Sevika landed on her feet with a soft thud behind the main stage. The emcee’s voice was now slightly muffled from the backstage, the man going on and on about the contributions of this year's recipient. Sevika rolled her eyes, everything sounding like topsider bullshit to her ears. Not that she cared about that - she only had one thing in mind, and she was staring right at it.

The Golden Dolphin Award - an award handed to only the most influential citizens who bring positive impact to the city. But to criminals? It was a way to have their names written in history. The award was given out annually, and for the past few years, no criminal had managed to sneak past the tight security and swipe it for themselves.

Until this year. It was clear they'd gotten cocky, years of essentially using the award to boost Piltovan pride about how 'good' they were, all while taking down criminals that dared to challenge that notion had inflated their ego. And somewhere within the police department, some peanut-brained higher-up had decided this year was finally safe enough to lower the security. So Sevika was more than happy to take advantage of this opportunity and swipe that award right under everyone's noses. She could already picture the shock and terror in everyone's faces when the curtain finally lifted and the award was nowhere to be seen.

Sevika smirked to herself, eyeing the award that sat beautifully on a podium, just a few steps away from her. Stealing this would send a message to those so-called 'do-gooders' that she wasn't fucking around and could see right through their bullshit. All behind their 'charities' and 'donations' to the so-called 'unfortunate people of Zaun', they made no effort to actually do something for Zaun. Like almost expired rations would help the lives in the undercity.

Her tail flicked with delight as she readjusted her gear belt, dusting her shoulders and glancing up at her target. Silently observing the surroundings for any other security measures but finding none at all, the award was just right there, ready for the taking.

Approaching the podium, Sevika couldn't stop the grin that appeared on her lips with every step she took, her mind reeling with amusement and excitement. In just a few seconds, she was going to be known as the criminal that swiped the Golden Dolphin. The criminal that finally sent a message to the entirety of Piltover.

But instead of feeling the cool touch of gold on her palm, she felt the warmth of another's hand. Sevika's eyes immediately snapped open, her smile quickly turning into a scowl as she turned her head up to glare daggers right at the interloper.

This wasn't the first time they'd crossed paths. She'd seen them a couple of times hanging around at the Last Drop. Their presence had been as significant as a fly at the corner of the room until Silco started hiring them even more. Now, just hearing their name pissed Sevika off. But she wouldn't lie and say that having a younger (and attractive) rival didn't make her want to up her game, not that she'd ever admit it out loud.

Sure, they weren't actually just a mere pickpocketing brat. They'd managed to sneak past security and catch her by surprise despite her sharp senses. How they'd done it was beyond Sevika to comprehend at the moment, but it was obvious they had potential and lived up to their rumors. She knew that, they probably knew that too, and there was no way in hell she'd let them know she was threatened by their presence.

However, none of that mattered at the moment since the snot-nosed brat was in her way of sending a message. Sevika's face scrunched in anger, her next words coming out as a snarl that could make even the most hardened criminals run away with their tails tucked between their legs, her mechanical arm underneath her cloak whirring menacingly as a blade slowly unsheathed between her mechanical fingers.

'Hands off, kid. I got here first.'