Blood chased through your veins, making your ears ring and the tips of your fingers tingle. A few moments passed in which he just kept his hand pressed to your mouth.

Only when the steps of the others had faded did he pull the door of the cell shut. Now you were trapped with him. Or he was trapped with you.

Your fingers flinched, one by one. Like the claws of an owl who had discovered prey in the dead of night.

He noticed, of course he did. Contrary to many believes he was not as oblivious to his surroundings as he made it out to be.

In fact, he was rather observant since he himself was someone with very little possibilities to act. People respected his title and feared the reputation he had created with that difficult personality of his.

But he wasn't a fool. And he for sure wasn't powerless. He just happened to work with people who were far more powerful than he was. And he knew that sometimes it was better to nod and agree instead of start a war he wouldn't be able to win.

"You're alive.", he noted with one of his thick, black eyebrows raised.

You let out a low huff and shrugged.

"Surprised?", you tilted your head, strands of (H/C) hair falling into your face.

"Honestly? Yes. I, as much as anybody else would have expected you to be eaten by that creature."

"It was a desert worm, actually.", you didn't know why but you felt the need to play with him a little, just for your own amusement. "But we both know I wasn't the primary target that day."

His eyes narrowed. He was as full of scepticism as ever. So much so that it could have been written off as paranoia.

"We don't know anything.", he made clear.

You huffed.

"Of course not. Then again, I wonder why you talk to me now. Do you want to have her killed by the other enforcers while I can't witness it?", you shrugged. "Then again, that would just make an unnecessary mess of things. You're better at corruption than this. I should know."

A flinch chased through his face, making the top of his lips curl in such a way that it almost looked uncomfortable.

Satisfaction tugged at the corner of your mouth. This seemed like you had hit the mark. And he wasn't all too pleased about the boldness with which you confronted him about it.

"There have been rumours going around about you in this prison.", he said, very calmly yet with so much suppressed meaning that even a blind man could have read it off his eyes.

Crossing your arms in front of your chest, you lifted one eyebrow and chuckled slightly to yourself.

"Only good ones, I hope.", you said sarcastically.

He let out a snort.

"Ones that were just right to serve the cause. You killed your cell mates before. Disposed them."

Unmoved by the fact you just did a gesture with your fingers to show him just how little that all mattered to you.

"They annoyed me.", you eyed the tips of your sharp claws.

Blood stuck to them. For a brief second your heart faltered at the thought of it being Vi's. But you quickly shook off that feeling again and pushed it into the back of your brain.

"Sacrifices that the arena demanded.", he confirmed. "I know. Which was precisely why she was put in a cell with you."

Now something flinched within you. Curiosity bloomed from doubt and annoyance.

Could it have been?

Had he really followed such a simple plan?

"You counted on me to kill her for you.", with narrowed eyes you approached him, each step taken with caution as to not offend or irritate him more than would have been good for your own self. "Why? What did she do to you?"

He sucked in an audible breath. The expression on the sheriff's face was one of resistance. He wouldn't tell you the truth. At least not the whole one.

"She has to go.", he simply said while looking you deep in the eye. "And I expected you to do the job. Why didn't you?"

You stopped right in front of him, meeting this man face to face. He was rather tall, you reached just above his chin with the top of your head. His shoulders were wide, unlike they used to be mere years ago.

Just like Piltover and Zaun he had changed drastically within a rather short period of time. It was both impressive and frightening.

With every passing day down in Stillwater Hold you felt like there would be no place for you in the outside world. Which made you only want control over the lower levels even more.

"I might be short tempered and easy to irritate, sheriff but I am no monster.", you simply said with a shrug.

"Hmph.", he almost rolled his eyes at that. "She's not quite what I'd call your perfect match."

This wording made you falter for a moment. It wasn't wrong but at the same time you felt like he had a worse image of Vi than you did.

Yes, she was quite chatty and a little too friendly for your liking but she was alright. For the most part, at least. You didn't plan on liking her but you'd be able to tolerate her.

Easier so if she remained as useful as she was at the moment.

"I can manage with her.", you simply answered. "She didn't give me a reason to kill her yet."

"And what if I give you a reason to?"

Again, you stopped. Then you had to chuckle slightly.

"Say, sheriff...", you reached out in a gentle manner, letting the tips of your nails draw along his square jawline. "What did she do to you that you want her dead so desperately?"

"I am not desperate.", he grabbed your wrist, giving it a warning squeeze.

You smiled.

"You're striking a deal with me. I'd call that desperate."

There was no answer to that statement.

"Just kill her.", he squeezed out between clenched teeth. "Silco will reward you with your freedom. And a good place to be taken care of in the Undercity."