Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Silco stopped to catch his breath and sat on a rock in the tunnel. He refused to give Singed the satisfaction of being right. He tried taking long controlled breaths in and out and regain his strength to continue. He didn’t bother to clap and reignite the luminescent mushrooms around him. He didn’t need to see at this moment. He listened to the hum of the abandoned tunnel, the aberrant drop of condensation that pattered against the rocks.

Silco believed he was far enough in his recovery to make this journey on his own. Like hell he wanted to let that unhinged scientist anywhere near any places of sentimental value. While he respected the results Singed produced, and despite the fact that Silco is somehow still alive, he doesn’t trust the man.

Gathering his strength now that he was no longer gasping or coughing, Silco stood up, clapped, and continued on down the tunnel. Eventually he came upon the familiar door wedged into a hole in the tunnel wall.

It had been just over a year since he last walked through this threshold, but enough dust has settled, enough rust has creeped in that one would think it’s been multiple years since anyone has stepped foot in here. The flags and maps still clung to the walls. The pile of mining gauntlets where they had left them before marching out. Their jackets- Silco’s breath hitched seeing their jackets, as they always hung them, his inside Vander’s. He felt a sob rise up from his throat and the act of pushing it back down cause him to start coughing. The coughing fit, mixed with the dust that swirled around by him moving through the room, hit him hard. His chest hurt, the pressure from the act of coughing made his eye and scars ache. He braced himself on the desk with one hand as he clutched at his chest. Eventually the fit broke and he was able to catch his breath. He pulled out the chair behind the desk and sat down, again going through the meditative breathing to regather his strength. Like hell was he going to accept croaking in this room of all places. Not after everything…

An empty glass sat on the desk. He reached out a finger and traced the rim absent mindedly.

That’s when he saw it.

That’s when he saw the note.

His name scribbled along the top of the page in Vander’s handwriting…if you could call it that. The brute was never good at tasks that required finesse. Silco never let Vander touch the books, partially for this reason.

He moved the glass aside and picked up the letter.

His eyes scanned the page. Once. Twice. Three times.

The scrawled “V” at the bottom staring back at him.

He tried taking deep breaths, but none ever felt deep enough. He felt the room start to spin slightly. He hears bits of Vander’s voice burble through his memories, come in and out of focus like he was listening through water rushing over his head.

He clutched his fists and with a scream he launched the glass across the room, smashing against the doorframe, barely missing the figure who had just walked in.

“Sil?”

Silco stumbled backwards, knocking the chair over. His vision was starting to blur in and out, the gurgled voices continuing. He felt like he couldn’t breathe, like he was drowning and couldn’t catch any air.

“Silco!”

Silco snapped his attention forward. A pair of strong hands firmly grabbed his upper arms. In an instant, he felt grounded, staring up at the image of Vander looking shocked back at him. The muddled voices were chased away by the sound of his name being called. The room stopped spinning and collided, glaringly clear, in front of him.

Vander always had a way of grounding him back to reality.

Vander…

Vander?

“Vander!?” Silco gasped out. His eye widened, his mind churning through all of the distorted visions and memories of Vander that he had had while under Singed’s care. All of them were distorted by a filter of water, but this one, this apparition was clear. No watery haze reflecting and distorting the image of the man he knew.

Scared of himself, Silco reached out a hand slowly. He flinched when his fingertips connected with the warm wall in front of him. He continued forward until his hand was flush against the chest of the apparition- no the person, in front of him. Silco stared at the chest, at his hand flush with the warm clothed skin.

He could feel the chest rise and fall with each breath. He could feel the warmth start to seep into his fingers and he realized just how cold he really felt. A brief shiver traveled through him as his eye flickered up to the face of Vander.

Vander’s face softened. Silco could feel a hand leave his arm and watched it instead move to cover his hand on Vander’s chest.

“Silco-“ Vander began once more, softly.

“NO.” Silco pulled back his hand as if he had been burned and turned out of the grip of Vander’s other hand. He stumbled back towards the desk, bracing himself on it. “No,” he repeated, grabbing the paper in his hand and crumpling it in the process. “You don’t get to waltz in here and look at me like that!” He wheezed out.

There was a moment of silence and Silco began to believe he imagined the interaction again until-

“Ok.” Vander’s voice was low and grounding as always.

Silence hung between them, Silco catching his breath and gathering himself back together while Vander waited. Silco heard Vander take a small step towards him, and saw Vander slowly reach for the edge of the desk out of the corner of his eye. Silco stood straight up and took a step back. Vander stilled.

They stared at each other for a second, staring straight into each other’s eyes…or eye. Silco ducked his face away from Vander’s eyesight.

“I’m glad you survived.” Vander began. Silco just stared back with his one good eye, not turning back enough to face him head on. “I see you’ve found my note.” Silco looked down at the crumpled paper now clutched in his hand. He could hear the question lingering between them. He knew Vander enough that he would at least have the tact to not outright ask him that question at this moment.

Silco broke the silence with a question of his own. “How are they?” There was a beat of silence, Vander had a look of confusion on his face. “How are they? Violet and Powder? Are they safe?”

Understanding washed over Vander, the tension seeming to slip a little from his shoulders. “They are safe. They are…” Vander took a moment, “they are coping. From an outside perspective, Vi seems to hold it together pretty well…mainly for Powder’s sake.”

“Did you tell them?” Anger seemed to rise within Silco.

“Tell them what?”

“Tell them about me, about you, about what you did-what you tried to do to me!?”

Vander looked away sheepishly. He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a big sigh. “Kind of…not exactly…” Silco didn’t interject so he continued. “They ask about you. A lot. Especially Powder.” Vander’s mouth cracks a half smile at the thought of the younger girl.

“And what did you tell them? That I ran away? That I was the reason their parents are dead? Did you tell them you tried to-“

“NO!” It was Vander’s turn to get angry. “I told them none of that!” He bellowed.  Vander took a breath to calm himself. “No, I told them that you were injured and that we got separated during the fight. I told them…I told them that I didn’t know if you survived.”

“So you lied to them?”

“All of what I told them was true! I told them the facts of what happened. You were injured, we got separated, I didn’t know if you were even alive! The Truth.” Vander’s jaw clenched. “They had just stared into the faces of their dead parents. They didn’t need to know our grievances with each other since we were all they had left. I wasn’t going to lie about your disappearance.”

“You mean you weren’t going to tell them you tried to kill another of their guardians? That the Sanctimonious Vander wouldn’t stoop so low?”

“They are just children Silco!” Vander took a step forward angrily.

The step forward startled Silco. He instinctively stepped back, not remembering that the overturned chair was right behind him. He felt himself loose balance and fall backwards, his hand releasing the paper in his surprise.

It took him a moment to realize he never hit the ground. Instead he was being held tightly against a furnace of a man. A shiver ran through him as the heat reached towards him. A large hand spanned his lower back while another was threaded through his hair, holding him close as to not let him fall.

“Hate me if you want but I refuse to let you fall. Not again.” Vander’s breath was hot on his neck. The rumble of Vander’s voice and the tightness of his embrace brought back memories. Memories of stolen moments in dark outcroppings in the mines. Of moments shared between two people who felt like they were ready to conquer the world as long as the other was by their side. Of the times they felt they were too naïve to think they could pull it off.

Silco took in the feeling for a moment, but only for a moment. He pushed against the large frame that was wrapped around him. Vander took the cue and took a step back, but not entirely letting go. He dropped the hand that was around Silco’s back. The hand he had in Silco’s hair, instead of dropping, shifted forward to caress the damaged, bandaged, and eye-patched side of Silco’s face. The bandage and eye-patch only covered the main wound around the eye, the scaring below his cheekbone and up into his hairline was healed enough to not need coverage but were still stark against his pale skin.

His thumb brushed against the bottom of the bandage and Silco flinched away. Before Vander could drop his hand in acceptance, Silco wrapped both hands around Vander’s forearm. The crude brace Vander had rigged around his arm was thick like a shell.

“If I recall correctly,” Silco started, running his fingers down the shoddy clasps and ties holding it on, “I wasn’t the only one scarred by those waters.”

Vander did not flinch or try to move out of Silco’s grasp but when Silco popped one of the clasps, he used his other hand to still Silco’s attempt. They stared at each other, almost daring the other to move first.

Vander took the bait. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

After a beat, Silco sighed and removed his hands from Vander’s brace. Vander thought he pushed too far or chose the wrong phrasing until he watched Silco reach up and deftly pull the bandage and eyepatch up, revealing the damaged eye. The color of his Iris was muddling up with a deep orange and a black was creeping in and covering most of the white of his eye.

A small gasp escaped Vander’s lips as he stared at the mottled skin and damaged eye.

“Well, I showed you mine, now show me yours.” Silco stated dryly, as he reaffixed the bandage and eye patch in place. He smirked briefly at Vander once the patch was back in place.

