Chapter 396: A Friendly Challenge
To say Caitlyn was at a loss for words would be an understatement. The entire situation was utterly disorienting. She couldn't reconcile the two conflicting images before her: the familiar, gentle demeanor of the restaurant owner, Ren, and the sight of Lucifer, the literal Queen of Hell, acting like a bashful, lovesick maiden. None of it made any sense.
Vi, meanwhile, was still sizing up the restaurant. From the outside, it looked like the kind of place that would cost a fortune. But as Caitlyn had pointed out, if even Jinx could afford to eat here, it couldn't be that expensive. Besides, Caitlyn was paying, a fact she'd stated with far too much casualness for Vi's liking.
It was a valid point. Vi knew Jinx better than anyone. The girl would blow up a city vault without taking a single coin, or break into a noble's treasury only to leave behind a fresh coat of graffiti. Jinx didn't have a job, so the idea of her having legitimate money was laughable. Any cash she had was likely pried from the pockets of some Zaunite thugs who'd made the mistake of trying to ambush her.
Ren rose from his seat and began walking toward them. As he approached, Caitlyn instinctively took a half-step back, a flicker of apprehension in her posture. Ren paused, a brief look of surprise crossing his face before it softened into a gentle smile.
"Miss Caitlyn, you seem a bit tense," he said, his voice calm. "And that other girl, Jinx, she hasn't arrived yet."
Caitlyn adjusted the brim of her top hat, her movements a little too precise. "I'm aware... We're here to eat..."
Ren nodded. "Of course. Please, both of you, relax. Find a seat anywhere you like. What can I get for you today? Hmm?"
Just as he finished, Ren noticed Caitlyn lower her head, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Do I... need to hand over my rifle again this time?"
Ren considered it for a moment. "It would be best. The next customer might not be from another world, and a weapon like that could frighten them. Of course, you could always just say it's a toy."
Caitlyn hesitated, then, under Vi's utterly shocked gaze, she unslung the hextech rifle and offered it to Ren.
Vi's voice was sharp. "Cupcake! What are you doing?"
Caitlyn shook her head, her voice soft but firm. "As an enforcer, it's our duty to minimize public unease, no matter which world we're in. Everyone is here for a meal. It wouldn't be right to frighten them... Besides," she added, "I don't think a sniper rifle of this size would go unnoticed. It would make it difficult for anyone to eat comfortably."
Vi let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah, you've got a point, but... Hey," she said, turning her attention to Ren. "So, pretty boy, what's the public order like in your... your... world? Gods, I can't believe I'm even saying this. How's the crime rate here?"
Taking the rifle, Ren smiled. "It's not quite at the point where people leave their doors unlocked at night, but public order is very good. Certainly much better than in your world."
"No lowlifes like the chem-barons from Zaun?" Vi pressed.
Ren thought for a moment. "There are criminals, but very few, and they generally keep a low profile. When they do surface, they're either arrested or... dealt with more directly. It depends on the country."
Vi seemed to relax slightly, letting out a breath. "Alright, fine. But I'm not taking off my gauntlets."
"That's perfectly fine," Ren nodded. "It's your choice. And I must say, those gauntlets have a rather distinctive design."
Vi blinked, a slow, wide grin spreading across her face. "Heh. If you were back in Piltover, I'd owe you a favor for that line. Might even look the other way once."
"Ahem! Vi!" Caitlyn coughed pointedly. "You're an enforcer! You can't just say things like that!"
Vi just laughed, casually hooking an arm around Caitlyn's neck. "Haha, relax, Cupcake. What kind of trouble do you think this guy could possibly get into?"
"He confiscated my rifle just a moment ago!" Caitlyn retorted, her cheeks flushing.
"Come on, my little Piltie," Vi teased, ruffling her hair. "You handed it over voluntarily. Don't tell me you're getting forgetful in your old age just because you got a little spooked."
"This time is different from last time! Ugh, forget it... I'm not arguing with you..."
