risk of getting blown up by Jinx looming over her head. Because she knew that Jinx wouldn't hesitate if the tables were turned.
The bullet was in the gun, loaded up and ready to be fired. But Caitlyn just couldn't pull the trigger. She had to, though. Jinx was a threat to everyone in Piltover. She was violent and unpredictable and every sort of thing that made her dangerous to everyone. Caitlyn knew that first-hand.
Jinx was all those things, yet Vi chose to keep trying to get to her, to not hurt her, to prove that she still cared. It was to no avail of course - Jinx was set to believe that Vi had made her choice, and that choice wasn't her - but Vi didn't give up. She couldn't. Because they were family. Caitlyn could not fathom Vi's reaction and distress should she find out that her sister was gunned down by the sheriff of Piltover. It was a hypothetical scenario, but that alone was enough to make Caitlyn hesitate. She was well aware of how important Jinx was to Vi.
So what would it be then? Her duty as sheriff or her duty to Vi? Betray her ideals or betray the person that trusted her the most?
Bullet in a gun. It was there, it was calling her into action.
Eliminate Jinx the same way Enforcers had claimed their parents.
What are you shooting for, young Kiramman?
The scope was lowered. That was not why Caitlyn accepted the position as sheriff or why she had become an enforcer in the first place. A pull of the trigger and a shot going amiss. Her hesitation ought to be non-existent to everyone else.
There was always another way.
...
"What was that for?"
Expectations. Always too many of them. Caitlyn hummed, looking over a report. "Hm?"
Vi slammed her hands onto her desk. If it was anyone else, they would never get away with such audacity. But that was Vi. "You don't miss, Cait. You never do. If a bullet went astray, it was on purpose."
Always so perceptive. "Did you want me to not miss?"
"Don't dodge my question." Vi growled. "She could have-"
"She didn't, did she? She wasn't even aware I was there." Caitlyn interrupted. The report fell gracefully on top of another stack of papers. She rose from her seat and walked all the way around the office to face Vi. "Do you know why we're doing all this?"
"To protect the city," Vi blurted out. "And to fix all the wrong doings."
"And protect its people, most importantly. That includes Jinx."
Vi's eyes shone in a way only Caitlyn had the privilege of witnessing. "You said she's too far gone."
"She is. And I'll stand by that," Caitlyn confirmed. "But that's not the way, Vi."
"I don't understand," Vi admitted. "I really thought... given the chance, you'd want her to be gone."
Caitlyn gave her a sad smile. "Revenge and vengeance are dangerous paths to walk, don't you think?" A pause. "Besides, whatever she may be, she is still your sister..."
Vi blinked. In that moment, a million feelings crossed her face. Her muscled arms easily found their way around Caitlyn, a route they were too familiar with. "No one deserves this position more than you do, cupcake. No one."
Caitlyn laughed softly, leaning against Vi's shoulder. "I will let the people be the judge of that."
~•~•~•~•~
A/N: Head empty, only Arcane.
Titled after the Imagine Dragons' song.