At that moment, Vander knew he hadn’t chosen the wrong phrasing. Vander deftly undid the clasps and ties on his brace, letting it clank onto the desk. The mottled patterning that appeared around Vander’s scar was similar to the scarring pattern around Silco’s eye. Without thinking, Silco reached out and traced the patterns with his fingertips. The main body of the scar, much like the area around his own eye, was healing slowly. He traced down the center of the scar. He heard an uncontrollable gasp from Vander and paused, looking up to see him clench his jaw, eyes following Silco’s hand. Silco stilled his movements but didn’t draw away.

“We’ll never be able to be what we once were.” Silco stated softly.

Vender’s eyes flicked up to Silco’s. “I know…I-” He averted his gaze once more.

Silco pressed directly onto the center of the scar. If you asked him, he wouldn’t be able to tell you why. Vander let out a choked gasp and pulled his arm back. Silco could swear he saw a flushing pink creep up Vander’s neck as Vander clutched his arm close to his chest. Vander closed his eyes and shook his head lightly before reapplying the brace to his arm.

A silence hung between them. The rollercoaster of emotions that they have been through during this whole reunion had exhausted the fight in them. Silco looked away from Vander, arms held across his chest as if to hide himself away. Vander, also not looking back, just held his braced arm to his chest.

Vander spoke so quietly that Silco almost missed it. “I missed you.” Silco looked at Vander, but Vander still wasn’t looking back. “I’ve missed us.” Vander then looked up at Silco.

Silco remained silent but broke eye contact. He turned slightly, turning his scars away from Vander. He didn’t see Vander reach for him. “Silco-“ He felt fingertips brush against the side of his neck.

Memories of those hands holding his neck flashed through Silco’s mind. With an angry grunt, he swatted away Vander’s hand and shoved him into the desk. “Don’t. Touch. My. Neck.” Silco spit out through his clenched teeth. He was holding Vander back against the desk, his shirt balled into Silco’s fists. Vander made no move to change where he has ended up.

Vander gently laid his own hands on top of Silco’s. “Sil.” It was a statement and a question and simply melodic air all at once.

Silco’s head was bowed, eye clenched shut. “Don’t ever- you don’t- we can’t be what we used to be-“ His breathing became erratic as he tried to come down from this anger.

“I know.” Vander gently worked the hands gripping his shirt to let go. “But we can find something new.”

Vander released Silco’s hands now that they no longer clung to him. Silco looked up at Vander in time to watch Vander sink to his knees in front of him. One calloused hand settled on Silco’s hip, while the other tenderly rested around his thigh. Silco’s breath caught in his throat.

Steely grey eyes looked up at Silco. “Tell me to stop and I’ll stop.” Vander squeezed Silco’s thigh. “Tell me to leave and I’ll leave.”

The moment stalled between them. Silco, stunned at the sight before him. Vander, waiting for Silco to tell him off.

Silco swallows before nodding to Vander, not trusting his own voice. With the signal of an affirmation, Vander leaned in to nuzzle at the junction of Silco’s hip. The hand that rested on his thigh traveled up to aid in unbuckling Silco’s belt.

Silco gasped and braced himself against the edge of the desk. Vander didn’t take his time but he also didn’t rush. He was as gentle as Silco remembered him.

Gentle Vander. A side of the towering brute that only Silco got to see. His Vander.

Silco let out a strangled cry as Vander took him whole. Vander’s hands traveled as he bobbed and licked. One hand returned to grasp the back of Silco’s thigh, anchoring him, the other drifted up under the hem of his shirt, caressing softly the thin hipbone, the almost delicate waist of Silco.

Vander’s touch was almost paradoxical. Silco knows first hand how dangerous Vander can be if he intends ill will but this…this is gentler than he has ever felt. Even compared to when Violet and then Powder were born, Vander was never this gentle. But do not mistake gentleness with weakness. The anchoring feeling of those hands makes him believe there can be something there again, even if only for a mere second.

For the first time since they parted ways at the river, Silco felt safe.

And it made him feel uneasy.

In an attempt to regain control, Silco threaded his fingers through Vander’s hair and grasped tightly. The responding growl from Vander was enough to send Silco over the edge and Vander swallowed him down.

Trying to catch his breath, Silco released Vander’s hair to brace against the desk with both hands. He could feel Vander tuck him away and redress him. He allowed the hand pressing against the back of his knee to guide him down, to straddle over Vander’s thighs.

Silco hid his face in Vander’s shoulder. He couldn’t look him in the eye, not right now. Vander kept an anchoring hand on his thigh but brought the other up to thread his fingers through Silco’s hair.

“Sil?” Vander asked quietly. His fingertips gently moved along his scalp. Silco knew what Vander wanted to ask, what he wanted to say. The gesture was still too gentle for Silco.

Silco reached up and pulled Vander’s hand from his hair. “No,” he stated as he straightened up, “not now…” He swallowed before looking Vander in the eyes. There was a look of both sadness and understanding. He added “not yet…” before using Vander’s shoulder as leverage to stand up.

He stepped back and looked around. Finding what he was looking for, he picked up the discarded, crumpled note that Vander had written. He smoothed it out, folded it, and tucked it into his vest. While he did this, Vander got to his feet.

“Tell the girls I’m alive,” He looked back at Vander. “But I’m not in any condition for visitors…”

Vander smiled softly. “I’ll tell them.” He reached out and brushed his fingers against Silco’s arm. He didn’t flinch away. “They’ll want to know when.”

“I…” Silco fiddled with a ring on his pinky. “I need time…”

“I understand Sil.”

Silco paused for a moment. He pulled off the ring he was fiddling with. He grabbed Vander’s hand placed the ring in his palm. “Give this to Powder.” Silco closed Vander’s fingers around it. “Tell her this is my promise that I will come and visit when I can.” Silco looked into Vander’s eyes. He softly spoke, “when I’m ready.”

Without giving Vander a chance to answer, Silco turned and walked out of the small room that shared too many memories. Vander just turned and watched him leave, knowing Silco would never do anything to break the heart of a child, especially Powder's.

He looked at the ring in his hand. A plain, simple metal band with the imprint of “F S V” on the inside.  Benzo had made 3 of these rings, one for each of the “Future Founders of Zaun” so that they always remembered. Vi wore Felicia's on a chain. Vander lost his own during his struggle with Silco. Probably buried under an indescribable amount of waste at the bottom of the river. But Silco still had his. And he would be back for it.

Chapter Text

It was mid afternoon when Vander got back to the bar. Vi was re-lacing the old pair of boxing gloves he had gotten her. Her bangs were getting long, covering her eyes. Powder was curled up on the sofa next to her, asleep, with a small hand clutching the edge of Vi’s shirt. She had been crying again.

Vi looked up and flashed a small, tired smile at Vander as he walked in. She looked like she had been crying. “She cried herself to sleep again.” Vi explained, going back to her gloves.

Vander walked around the table to crouch by Powder. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, nudging her awake. “Hey Powder.” He said softly. Powder rustled and made a soft mewling sound. “I have some news.” Her eyes fluttered open slowly, not moving from her curled position. “I found Uncle Silco.”

He heard Vi gasp lightly. Powder shot up straight excitement in her eyes. Her gaze flickered between Vander and the doorway and back to Vander. “Where-where is he?” Her expression turned to fear. “Is…is he…” Tears began to fill her eyes as she jumped to conclusions.

“No! no, Powder.” He pulled her into a hug. “He is alive.” Powder broke into a sob against his shirt. She always had nearly too much emotion, he isn’t surprised her near depressed sobs quickly turned into sobs of relief.

Vi abandoned her re-lacing project. “Where is he Vander?”

He rocked Powder until her sobs quieted to an occasional hic-up. “Silco is…he is still healing."

Powder pushed off Vander’s chest. “Can we -hic- can we see him?” She aggressively tries to rub the tears from her face.

Vander caresses her cheek softly, wiping some tears away with his thumb. “Not yet Love. He still needs time to recover.”

The tremble in Vi’s voice broke Vander’s heart a little. “How-how bad was he?”

Vander looked towards his forearm. “You remember how this wound isn’t healing properly?” Vi nodded. “Well, Silco had been hurt by similar means on his face. It effected his left eye.” A little sob escaped Powder. “It may take some more time but he is healing…he is alive.”

“I -hic- I want to see him…” Powder croaked out.

“I know Powder,” Vander reached into his pocket. “He gave me something to give to you as a promise.” Powder perked up at the words. Vander pulled out the ring from his pocket.

Vi seemed to recognize it. “Wait- is that…” She pulled out the necklace with her mother’s ring on it. “Is that one of these?”

Powder looked confused between them. “What are those?”

Vi sighed, holding her mother’s ring in her fist. Vander elaborated. “They were a set of 3 rings. Your mother had one, that’s the one Vi is holding. I had one, but it was lost the night your parents…the night at the bridge.” He paused. “Silco had the third.” Powder shyly reached for the small ring. She picked it up as if she expected it to shatter. “Look inside Powder.”

