The Lioness and The Lamb Chapter 3/ Pt Two
Catherine/
She didn't need to speak for me to understand what she decided. My eyes are holding back a tempest of emotions that swallowed an ocean. The magic of this moment could be shattered in just a mere second because this is the life I chose as I stand beside her. Jyn didn't accept it lightly she's thought of my safety above all else no matter how much she puts her guard up. So I won't break for the decision she made and ill contain this tempest inside till I can share it with her. This place feels so empty now that she has left it but perhaps it's my anxiety creating this emptiness. The fear that she will not return to me or something goes wrong and we become separated.
I know this place holds nothing for me till she returns so I decided to be productive. I returned to the underworld she never wanted me to see and to shelter me from its horrors. But that's where she needs me I feel to keep the flow uninterrupted and root out corruption. That's what's in my power to stand at her side unafraid of anything that may come our way. She may have reservations with me due to her life but, I won't let that stop me from being next to her.
When I arrived people recognized me immediately so I found my inner resolve. I walked as if I could just snap my fingers and bring people to kneel, that's how the woman I love controls her environment. It didn't take me long to settle into some work and surprisingly enough I made far more progress than I thought. I worked beside Karrin who manages most of the paperwork and she taught me a lot. She was definitely guarded but respectful enough which meant my real work hasn't begun.
Once the paperwork was settled we made the rounds checking in on everyone. Some miscalculations we fixed and changes to product pricing. After three hours I decided to visit the little bar here but June wasn't here this time. Karrin wanted to introduce me to the enforcers working under Jyn which I agreed to but something was strange. She lead me to a back room of Jyns main office here which held thirteen people I would say but all were looking terrifying. I could hear the whisper they didn't bother hiding and the eyes that didn't lie about what they thought.
"Everyone this is-"
"My name is Catherine, it is a pleasure to meet everyone here."
I wanted to be assertive but it wasn't enough to change their minds which I kinda figured. I was feeling out of place and a little scared.
"So you are Jyn's Little toy, she always had good taste. Good girl types just can't refuse the bad girl though."
This is what I chose but I never expected I would have to be confrontational. However that comment I can't let slide no matter how terrifying they are.
"What name do you go by?"
"Jenny."
"I may not understand the order of things around here or how things work. How about you show me, Jenny."
I was ready to fight even though I haven't done it in so long but I couldn't let her off so easily. My hands trembled as I moved closer to her but she just smiled like I was a pushover. If I had to count the years it's been since I last fought someone I would get lost most likely. This managed to spike everyone's interest and it no longer was a matter of Jyn's anger they would have to face. Some of them looked at me with interest others thought I was just bluffing, none of them were liars which I appreciated.
She threw the first punch which I blocked and countered easily enough but it had little effect. But I wasn't bothered by it I just pressed the attack and that's when it clicked. One after another my punches became more precise and quicker, my body was adjusting. The longer we traded blows the more I was recalling how I use to fight. Every hit she landed I also landed three in return and it was becoming clear how one-sided this was becoming. It didn't take long to put her down hard enough to keep her from getting back up again.
But I didn't have a choice if I wanted to be by her side I had to use self-defense for the offense. They needed to accept me and I was willing to go all the way because this feeling was pure bliss to me. I don't remember why I had forgotten everything I learned or why I never fought but I didn't care my next opponent was coming. He was bigger which already was a disadvantage to me but my fear was dissolving and I was consumed by the focus of winning.
His hits hurt and pushed me around but I found openings and weaknesses I exploited. This fight took longer than I expected but it was clear every location I hit was taking its toll. His punches became lighter and his body was easily pushed back. That's when he made the mistake of trying to kick me but with him moving slower I countered perfectly putting him on his ass. My body will curse me later for sure I can already feel it creeping up.
"Anyone else wish to continue this discussion?"
In a way, I was embracing Jyn and myself with this attitude but it was working. They had accepted me which I was grateful for since it didn't take much for me to collapse. I earned their respect tonight and proved I belonged at her side. I wonder how mad she will be when she learns what I did.
"You sure know how to fight, here I thought you had just been another little kitten. Good girls never know how to get dirty and bloody. You are interesting."
"Thanks, Karrin. but I feel horrible now, my body aches."
After getting a formal introduction I decided to clean up and head home to wait for Jyn. We need to have a serious talk it seems because when she does something reckless, I seem to follow suit. We can't continue like this for sure.