Ren watched the two officers with an amused smile. "However, miss," he said, looking at Vi, "while your gauntlets are certainly distinctive, you won't be able to hold any cutlery while wearing them."
Vi froze. She glanced down at the massive metal fists encasing her hands and sighed. Normally, she'd just take them off to eat or simply hold her food, but in a proper restaurant, it was definitely going to be awkward.
She thought about how readily Caitlyn had surrendered her weapon. She thought about Ren's claim that this world was peaceful, and it certainly didn't look like a place that saw much violence. And even without her gauntlets, she was confident she could handle this man if things went south.
With that in mind, Vi nodded. "Okay, I get it, you're right. I'll... wait a minute..."
The moment she heard those words, a sense of dread washed over Caitlyn. She whipped her head around to look at Vi, and sure enough, her partner was staring at Ren with a mischievous, challenging glint in her eyes.
Nearby, Lucifer cradled her large bowl of fruit salad, a silent and eager spectator waiting for the show to begin.
"Is there a problem?" Ren asked, his expression one of polite confusion.
Vi's grin widened. "I heard you managed to disarm Caitlyn even when she had her rifle on you. So, you're pretty tough, huh?"
Ren considered the question. "I suppose I am."
"Then I guess you won't mind if I test that out, right?" Vi cracked her knuckles, the metal plates of her gauntlets grinding together. "Don't worry, I like you, kid. I won't hurt you!"
Ren let out a soft sigh. It seemed girls who cultivated such a tough exterior often had a fiery, playful spirit underneath. "Alright," he conceded. "But to avoid any accidents, I'll humor you... for just one move."
Vi's eyebrows shot up in surprise, then her grin turned into a full-blown laugh. "Kid, I see it now. You really are as considerate as Cupcake said. But that consideration is wasted on me! 'Don't hurt me'... Hahaha! Alright! Here I come!"
As she spoke, the vents on her Atlas Gauntlets began to hiss, releasing plumes of steam.
"Vi! Stop it! That's dangerous!" Caitlyn shouted, her voice laced with panic.
"Ha! Don't worry! I won't hurt your little boyfriend! Or... wait... is he...?"
Vi didn't finish her thought. She lunged, her fist shooting forward in a straight, piston-like punch. A normal person would never have had time to react. She was careful to control the distance, intending to stop just short of his face. The shockwave alone would send any ordinary man stumbling back, making it impossible for them to even touch her. But...
Ren didn't move. He simply raised his hand and casually caught her fist.
Vi had intended to pull her punch, but that didn't mean she was holding back. The concept was foreign to her. The full, unrestrained force of her steam-powered strike slammed into his open palm.
And stopped.
"A very powerful straight punch," Ren commented, a hint of amusement in his voice as he examined the gauntlet. "And there's a special device inside... an interesting little design."
Vi stared at him, her bravado vanishing. She swallowed hard. "Kid... you just caught that? Hey! You're the first person to ever do that! You really are something else! Alright, let's go! We can talk after we fight!"
Ren released her hand, his smile unwavering. "Firstly, you haven't done anything to cross my bottom line, so I have no reason to fight you. Secondly, I don't hit women. And thirdly, if we were to get serious, you'd likely be returning to your world in a hospital bed. So," he concluded, his tone shifting back to that of a gracious host, "what would you like to eat?"
Vi let out a shaky breath, a mixture of shock and respect in her eyes. "Alright, alright, I get it. But... you're still the first man to just call me a woman like that. You're an interesting one."
Ren tilted his head slightly. "Hmm? Are you not a woman?"
Vi's eyes widened, and a faint blush crept up her neck. She took a step back, flustered. "Nonsense! You strange man! Here!" She began to unlatch the gauntlets. "Take these. Give them back after I'm done eating. And don't get any ideas. Even without them, my fists are nothing to mess with!"
Ren watched as a final wisp of steam escaped from the gauntlets' seals. He took the heavy pieces of hextech from her, his smile gentle. "The release switch is on the inner plating. I'll take good care of them for you. Now, please, have a seat, both of you."
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