Powder inspected the ring, turning it until she saw the imprint. “F S V?” She asked.

Vi answered her. “It stood for their names. Felicia, Silco, Vander.” She showed Powder the ring she had. It was a little larger than Silco’s, but not by much. She turned it until Powder could see the faint imprint of “F S V” in the inside. It was harder to see as it seems to have been worn down, probably by Vi as she would rub at the ring when she couldn’t fall asleep, which was most nights.

Powder placed the ring back into Vander’s hand before getting up and bounding towards her bunk. She rooted around in her pile until she pulled forth a red ribbon. She bounded back to the sofa, hopping on, and holding out the ribbon to Vander. Understanding the assignment, Vander took the ribbon, threaded the ring onto it, and then tied it around Powder’s neck. She sat back into the cushions, knees pulled into her chest, and inspected the ring, turning it over and over, as if transfixed.

Vi broke the silence. “You said it was a promise. What did Silco promise?”

“He promised that he would come back for it.” Vander sighed longingly. “We swore to never be without our rings, as long as we could help it. He wouldn’t willingly give up that ring if he didn’t intend to reunite with it.” Vander absent mindedly rubbed his own pinky, where his once laid.

Vander grunted a little as he stood up. “Well, I have to get the bar ready to open.” He tousled Powder’s hair. “You two stay out of trouble Ok?”

Vi smiled at her sister. “We’ll try.”

Vander smiled softly as he made his way back up to the bar. He was glad Powder now had something to focus on, something to look forward to.

It was a month before Vander heard anything about Silco. Powder was beginning to fall back into her depression, believing that Silco abandoned his promise. What he didn’t expect was how the message was relayed.

It was a quiet night at the Last Drop. Not many people milling about, mostly just regulars. Sevika plopped down on the barstool.

“What’ll it be tonight Sev?” Vander started placing a glass on the counter, already reaching for the Under-whiskey he kept for his regulars.

“Nothing actually.” She stated dryly. Vander’s hand stilled. “I’m not here for a drink.”

“Oh?” This was new. Sevika always ordered an Under-whiskey on hot-rocks whenever she walked through the door. “Is there-are you…?”

Sevika took a moment before realizing the implication. “Oh gods no! I am not knocked up! I am here to deliver a message.”

“Apologies.” Vander leaned against the bar. “I’m listening.”

Sevika pulled a paper scrap out of her pocket and read it to Vander. “Something about ‘The blisters will be ready for the ankle-biters on Friday.’ Whatever the fuck that means. He said you would understand?” She shrugged and looked unamused.

Vander couldn’t help but smile, couldn’t help but laugh heartily. “I know exactly what that means. Tell him we’ll be waiting at the bedrock and that the ankle-biters usually rise around noon.”

Sevika comically rolled her eyes at the cryptic answer to the cryptic message. She hopped off the stool with a grunt and stalked away.

Vander just smiled to himself while mindlessly cleaning dishes from the counter.

Friday. I’ll see you then Love.

Chapter Text

A hooded figure leaned against the building across from the Last Drop. A small silver key was turned over and over in his hand. The figure watched as patrons trickled out of the bar as the night wore on. It was closing time and he was pretty sure Vander was preparing to haul out any passed out drunks. No one noticed the figure pocket the key and push off the wall, disappearing into the crowd.

No one noticed the figure make his way around to the secret entrance know only to the revolutionaries. Despite this being the plan, Silco was surprised when the key clicked and the door opened for him. Only 3 keys were made to this door. He doesn’t know what happened to Felicia’s. He guessed that Vander not changing the locks was his way of hoping Silco would find the note.

With a shrug of acceptance, Silco slipped through the doorway. The back halls were dark and unoccupied. He made the familiar trek up to the office of the bar. He was fairly confident that there would be no one in there.

No, Silco did not case the bar, he just happened to be observant in that Vander only hired enough people to work the floor during open hours and had enough connections to know that Vander did the book-keeping and inventory acquisition by himself. No, he did not bribe Sevika into following Vander once or twice no matter what she tells you.

He slips into the office he used to know. How many nights had he passed out in here balancing the books or writing manifestos. He traced his hand along the worn upholstery of the once bright orange and green sofa that Vander insisted on having. Memories of being pressed into that couch on more than one occasion flashed through his mind, the memory of the rough velvet against his bare back sending shivers down his spine.

He smirked at the sight of the high-back leather chair that Silco insisted on having. If Vander wouldn’t budge concerning the couch, Silco wouldn’t budge concerning the chair, even if it made him look like a crime boss while he sat in it.

His original plan was to sit in the office and just wait for Vander to make his way up after closing, that was until he noticed the atrocity that was the scattered papers and books over the desk. The barely legible chicken scratch that was strewn over the ledgers infuriated Silco. See, this- this right here is why Vander was not allowed to touch the books! He made a right mess of things. Silco couldn’t help himself and rooted through the papers and books, trying to make some sense of the utter chaos.

Silco lost track of time as well as the reason he was there to begin with. He was too absorbed to hear the door open or the person entering the room, that was, until a hand grabbed him by the back of the neck and slammed him into the desk.

“Who do you think you are breaking in here?” Vander growled and emphasized with a squeeze. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t snap your neck-“

“It’s me Vander!” Silco cried.

Vander flinched back as if he had grabbed a burning stove. Silco pushed back his hood as he fell into the leather chair, holding his throat, trying to catch his breath. Vander just stepped back in shock, falling onto the couch when his legs came into contact with it.

“Silco-“ Vander gasped out. “I didn’t- I thought you would be coming during daylight.” Vander put his face in his hands trying to regain his composure. “I thought you were some street rat looking to steal something.”

“You didn’t think that I would have kept my copy of the key to a business I co-own?” Silco snapped. “I did plan to take off my cloak and wait for you until I saw your absolute disaster of an attempt at bookkeeping.” He gestured to the disarray of papers that have now spilled onto the floor.

Vander looked up at Silco. “Well in my defense, I did try to kill the last man who did my books…” Vander tried to jest.

Silco scoffed. “Now you can say you’ve tried to kill me twice.” He aggressively flipped closed one of the ledgers on the desk. “This is the third time you’ve aggressively put your hands on me without my consent, are you straying from your morals?” Silco got up from the chair to pick up the ledger that fell on the floor.

Vander looked surprised, “Third time!?”

Silco scooped up the remaining papers from the floor. “Oh, you conveniently forgot grabbing me in our mining shack while I didn’t know which way was up?”

Vander stood up, annoyed. “You nearly cracked me in the head with a glass while obviously stuck in a panic attack and you wanted me to walk away from that?”

“A panic attack caused by your note.” Silco dropped the papers on the desk.

Vander growled but stopped to take a breath in order to ground himself. “And what the fuck do you mean by straying from my morals?”

Silco scoffed. “For someone who was always so adamant about consent you do seem to love assuming you can touch me the way you used to after trying to kill me, as if it didn’t happen.”

“I am trying Silco.” Vander took a step forward. Silco leaned against the desk, trying to feign an air of aloofness. “I don’t think anyone could possibly know how to navigate this.”

A silence settled between them.

“I don’t forgive you.”

“I know.”

“At least, not yet…”

“I know.”

Silco clenched his hands against the edge of the desk. “Stop saying that…as if it changes anything.” He spat out.

Silence sat between them once again.

“You still came back.”

“Don’t mistake me, I came back for them.”

“Then why did you come at 3 am when the girls are fast asleep?”

Silco did not respond, instead glared angrily at the bookcase by the door.

Vander, in all his audacity, decided to step forward into Silco’s space. He reached out a hand and rested it on Silco’s hip. Silco didn’t flinch at the touch, but instead glared at Vander.

“What did I just say about you touching me like-“

“Tell me to stop.” Vander interrupted.

He slipped his thumb under the hem of Silco’s shirt and rubbed against the cold, pale skin that awaited him. Silco gasped at the touch and placed his own hand over Vander’s wrist.

“You’re allowed to be mad at me.”

“No shit-“

Vander cut him off with a growl. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t also have needs.”

Silco’s breath hitched as Vander’s hand slid back and grabbed a handful of his rear. Meanwhile, Vander stepped further into Silco’s space, crowding him against the desk, effectively pinning his hips in place. Silco could feel Vander pressing against him, already hard.

Vander leaned into his space, breathing against his ear. “I would undo your cloak, love, but the clasp is too close to your neck and I believe I promised to not touch your neck.”

Without hesitation, Silco reached up with one hand and undid the clasp. The cloak fell from his shoulders and Vander leaned back at the sight of him.

Silco was wearing the same outfit from that day. His sleeves rolled up the way he always had. The odd thin strips that hung off his waistband. The cropped jacket that had patches all over.

Vander reached up and grabbed the edges of the jacket and started pushing it off Silco’s shoulders.

