#shq-start

Summer’s last breaths seemed to linger that afternoon, unwilling to loosen her grip over the city. Macy reveled in this, the heat rising from the pool deck and the rays warming her skin - still a flawless porcelain of course, sun damage was no joke. It was still a bit early in the day for the usual patrons of sanctum, and Macy was able to enjoy the relative solitude afforded to her. For a time, she lost herself in a book. 

A slight chill, then a shadow fell across the pages. Macy blinked, confused, before realizing someone stood over her, blocking the sun and seemingly demanding her attention. She looked up with a lazy smile. 

“Admire all you want, only...would you mind taking a step to your left? You’re blocking my sun.” 

Elliot drifted through the crowd of patrons and employees with a practiced ease. It was a particular skill of her’s, to be noticed when she wanted and invisible when she didn’t. Crowds always had her slightly on edge, even though security wasn’t her job, hyper-vigilance had been practically beat into her. Elliot might even like it, the electric hum echoing across her skin - part of her even craved a spot of violence. But she was a creature of deep control, a weapon to be aimed. And so she’d sit back and wait until needed. 

“Careful,” her voice was ice as a hand brushed against her lower back. Elliot gripped their wrist and turned to face her new companion. “any lower and you might have lost that hand.” The enforcer let the threat hang in the air for a heartbeat, then smiled. “But I’m feeling generous tonight, buy me a drink and I might consider forgiving you.” 

The sudden shriek shattered the nearly imperceptible silence in the breath between the final lingering note and thunderous applause. The silence lingered for a moment longer, scream of either fear or agony echoed in the dark club before the staff moved. Elliot didn’t wait for the call, didn’t need confirmation that something objectively bad happened before she pulled out her own handgun and flicked off the safety. The enforcer did not even consider heading towards the source, instead she located Jackson through the crowd - it was a good thing the boss was so absurdly tall - and darted through the panicking crowd. Maybe the scream was just a distraction, drawing the attention away from him and allowing for an assailant to slip in unnoticed. 

“Don’t even think about leaving,” she hissed at the figure who’d crossed in front of her and in the direction of an exit.