Neutral Through Chaos

Chapter 15: An Odd Loyalty

"I- I don't understand," Viktor muttered under his breath as Jayce placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

In front of the three men and the yordle stood the empty hospital room, seemingly lacking evidence of life apart from the neatly folded hospital gown on the bed. After Jayce and Marcus's negotiations earlier that day over the missing gemstone, Viktor had abruptly left to tend to "lab work" after his particularly nasty coughing fit. This lab work was in fact just a guise for visiting y/n, something that he thought would clear his head after seeing that his own coughed up blood. Only, the opposite happened upon his arrival, he was met with the worrying sight of an empty room. He had alerted Jayce, who had then alerted the enforcers. A concerned Heimerdinger had tagged along upon hearing the situation.

"My, my, this is quite unexpected indeed!" exclaimed the yordle, shaking his head.

"It was inevitable," sighed Marcus.

"Any word as to where they might've gone?" asked Jayce, glancing over at Marcus.

"We interviewed some staff, a doctor saw Miss Kiramman leave with an unknown enforcer, it's suspected that y/n was wearing our uniform as a form of disguise, "Marcus answered, "Y/n really has proven to be nothing but a pest."

"Caitlyn?" Jayce wondered out loud, feeling Viktor tensen beside him.

Viktor stepped forward, glaring at the enforcer in rage as Jayce attempted to pull him back.

"Y/n is a useful member of the undercity Marcus," Viktor spat, "A pest does not spend their days helping others."

Marcus tried to hide his growing frustration, clenching his fists beside him.

"We will do our best to try and find them, however our investigation of the stolen gemstone is priority, and it may hinder our progress," the enforcer disclosed, "Y/n was also valuable to our investigation as a witness, so we will try as best as we can given the circumstances."

Viktor frowned. He couldn't help but feel conflicted at that statement, but deep down he knew that y/n was more important to him than his scientific work. He cursed himself for that thought even crossing his mind.

"That's true, they'll be useful to the investigation. We need to find them and soon," Jayce nodded, meeting the bewildered eyes his science partner.

"So this is all you care about? Not y/n's welfare, but the gemstone?" Viktor questioned in an accusatory tone.

"Viktor, you know I didn't mean it in that way-" Jayce started.

"I know what you meant," sighed Viktor, leaning on his cane and beginning to exit the room, "I will be off to do some lab work."

"I am sure that we can resolve this, don't leave my boy!" Heimerdinger chimed in.

It was too late, the door closed behind Viktor and the three were left staring blankly at one another.

"I'll be off then, update me on the situation," Jayce announced, leaving shortly after.

"Farewell, I wish you the best of luck," Heimerdinger added, following after Jayce.

The sheriff stood alone in the room, burying his head in his hands. Corruption and lies now ruled over his life, his path one of deceit. None of these individuals knew of the tense meeting that he and Silco had had earlier that day. And none of them knew that their little agreement dictated the reverse of what they wanted. Y/n would not be returned to the Piltovian side if ever found. Their fate was ultimately in Silco's hands.

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Metal clattered under Vi and I's feet as we lurched over the rooftops. Despite her lack of practice in the years before this, she was still almost as skilled as she had been previously. She leaped from building to building effortlessly as I followed closely behind, struggling in parts.