Hands shot up and stilled Vander’s hands. “If we do this,” Silco looked Vander in the eye. “I have terms.”

Vander did not move “I would honestly be concerned if you didn’t.”

Vander was not wrong. When they started their relationship, back in the mines, Silco had terms then. Vander understood it was his way of maintaining control. Someone with a body like Silco’s, who wasn’t the best at hard physical labor, can easily be taken advantage of by those in power. And many did, before Silco gained a reputation for rebelling against the overseers in…unique ways. Vander may or may not have also put some overseers in their place for Silco when they were first acquainted.

Silco was also not wrong when he talked about Vander’s morals about consent. Ignorance of consent had no place in a civilized society and Vander took that personally. He was someone who truly practiced what they preached.

“Obviously my neck is off limits.” Vander nodded. “Don’t touch my scarring.” Vander nodded again. “And none of this gentle bullshit.” That one took Vander by surprise. “I am not fragile, I am not weak, I am not some porcelain doll that will shatter if you are too rough.”

“Of course not-“

“I’m not finished.” Silco snapped. There was fire in his eye. “If I say I’m ready, do not fight me. I know what I can take.”

“Understood.”

“And don’t kiss me.”

Vander closed his eyes and sighed. He nodded. This was one of Silco’s original terms. Lip to lip kissing was a level of emotional intimacy for Silco that took Vander over a year and a half to earn.

“Do your original restrictions apply in regards to that condition?” Vander wasn’t expecting the surprise on Silco’s face. “What? You thought I would forget the terms you meticulously laid out all those years ago?”

Silco huffed. “Body is fine but not my neck.” There was a beat. Neither of them moved. “That’s it. Those are my terms.”

A brief okay was heard from Vander before he flipped Silco around and bent him over the desk, earning a gasp of surprise. The cloak had fallen back and covered the papers below Silco. A large hand splayed across Silco’s back, holding him there.

Vander leaned forward over Silco. He pushed his hips fully into Silco’s rear, earning a gasp from both men. Vander’s other hand stroked down Silco’s side, resting at the top edge of his pants.

“Well?” Silco asked impatiently. “Weren’t you the one talking about needs earlier?”

Vander had been with Silco long enough to know when he is giving the go ahead. Keeping one hand on Silco’s back, Vander reached around and popped the buttons of the pants he knew so well. He gave Silco a quick squeeze, earning a push of his hips back at Vander. Vander pushed the pants down enough to expose Silco’s ass. Again, keeping Silco pressed against the table, Vander sank down and bit one of the globes. Silco mewled at the action.

Vander was so glad in this moment that the girls’ bedroom was two floors down.

Squeezing the other globe with his free hand, Vander moved to his target, eating out Silco in the way he knows he loves.

The sounds Silco makes- oh those sounds. Vander missed those sounds.

“Va-Vander…” Silco reached back to grab Vander’s hair. “Please…”

Satisfied with his work so far, and abiding by Silco’s terms, Vander stood back up. He deftly undid his own pants, pulling himself out. He had already begun to leak, which he used to his advantage. He quickly slicked himself up before lining himself up with Silco. Despite the hand pressing Silco down, he managed to buck back into Vander.

“What are you waiting for?” Silco hissed.

With a smug Hmmmm, Vander angled both his and Silco’s hips before quickly bottoming out.

Silco let out a strangled cry as he shot out one of his arms to brace against the wall on the other side of the desk. He gave Silco a moment to catch his breath before pulling almost all the way out and bottoming out again. He could feel Silco’s legs quiver, he saw his hand spasm against the wall trying to find purchase.

Vander leaned in close and rolled his hips, earning a strangled gasp from Silco. “It seems like you haven’t sought out anyone either since the bridge.”

Either? Silco swallowed and tried to catch his breath. “I was too busy trying to stay alive.” He quipped, mind intact enough to still be witty. Vander rolled his hips again, earning another gasp. “What’s your excuse?”

In response, Vander pulled out again before bottoming out again. The hand Vander held against Silco’s back shifted to the desk in order to hold more of his own weight. “Honestly? The kids took precedent.” He rolled his hips again. “And besides, I was hoping you’d survive.”

As it seemed Silco was far enough along that witty retorts were lost, Vander switched to slow, rhythmic thrusting. Memories flooded both men of quick meetings in dark tunnels, of intimate nights in the bar, in this very room. The needy noises of Silco and the occasional grunt of Vander were all they heard for a bit, as they fell into a steady pace.

Feeling himself close, Vander stilled his thrusting. This earned a dissatisfied mewl from Silco. He leaned close to Silco’s ear. “One more clarifying question.” He rolled his hips, earning a moan. “If I were to say, want to grab your hair, would that count as touching your neck?”

Silco groaned at the thought. Vander did remember the things he loved most. “Don’t squeeze my neck and we shouldn’t have a problem.”

With that permission, Vander expertly slid his fingers up into Silco’s long hair- gods is he glad Silco grew it out again- gripped and lifted Silco up. Silco cried out at the action and change of position, reaching up his own hand to bury into Vander’s hair in an attempt to anchor himself. With Vander’s other hand holding his hip firmly, a few stunted thrusts later and Silco cried out “Vander~” as he came onto the cloak.

Vander was overcome with the need to bite Silco as he clenched around him, specifically on the neck which he knew was not allowed and instead bit into his clothed shoulder, as he came deep inside Silco.

After a few moments, Vander released Silco’s hair from his grasp. Silco dropped forward, barely catching himself on his forearms. It took him a second to realize that Vander had a hand against his chest, realizing he was not going to let Silco fall face first into the desk. He could feel Vanders breath against the back of his neck. His jacket had shifted down his upper arms, exposing the top edge of his tank top underneath. He could feel Vander place a gentle kiss against his spine through the material.

“You alright love?”

Silco tensed. He knew that this was how Vander spoke and it wasn’t about gentleness. Vander was always an attentive lover, no matter how rough Silco asked him to be. He knew this part of Vander would never acquiesce to his terms surrounding gentleness and Silco was ok with that.

Silco’s voice trembled more than he would like to admit. “Ya-“ He swallowed hard. “I’ll be ok.”

Both let out an overstimulated hiss as Vander pulled out. Silco could hear Vander zip himself up and re-buckle his belt. As if on cue, Vander’s hands were back on him, pulling up his own trousers, tucking him away and refastening the buttons on his pants.

Silco could feel Vander place another kiss on his back, while tenderly placing his hands on Silco’s hips. Silco didn’t move from where he was leaning against his forearms.

“Come on love,” Vander slid a hand up Silco’s chest, pulling him into an upright standing position. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

Silco leaned back into Vander’s chest with a small hum. His brought his hands up and placed them on top of Vander’s larger ones. Silco didn’t like feeling vulnerable, but right here, right now, he let the warmth of Vander sink in. He leaned his head back against Vander’s shoulder.

“I’m assuming all my things are where I left them?”

Silco felt Vander turn into his hair and place a soft kiss into it. “You know I wouldn’t mess with your things, even if you were dead.”

Chapter Text

Silco could feel Vander’s eyes on his back as he rooted through his own drawers. He knew Vander had been itching to say something since they left the office.

“You should probably speak your mind before it overloads from all the work you’re asking it to do.” Silco jested as he found the clothes he was looking for.

He heard Vander shift. “You know you can stay here.” Silco didn’t know what to say in response. “I…I’m not going to ask where you’re staying now…” Vander seemed to pause, “I promise I’m not going to push this.”

“Good,” Silco replied, “because I’m not ready for that.” Silco turned and walked back towards Vander. He actually was trying to get to the bathroom but of course the brute decided to stand in front of the doorway he needed.

“Not yet?” Vander asked hopefully.

Silco sighed. “No, not yet.” He maneuvered around Vander in order to get to his destination. He decided not to acknowledge the hopeful look Vander displayed across his face.

Vander, wanting to give Silco his space, sat on the edge of his bed- their bed- and faced away from the bathroom.

Vander rubbed his hands together, elbows resting on his knees. Despite the need to fuss over Silco, Vander did his best to keep his distance, to give him time. He could hear Silco moving around, turning on and off the faucet, etc.

After a while, a thought popped into his head. “I will warn you, I cannot hold Powder to the same promise.”

He heard a huff from Silco. “I planned for that I assure you.”

“So you have a plan to physically extract a 5 year old from your person?” Vander chuckled.

He didn’t need to see Silco to know he was rolling his eye. “You say that as if I didn’t help raise her for the first 4 years of her life.” There was a pause. “Despite the fact that you said you wouldn’t move my things even if I was dead, what did you do with my hair ties?”

Vander looked towards the bathroom to answer and was taken aback. He wasn’t expecting Silco to be standing there, without his jacket, in a t-shirt that hugged in all the right places, tucked into those cursed high waisted pants, his arms bracing against both sides of the door frame, with his hair spilling over his neck, just brushing above his shoulders.

