A Game of Cat and Louse

Calm, composed, vigilant. I could see her studying faces on her way into the alley. Profiling.

Probably looking of injuries or scars. Hell, probably trench coats and hoodies too. Proxies can be a little predictable with their wardrobe at times. I could see her eyeing the homeless guy slouched against the dumpster as she made her way closer, putting a hand on her gun ready for him to spring up... usually where I'd have put Sloth.

Homeless guy didn't even register she was there. Too busy sleeping.

She pulled her gun out as she reached the center of the alleyway and made a sweep around. I could see her mouthing words.

'Running late?' she questioned as she swept one way before turning to what had been her back flanking and making another sweep. Hard to read lips when you look away. I managed to catch 'Where' at the beginning of the sweep and 'you' at the end of it.

I heard her gun cock as a sudden realization hit her. She suddenly looked up, gun pointed and ready for an ambush from above.

I waved as she spotted me relaxing on the fire escape stairs above. Her leery scanning eyes hardened into a glare as they fixed on me before making another sweep to make sure no one was trying to sneak up on her from the sides.

"Hello, Beautiful. Good to see you again."

"Yeah, I bet." She made another quick sweep. "What are you doing up there?" She demanded to know as she leveled her gun at me.

"Just... you know, hanging out. Being a stud."

"That what studs do nowadays? Hide up high to attend the meetings they called?"

"Pretty sure, yeah. I think I saw it on People magazine... besides, its safer up here. I mean, you're not exactly friendly when you're on the best of terms so I can only imagine what form of bitch factor force you're riding right now in regards to me after I gave you my chloroform cloth good bye when last I left you."

"Heh. I was always planning to kill you just the same, Fracture."

"... Comforting?"

She makes another sweep  of the alley before looking back up at me and lowering her gun a fraction.

"You called me. What do you want?"

"Well uh..."

"Spit it out! Is this about your little policy change? Because I don't need a babysitter."

"Well, of course not. You lack babies for me to send sitters to sit on."

I could see that that one actually managed to get a slight smirk but it didn't last. "Cut the shit. If this isn't a trap and this isn't part of your mass coddling crusade, then what the hell do you what?"

"There's been quite the surge of active cultists out there as of late, hasn't there? They're spreading out. Wedging themselves into the lives of everyday civilians. Spreading corruption onto innocent little souls, dragging them into the Great Game one by one in their desperate bid for dominance."

Her body language made a sharp change as she stiffened and clenched her non-gun holding fist. Grumbling so loud I could hear it from where I was.

Yes, she had most certainly noticed the change. She knew as I knew, the other Fears were on the rise.

"What of it?" She said when she finally spoke, looking back up at me. I can only imagine the gruesome slide show of killings against my cousins that had just finished replaying in her head.

"It's just a lot of people to have to try to track down. Who knows what could happen to them in the m-" 

She didn't let me finish that thought. "Cut the shit, fuck-face. Get to the point. What do you want?"

"... Ow. My pride..." I teased putting a hand to chest to try to act wounded. An act likely ruined by my bright beautiful grin. "I want to strike a deal... uh... bitch babe...?"

She spun her finger around in a circle, silently insisting that I keep explaining with a stern glare.

"I'll help you find and get at these fuckers quicker. But I want a favor first."

She let out an exhausted sigh. "Of course you do," she said shifting her weight and resting a hand on her own hip as she raised her gun back up at me with the other. "Just what favor would that be?"

"Woah. Calm down. Nothing big. Not for you anyways." A statement she reacted to by cocking her gun. Not sure if that was due to impatience or if she had read some unintended innuendo in my words.

 "I want you to bring me Picasso. Your old chum. Bring her alive though. Oh, and don't kill Moth while your at it."

"...Why the-"

"Does it matter? I know you want them both dead after what they pulled back in Black Lake but this is my only offer. Do you want my help expediting your work or not?"

For those who don't know or don't remember, Moth and Picasso destroyed Black Lake.

"Fine."

"Good. Shoot me a text w-" I started but stopped as she just kind of turned and started leaving. So very rude of her. No class. 


...


That was a several days ago, though.

Before this went up.

I tried calling her a few times after that but she never answered.

But I got a call this morning.

"Hel-"

"It's done," Is what I was immediately greeted with when I answered. Then before I could react she hung up.

About 20 seconds later I got a text from her with a location.

I popped in to find Picasso bound, gagged, and unconscious with a ribbon for the gag and a note that read:

'You owe me.'

                -LeCroix

Helrick was also there. Alive but unconscious. I sent him to help her bring Picasso in since he also has a history with them. Judging by the burn mark on his body, I think LeCroix hit him with a stun gun from behind.

Apparently Moth had managed to land a solid hit on her and she wasn't looking too good. Nothing fatal Helrick assures me, but it's concerning all the same. Even more so because shes still not taking my calls.

Either way, I have Picasso. I win! This is definitively a win. Suck it Moth. Your little radio silence tactic did you a fat lot of fucking good didn't it!

The Lord Guardian Fracture out.