Silco tilted his head, allowing more hair to spill forward. “Are you going to keep gaping like a fish or are you going to tell me where they are?” He pressed.

Vander closed his mouth, not realizing it had hung open, and got up from the bed. “I had to hide them because Powder kept stealing them.” Vander walked towards the bathroom but stopped a few steps in front of Silco. He gestured towards him/the bathroom. “May I?”

It took Silco a second to realize he was, in fact, blocking the doorway. “Oh, sorry.” He dropped his arms and traded places with Vander. He watched as Vander pressed somewhere on the vanity and the whole mirror swung forward. Silco raised his eyebrow. “You installed a secret compartment in your bathroom?”

Vander walked back out of the bathroom so Silco could continue. “When you have a genius level 4-year-old who just wants to remember her uncle, you do what you need to do.” He shrugged.

Silco re-entered the bathroom and was shocked to see the contents of the hidden compartment. All of his personal items were stored in there. His hair ties, his brush, his soaps, his cologne, everything. It was all so…domestic. He felt a pang in his chest and had to brace himself on the sink. His breath caught in his throat and had to gasp to let it out.

“Sil, are you alright?” He had to turn to see Vander in the doorway, since it was to his left. He had a hand outstretched towards him but he didn’t touch. It was a gentle gesture, and Vander agreed to ‘none of this gentle bullshit’.

Silco gathered himself and looked back towards his things. “I’m fine Vander.” His tone was harsher than intended but Silco carried on, grabbing a hair tie and his brush before closing the mirror compartment. Placing the objects on the counter, he reached up to his eye-patch/bandage. He stilled, dropped his hands before turning to Vander. “Do you have bandage material? I should probably change this.”

Vander gathered himself as well. “Yeah, I keep it at the bar. I’ll be right back.”

Of course. Silco thought. Considering the rate of drunken brawls, makes more sense to be out there. He reached back up and removed the bandage and eye-patch. He paused for a moment, to study himself in the mirror.

Singed wasn’t one to keep mirrors around. Any sort of mirrored surface Silco could find was either warped or shattered, nothing intact enough to really look at himself. Singed applied all Silco’s treatments himself, so there was no need.

His sclera was almost completely black now, with only small wisps of white trailing off his iris. And his iris, well, any hint as to what his original eye color was was completely gone. Bright orange was staring back at him, a sharp contrast to his right eye. Considering the damage and subsequent infection that took hold, his vision was minimally affected. His eyelid and surrounding skin still hasn’t healed and was still mostly raw. Singed assured him that he would have an eyelid but Silco wasn’t too confident.

“You think your eyebrow will grow back?” Silco will deny to the grave that he jumped and shrieked at Vander’s sudden reappearance.

Silco growled back at Vander. “You see all this damage and ask about my eyebrow!?”

Vander shrugged and offered up the bandage material with a pair of bandage scissors. “You did have nice eyebrows, well I guess now it’s eyebrow, singular.”

Silco aggressively took the offered bandage material, glaring at Vander with both eyes. He could feel, and now see, Vander looking at his face, inspecting it. He opts to ignore him and start pulling his hair back.

“You know I can see you staring right?” Silco says, shifting his eyes towards Vander, but not turning his head. Vander can only see his damaged eye.

Vander looked shocked. “You still have vision in your left eye?”

Silco looked back in the mirror. “Somehow.” He pulls forward a section of hair on his left side, styling his hair like he used to. “I don’t question it.” He struggled gathering all of his hair in the back, as the lower portion of his hair was a little too short to stay in the bundle. Silco grumbled as his hair wouldn’t cooperate like it used to. He hated this in-between length.

“I know offering to help would put me close to your neck and possibly break the gentleness clause but, I’m offering if you want it…” Silco looked over to see Vander with a hand rubbing the back of his own neck sheepishly. He closed his good eye and sighed.

“Fine but don’t get cheeky.”

Silco watched in the mirror as Vander stepped in behind him and gently took over the bundle of hair Silco already managed to pull together. He tried to gather up what he could without lingering too much on any portion of Silco’s neck. “Hmmm.” He paused, “You may have to settle for a half up-half down. These hairs at your nape won’t stay up,” He leaned forward slightly, “even if they are long enough for me to grasp.”

Silco flushed and swatted at Vander behind him. “I told you to not get cheeky!” Silco couldn’t exactly move since Vander had a grip on most of his hair. Vander let out a hearty chuckle. Silco folded his arms in front of him. “Just…do what you can.” He finally huffed out.

Vander tried to stay on his best behavior while he worked on making an even line across Silco’s head, separating what was going up and what was going down. He reached an open hand out in front of Silco. Silco stared at the hand and then back at Vander in the mirror.

“What?”

“I need the hair tie.”

“Oh…” Silco grabbed the hair tie and dropped it in Vander’s hand.

“Do you want a bun like usual or just a ponytail?”

Silco grumbled. He hated how utterly domestic this all felt. Sure, He used to let Vander help with his hair every now and then, but that was before.

“Well?” Vander prompted.

Silco sighed. “Just ponytail it.”

When Vander was finished settling Silco’s hair into place, he set his hands on Silco’s shoulders, a respectable distance from his neck.

“Now I don’t know about you, but I won’t be able to contend with the girls if I don’t get some sleep.”

“Don’t think I’m sleeping with you.” Silco retorted.

“I know I’m brazen, but I’m not stupid.” Vander responded. “I turned Felicia and Connel’s room into a lodging space.”

Silco thought for a moment. “So that means the girls are still in the basement?”

Vander leaned to whisper into Silco’s ear. “Why do you think I didn’t try to shush you earlier in the office?”

Silco’s eyes went wide and his cheeks flushed. He then turned around and shoved Vander out of the bathroom. “Didn’t you say you were tired?”

Vander chuckled. “I was trying to tell you that I will be leaving you to sleep in there.”

Silco narrowed his eye at him. “Why not have me sleep there?”

“I wanted to give you space to collect anything you wanted to take back with you.” Silco looked confused. “Love, we already established you’re not planning to stay here any time soon. I assume you would want some of your clothes and personal effects.”

Silco shrugged and turned towards the bandage materials. “That’s fair, I suppose.”

Vander leaned against the doorway. “And I assume you would want to spend time in our bed alone.”

Vander ducked just in time to avoid the hairbrush that was unceremoniously chucked at him, followed by a stern “Get out!”

Vander put his hands up in surrender as he backed away from the bathroom door. “I’ll wake you before the ankle biters wake up so you can prepare your defenses.”

Silco stared after him as he closed the door behind him. He eventually leaned back against the wall and sunk to the floor. He pulled his legs up and laid his head upon his knees. He sat there for a moment, gathering himself. Vander was making this harder than it needed to be. Silco didn’t want this kindness, he didn’t deserve this kindness. Not after what he had done. Not after what his actions took away from the girls.

They deserved to be happy, not him. It was his arrogance that led to the biggest devastation those girls would ever know. Vander was right, back in the mining shed. They were just children. What right did he have to be happy when they had lost everything.

Feeling the exhaustion settle in, he realized he should probably get to sleep. He stood up and made quick work of the bandage material, making two paddings for his eye-patch. He reaffixed the eye-patch and made his way back into the bedroom.

He picked up the hairbrush he had thrown earlier, placing it on the bedside table…Vander’s bedside table. He looked across the bed. His nightstand was still as he left it. His journal and pen still sitting where he had left them, just slightly askew. It was obvious Vander had most likely read through it during the last year.

Still on Vander’s side, he slipped in between the sheets. Burrowing himself down into the sheets, he burrowed the good side of his face into the pillows. Gods they smelled like him. Silco held the pillows close and just breathed, quickly falling into slumber much faster and easier than he had in the last year. Silco would dream of life before and a future he dared not hope for.

Chapter Text

Vander barely slept a wink. How could he? Silco was back, albeit only temporarily, and in their bed. He knows Silco has his own process of dealing with personal issues. He knows Silco has terms and conditions when it comes to intimacy. He knows forgiving someone after they try to kill you takes time.

He just wishes he could climb into bed with Silco and hold him close. He just wants to bury his nose into those messy tresses and breath in that which is Silco. He desperately wants to pull him close and kiss him. To just interlace their fingers as they make love into the wee hours of dawn.

But this was Silco. It had to happen on his terms. And despite the terms, he’s still here.

Vander lay, staring at the ceiling, long since giving up on properly sleeping.

“What am I doing Felicia?” He asked the empty room. He turned his head to look at the framed picture of Felicia on the dresser. “Navigating the girls through your death was easier than this.”

Felicia’s golden, beaming smile looked back at him. “You’re right, I just need to be patient.” He looked back at the ceiling. He stared for what seemed like forever until his eyes fluttered shut, sleep finally taking hold.

It was not restful though. Memories from the night he tried to drown Silco flashed back through his mind. The feeling of holding him down, of Silco’s hands clawing up his arms, trying to grasp something, anything, to make it stop. He remembers the moment Silco stopped fighting.

However, this time, He looked up to see Felicia and Connel standing in front of him. Felicia stepped forward and laid a hand on Vander’s shoulder. In that moment, he released Silco. Silco popped up out of the water, coughing and holding his throat. He barely moved backwards and just looked up at Vander.

The images of Felicia and Connel seemed to glitch and in an instant, turned into Vi and Powder. Powder ran forward and hug-tackled Silco. Vi’s hand fell from Vander’s shoulder as she took hesitant steps backwards, a look of terror on her face.

“I-I didn’t mean to…” Vander tried crying out to them as all three started to shrink back. “I thought what I was doing was right-“ The image of Silco picked up Powder and began walking away with Vi. “No, I’ve realized what I’ve done! Come back, please-“

His voice choked in his throat. He tried to get up and start running after but two steps in, he plunged into the deep waters.

Vander woke up with a gasp. He was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. He sat up and tried to compose himself. He checked the time – 10:30. A little later than he would have liked but Vander would have to deal.

He quickly changed into fresh clothes for the day and freshened himself up, removing the traces of his nightmare.

Slowly and quietly, he padded down the hall to his room. Gently, he opened the door and slipped inside. Silco was still fast asleep. Vander was pleased to note that Silco was on Vander’s side snuggling into Vander’s pillow. It was hard to tell his facial expressions since the good half of his face was shoved into the pillow, but based on his body language, Vander could tell Silco was content, even if only for this moment.

Vander came around to his side of the bed. He gently sat down on the edge, careful not to disturb him. Silco’s left side bangs were strewn about around his bandaged face. Vander gently reached out and slowly tucked each strand back behind his ear. Silco rustled and let out a small keening sound at the feathery touch. He didn’t seem to wake so Vander leaned down and placed a kiss on Silco’s shoulder and gave a light squeeze to Silco’s bicep.

“It’s time to wake up love.”

Silco stirred, gently at first. Then, he shot up quickly, backing into the headboard. He had a look of terror on his face. His breathing quickened as panic seemed to set in.

“Hey, hey Sil,” Vander put up his hands to show he wasn’t a threat. “It’s just me. You’re at the Last Drop.”

Silco didn’t seem to see him. He clenched his eye shut and brought his arms up as if to block his face. He began taking in short, shallow breaths, a sound of panic choking out.

“Ah, hell.” Vander decided he needed to break whatever panic attack had taken ahold of Silco.

He reached out, pulling Silco’s arms from his face, only enough so he could grab his face with both hands and yell, “Silco!”

Silco’s panicked breathing caught in his throat. His eye shot open. He grasped onto Vander’s forearms with a vice-like grip.

“Sil, breath. Slowly now love.” Vander held his face firmly, slowly tracing his thumbs over Silco’s cheekbones. “It’s me, you’re safe. We’re at the Last Drop, remember?”

Silco’s eye darted around before settling on Vander. Silco’s breath began to slow, began to even out. He closed his eye and tried running through the meditative breathing Singed had taught him. Once he felt settled, Silco brought his hands up to Vander’s and gently pulled them from his face. He didn’t let go but instead settled their linked hands into his lap.

“I…” Silco began hesitantly. “…thank you.” He opened his eye but wouldn’t look Vander in the face.

Vander rubbed his thumbs over the back of Silco’s hands. “Does that happen often?”

Silco took a deep breath. “It used to happen every time I slept, now not so often.”

They sat there, in the silence, for a few more moments.

“Well,” Vander spoke first, “We should probably eat something and acquire caffeine before we have to face the ankle biters.” He stood from the bed, letting Silco’s hands fall from his. “I’ll get a pot and kettle started at the bar. Don’t take too long or I’ll send Powder in.”

Silco nodded and Vander stepped around the bed and back out the door.

Silco took a moment to collect himself. He hadn’t expected to wake to a night terror, especially not one triggered by Vander attempting to wake him up.

He shifted to swing his legs over the edge of the bed when pain raced up his back. He stilled, remembering what had transpired last night. Silco rubbed a hand over his face and braced himself to stand up.

He really should have a talk with himself over engaging in rough, barely prepared sex after over a year of nothing. But he knew he wouldn’t listen so he didn’t bother.

Once standing, Silco stretched his arms up, trying to loosen up a little when his shoulder twinged in pain. “Oh for the love of-“ He tried to turn, push back his shirt neck, and inspect his shoulder but couldn’t see anything at this angle. He shuffled to the bathroom to try and get a better look. Contorting so he could see his shoulder down the neck of his shirt he saw it. A large, bite-shaped bruise blooming over his shoulder. He vaguely remembered Vander biting him, through his shirt and jacket, as they climaxed. He made a note to have a discussion with Vander about his bear trap of a mouth.

He got himself ready for meeting the girls. He collected together some personal affects as Vander suggested. Nothing big, just a bottle of his favorite cologne, an obvious amount of hair ties, and some clothes. He tucked it all into a small duffle bag that he left, for now, on the foot of the bed.

Silco changed out the bandaging under his eye-patch. He pulled on his Jacket and rolled up the sleeves like he used to.

He briefly stared at himself in the mirror. “Well, it’s now or never I guess.”

He left the room quietly. He made his way out to the bar. He could smell some sort of eggs and meat cooking. He could faintly hear Vander humming. As he turned the corner he noticed a glass of water and a small egg-cup. Upon reaching the bar, he noticed two pills sitting in the egg-cup.

“I am presuming you may be hurting from last night. Those are some pain relievers for you.”

Silco glared at Vander in response before picking up the egg-cup, tossing back the pills, and then chasing them down with water.

“Speaking of last night, you need to reign in that bear trap you call a mouth.”

“Oh?” Vander chuckled.

“I can’t lift my arm over my head thanks to you and your need to bite me.”

Vander laughed. “I’m pretty sure that between the two of us, you’re the more dangerous biter.”

“Excuse you!?”

“Unless I’m misremembering in my old age, I’m pretty sure I’m not the one who bit off someone’s dick.”

Silco balled up a napkin from the bar and chucked it at Vander. “Hey, that was in self-defense! What’s your excuse, bear trap?”

Vander leaned over the bar, encroaching on Silco’s space. “Maybe, you’re just that delicious.” He winked at Silco before he could retort and then pulled back to tend to the portable gridle he had been cooking with.

Silco just glared at Vander and huffed.  He eventually gave up glaring in favor of scooting down the bar to acquire some much needed caffein. He leaned over and grabbed the coffee carafe and a mug and poured himself a cup.

Vander chimed in. “Since when do you drink coffee?” He watched Silco take a swig of the still black coffee. “Not only drinking it at all but drinking it black?”

Silco decided to return to his spot before answering but did so while sauntering down the bar. “I had to adapt since Singed doesn’t keep anything but coffee and the milk was never quite right so I would avoid it.”

There was a brief moment before Vander responded. “Is that where you’re staying? With this Singed person?”

The question took him by surprise, making him snort his coffee. “I-uh-um-“ Silco stammered as he tried to contain the mess that he had just made.

Vander pulled a stack of napkins from behind the bar and helped clean some of the mess. “You don’t have to answer that.” He started, “I’m just glad you’re staying somewhere safe.”

Silco paused for a brief moment before answering. “I am safe, for now.”

The sound of something popping took Vander’s attention back to the griddle behind the bar.

Silco took this distraction as an opportunity to regain his composure and return to holding the hot mug contently. Vander silently moved about, plating food and starting new batches of eggs and meats. He occasionally popped bits into his own mouth. He placed a plate in front of Silco.

“You should probably eat up before the ankle biters are awakened by the smell.”

“Is that how you’ve managed to corral them this past year? With food bribery?” Silco Jested.

Vander smiled back. “Shut up and eat your food.”

Silco did as he was told, picking up a fork and stabbing into one of the sausages. He bit off the end of it and couldn’t help but moan at the nostalgic flavor.

He heard Vander snicker. “I’m guessing this Singed person isn’t much of a cook either?”

Silco shoved the rest of the sausage in his mouth while flipping off Vander with his free hand.

The moment settles into a longer silence. Vander switches the burners down to a warming setting, leaning against the bar to properly eat some of his cooking. From an outsider perspective, this almost looked as if the last year hadn’t happened. Vander, behind the bar. Silco at his stool. Felicia was just probably running an errand. Passerby’s wouldn’t notice the brace on Vander’s arm, or the scarring on Silco’s face, or the memorial display Vander had set up for Felicia and Connel on the back wall of the bar.

Silco set down his fork once his plate was empty. He took a sip of coffee and cleared his throat. “I’ll say this before I get swept up in the girls. I don’t know how often I will be back.”

Vander nodded, shoving the last bit of sausage in his own mouth and taking a sip of his own coffee.

“But I have to do something about those books.”

It was Vander’s turn to snort into his coffee. His response was blustery. “I-wah-they aren’t that bad!”

“Darling, the brief bit that I saw last night was horrendous.”

Vander had just composed himself after snorting his coffee and was about to make a retort when a faint “Silco?” was heard from the other end of the bar.

They both looked up to see a sleepy Vi, partially hiding behind the edge of the bar.

Silco released a shaky breath. “Violet…” He smiled softly. “Hey there kiddo, your hair is getting pretty long-"

He was cut off by the child running forward and burying her face in his stomach. Her arms wrapped around him and squeezed, almost as if she was scared that he would disappear again if she didn’t hold on tight enough.

Silco felt soft sobs leave the child as she hugged him tight. He placed a gentle hand on her back and another in her hair. He cooed softly, gently rubbing her back, whispering ‘it’s ok’ and ‘I’m here I promise’.

With another big squeeze, she let go and attempted to stand up straight. She hiccup-ed trying to regain her composure. Vi attempted to rub the tears from her face. To Silco, she appeared to be attempting to mimic Vander in trying to steal herself and hold a brave face.

Silco cupped her cheek lovingly and saw the moment she really looked him in the face. Her brave façade faltered as her eyes darted around the scarring above and below his eye, finally coming to rest on the rough eyepatch he wore.

Silco watched as Vi attempted to steal herself once again before asking, “Does…does it hurt?”

Silco sighed softly. “I won’t lie and say it doesn’t.” Vi’s eyes began to well up with tears again. “But it’s much better now. That’s part of why it’s taken me so long to come back to see you.”

Vi reaches up and wiped away the tears before nodding as if to say ‘okay’. “I’m going to go get Powder.”

Vi ran back around the bar as quickly as she had appeared. Vander looked after her with a fond look.

Silco spoke. “You know, she really takes after you, trying to be all stoic and straight faced.”

Vander chuckled. “You do realize that means our whirling dervish that is Powder takes after you right?”

Silco opened his mouth to retort something witty but was unceremoniously tackled off his bar stool and hit the floor with a thud.

“Sil! Love! Are you alright?” Vander rushed around the bar. “Powder!”

Silco lay on the floor with a scream-sobbing, curled-up ball clutching at his torso. Once Silco processed past the shock that came from being yeeted from his stool, he gently curled around Powder. Silco rubbed gentle circles into Powder’s back as he whispered into her hair.

They laid like that for a short while, until the sobbing stopped, until Powder’s breathing evened out. Silco didn’t try to move until there were more than 5 seconds between each post-cry hiccup.

He was able to sit up eventually. “Powder,” he started softly, “How about you eat something ya?”

“Powder,” Vander called, “I made your favorite.”

Powder initially tried to pretend that she didn’t hear them until her stomach growled and gave her away. She slowly uncurled from the scrunched-up ball that she was. She kept a fist clutched into Silco’s shirt but let him stand. Silco lifted Powder in the process, flinching a little at the strain on his lower back (barely if you asked him) and set her onto the stool next to his.

Vi climbed onto the stool next to Powder as Vander dished up plates for each of them. Powder and Vi ate in silence, all while Powder’s fist stayed clenched in Silco’s shirt. Vander set about cleaning up his and Silco’s dishes. He would occasionally look up to see Silco doting on Powder and Vi. The softness that was Silco being a parent was something he had always savored. Despite how bristled Silco would get if you ever pointed it out, it suited him. There was an understanding in the way Silco looked towards Powder. He always seemed to connect with her in a way that neither he nor Felicia ever could.

Probably without realizing it, Powder seemed to see it too. There was a way she beamed after she heard the news that Silco was alive and promised to see her. She never went without his ring tied around her neck. It was her anchor. He was her anchor.

After they all finished eating, they settled into mindless chatter. Powder with her head bowed, still clutching at Silco’s shirt. Eventually, she finally looked up and looked Silco in the face. Her eyes went wide as she gasped. Her hand let go of Silco’s shirt.

Feeling self-aware, Silco sat back and tried turning his face away.

Powder’s voice caught him off guard. “No!” She reached out and took his face in her hands. “Van said you were hurt…”

Her eyes seemed to meticulously inspect and catalogue every inch of his face, original and scarred alike. She brushed a tiny thumb over the cheek scarring. Her hand came up and held his bangs away from his face so she could inspect above the eye-patch.

“Powder-“ Silco began.

“Can I see it?”

Silco blinked at her, confused. “See what Powder?”

“Your eye.” She lightly traced and bottom of the eye-patch.

Vander stilled and looked slightly afraid. Vi looked unsettled. Silco’s expression softened. He took Powder’s hand in his and kissed it lightly.

“Sorry darling, not yet.” He flashed her a gentle smile. “It’s still having a hard time healing, and I need to keep it covered.”

Powder looked disappointed but seemed to accept his answer.

“Now,” Silco leaned in close to Powder, “do you still have my ring?”

Powder brightened up and almost pulled off her own shirt in how aggressively enthusiastic she was in trying to get the ribbon out. She proudly held the ring in her hands, showing Silco briefly, before trying to take the ribbon off.

“Wait, Powder, I’m not asking for it back,” Silco caught Vander’s gaze out of the corner of his eye. “Not yet.”

Powder’s expression fell a little bit. “But Van said you didn’t want to be without it.”

“Vander was correct in saying that.” Silco stated. “However, I have business I need to attend to still which means I won’t be back for a little bit.”

“But you just came back-“ “You’re leaving again-“ Vi and Powder scrambled to speak at the same time.

Silco reached out a hand to Vi. She took his hand. “I know I just got healthy enough to see you two. However, there were things that I needed to take care of while I was healing that I now need to deal with.”

With a sad look, Vi nodded in acceptance. Powder, did no such thing.

“But Silco!” Powder started.

Vander reached a hand over the bar to calm Powder. “Now love, this means he is entrusting you to keep that ring safe while he deals with these matters.”

Silco squeezed Powder’s hand. “I promise it won’t be another year until I see you.”

“How long then?” Powder insisted.

Silco closed his eye and sighed. “I’m not sure, maybe a month…maybe two.”

Silco could feel the gut punch as he looked at all three of their faces. They all bore the face of sadness at the projection of another two months without Silco.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t keep in touch. I just physically can’t stay here while I take care of things.”

Powder scrunches up her face before hopping off her stool to hug Silco tightly. He is pleased to note that he is still sitting on the stool and not on the floor. Vi gets up too and joins the hug. In a moment, Vi looks up at Vander and gestures for him to join. Vander looks at Silco for permission. Silco flashes him a small, soft smile and nods his head. This moment, for the girls, he’ll allow it.

Vander comes around the bar and squeezes all three in tight. He takes the opportunity to place a kiss to Silco’s hair before nestling into the hug. When he pulls back, he messes with both girls’ hair.

“Come on now loves, Silco has to get some things together before he leaves again.” Vi pulls back from the group hug, leans in for another squeeze around Silco’s neck. Vi helped them try to extract Powder from Silco’s torso.

Vander reached to pick Powder up but Vi stopped him. Vi looked between the two with a loving smile before finally extracting Powder and hoisting her up in her arms. Vi was barely bigger than her sister but was determined. Powder curled around Vi like a monkey.

“Bye Uncle Silco.” Vi said. She began walking away with Powder.

“Bye Uncle Silco!” Powder cried over Vi’s shoulder. “Finish your work so you can be back sooner!”

Vander’s gaze followed Vi and Powder even after the door to the basement closed.

“Violet really is becoming a lot like you already.” Silco stated, also looking after the girls.

Vander sighed heavily. “I know.” He leaned against the bar. “It concerns me a little. We were trying to protect them from this, from having to grow up the way we did, but…” Vander looked at the ground and crossed his arms.

Silco stood up and shifted in front of Vander. “Hey,” He placed a hand on Vander’s braced forearm. “They may be just children but they’re her children. They are more resilient than either of us give them credit for.”

Vander smiled briefly. “Also, I am so sorry about Powder!”

Silco waved him off. “You had already warned me about her clinging.”

“I didn’t expect her to tackle you off the stool. Are you sure you’re alright? That had to have hurt-“

“Vander.” Silco cut him off with a warning tone. “I’m fine.”

“And then she asked to see your eye? I only told them it was injured, why did she ask to see it-”

“Vander!” Silco said firmly. “She is trying to process things the only way she knows how. You know she’s curious. And, if I may, I handled that much better than you apparently did.”

There was a beat between them. “I do have to go now.”

“I know.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

“I know.”

Silco growled, “Again! Enough with the-“

Silco was cut off by large, warm arms encircling him in a protective hug.

“I know Sil.”

Silco buried his face for a brief moment in the chest of the man in front of him. He allowed himself to breath in the comfort that Vander provided and stood for. But only for a moment. He gently pushed against Vander’s chest.

Vander pulled away.

“I’ll keep in touch through Sevika. If you need anything from me, she can get me a message.”

“Okay.”

Silco made one final, brief, eye-contact before walking around Vander, back to their room, to collect his bag. He could feel his eye well up at the thought of leaving. He wiped it away before it could follow through. He couldn’t feel this sentimental. Not now, not yet. It was too soon.

Silco left the way he had come in last night, locking the door behind him.

Chapter Text

The makeshift family fell into this pattern for a few months. Vander would hold down the Last Drop, making himself a leader among the Lanes. Silco would pop in every month to see the girls. Silco and Vander would have a moment hidden away from private eyes. Between these monthly rendezvous, Vander would notice that any papers on the office desk would get sorted, organized, and everything was eventually copied into a master ledger. He tried to leave notes and messages in there and would get a stern ‘No.’ written on those. At one point he just drew a random winky face on one which was responded to with an angry frowny face.

Silco didn’t stop or alter his visits to the girls, even when they became the girls and boys. Vander had a habit of taking in strays. Silco himself was proof of that.

It started with a quiet kid, Claggor. He had a soft, round kind of personality. And he didn’t mean round like a ball you could push around; he meant round like a round-top table. Sturdy, but wouldn’t bruise you in the hip if you accidentally knocked into it. This directly opposed how he would describe Violet. She was a square table; sturdy, but would leave angry bruises in her wake if you accidentally knocked into her.

Claggor was reserved and seemed to fear Silco the first time he met the kid. Silco noticed the way he seemed to observe wherever he was. Claggor seemed to be less in fear each time he watched Powder and Silco interact, like he could sense there was a softness to Silco but was too afraid of it not being for him. Despite Powder and Vi’s attempts, he would only ever refer to Silco as Sir, Mr. S, or Mr. Silco…and one time ‘Mr. Silco Sir’. Powder would adamantly say “No! He’s Uncle Silco!” But Claggor always seemed too shy to use the moniker.

Claggor warmed up to him after an incident at the bar. Claggor and Vi were begging Vander to let them help out. He finally gave in after Vi gave him some very convincing puppy eyes. He had let them work mostly as bussers and runners. One night, which happened to coincide with Silco’s monthly visit, Claggor had been left alone to buss the remaining tables, clean glassware, and put it all away. Vander had to go outside to fix something that a drunken brawl had broken. Vi had been too sick that night to work and was holed up in her bunk with Powder aggressively playing nursemaid.

Silco was sitting in his normal spot at the bar, looking over some new vendor bids. Claggor had just finished piling his tray with plates and drinks when he accidentally tripped on a bottle that had blended in on the floor. The resounding crash sent Silco into fight or flight. Without a second thought, he reached over the bar and grabbed the first-aid kit. Jogging over to Claggor, Silco took in the damage. The boy had listed sideways, into a chair that had broken on impact. Shattered glass and plates were littered all around.

Claggor made a move to get up.

“No! Stay where you are.” Silco urged as he made his way forward. “You’re surrounded by glass, let’s make sure you don’t get more injured…you’re already bleeding.”

Silco got close, glass crunching under his mining boots. He crouched down next to him.

Claggor’s voice quivered a little. “I-I’m sorry Mr. S…”

“Oh shush.” Silco waved him off. “It was an accident. Nothing to be sorry for.” He opened the first-aid kit and placed it to the side. “Now let me help you sit up.” He offered his hand to Claggor.

Hesitantly, Claggor reached out a hand and let Silco haul him up into a sitting position. Silco noticed the slight look of confusion and chuckled. “Don’t let my spindly limbs confuse you Claggor, I used to work in the mines. Can’t survive that without building some strength.”

“Oh,” Claggor looked dumbfounded. “I never realized.”

Silco pulled out a rag and antiseptic. “It’s where I met Vander and the girls’ parents.” Silco gently began cleaning the side of Claggor’s arm. “Looks like the chair smacked you on it’s way out…this may hurt a little.”

Claggor looked down, noticing small and medium splinters sticking out of his arm. “Oh…” Then he noticed the obliterated remains of the chair. “OH…” He started stammering again. “I’m so sorry Mr. Silco, I didn’t mean to break the chair!”

Silco sighed and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “Claggor I don’t care about the chair, or the glasses for that matter. All of that is replaceable. Like I said, accidents happen. I’m just glad that your injuries are minor and that you’re still conscious. You are not replaceable." He gave another squeeze before going back to the splinters in Claggor’s arm.

Silco managed to get the smaller ones out by the time Vander made his way back in. “What in the bloody hell happened here?”

Claggor stumbled for words before Silco spoke up for him. “Some ungrateful patron left a bottle on the floor and poor Claggor here found it with his foot.”

Vander took a moment to take in the damage. Shattered glass and an obliterated chair surrounded the very domestic scene that was Silco tending to Claggor’s injured arm. He spotted something among the debris. He reached down and picked up a snapped leg of the chair. He turned it over in his hand. “This was one of the original chairs.”

Claggor looked panicked again. Silco scoffed at Vander. “Oh! So you, yet again, didn’t listen to me that you needed to replace the chairs!”

“And like I told you we didn’t need new chairs!” Vander spat back.

Silco managed to dislodge the final and biggest splinter from Claggor’s arm, with a hiss from Claggor.

“If a chair essentially explodes when a child falls into one then yes! We needed new chairs!” Silco hissed back at Vander. “If anyone should be apologizing about this mess, it should be you Vander!”

Claggor looked between the two. He hadn’t interacted much with Silco before but to see someone so unabashedly yell at Vander was something to behold. And he was yelling at Vander on his behalf. Maybe Silco wasn’t as scary as he seemed.

“What!?” Vander tried to start back. Before he could say anything else, he got distracted by Silco grabbing a rather large piece of debris and chucking it at Vander’s head. He dodged it easily, but it still sent a message.

“If you had replaced the chairs when I told you to, I wouldn’t be pulling splinters out of this boy’s arm! He’s going to need stitches Vander!” Silco grumbled. He let out a sigh and turned back to Claggor, a softer tone in his voice now. “Here, hold this against your arm and we will move to the bar. There’s better light for this.”

Claggor did as he was told as Silco hastily packed up the first aid kit. Silco helped him to his feet and led him back to the bar. Silco got him settled at a stool. “And you.” Silco turned to Vander. “Clean this up or I’m leaving early tomorrow.” Vander floundered and turned red. Claggor had no idea what was happening.

Vander finally grumbled out, “Fine.”

Silco had made his way around the bar. He pulled out a rag and draped it across the bar. He also pulled out two glasses and a bottle of Noxian whiskey. Silco poured some into both, knocked back one, and then placed the second in front of Claggor.

Claggor looked confused. “I…uh…Sir?”

“Drink up.” Silco said as he came back around the bar. He poured more into his glass as he sat down next to Claggor. “It helps numb the pain. Now put your arm up here like this.”

Silco maneuvered Claggor’s bleeding arm into a position that was both comfortable for him as well as giving Silco decent access to the wound.

Claggor just blinked at Silco.

Silco sighed. “Darling, have you ever had stitches?”

Claggor shook his head no.

“Then, as someone who has had many,” he tapped the glass in front of Claggor, “I implore you to take a drink.” Claggor glanced briefly back to where Vander was sweeping up glass. “And I know Vander’s rule about underage drinking. We made that rule together. This-“ Silco gestured to Claggor’s arm. “is the only exception.”

He watched as Claggor put the pieces together for himself before lifting the glass and taking a sniff.

“Now I do recommend just knocking it back in one go, sipping will make it harder to get the whole glass down.”

Claggor looked at Silco, then back at the drink. Then Claggor knocked back the drink like a seasoned alcoholic. Well, except for the wheeze and hacking cough that followed, but he took down the whole glass in one shot.

Silco patted him on the back through the coughing. “I’m impressed!” Silco leaned in a little closer and whispered. “If it gives you a little ego boost, Violet still can’t knock back the glass in one shot.”

Claggor looks at him, face already sideways. His cheeks flushed and his eyes wide. “Reeeeaaaallyyyy?” Wow, this kid had zero tolerance.

“Now, I’ll try my best to be as gentle as I can and as quick as I can.” Silco started pulling out supplies. “Because the exception only allows for one drink.”

Claggor laid his head on the counter and hummed. “That’s ok Mr. Silllll. I trust you.”

Silco chuckled at the way Claggor caught on his name. He got to work cleaning and stitching up the gash on the back of Claggor’s arm using the glass he repoured as antiseptic. Occasionally, Claggor would twitch in response to a deeper stick with the needle but overall seemed to not be too reactive. His eyes would occasionally flutter open or closed.

“Your eye-patch makes you look like a villain…” Claggor seemed half asleep. Silco paused his movements for a second.

“Without it I would look like a monster…” Silco stated quietly, unsure if the buzzed pre-teen would hear or remember.

Claggor surprised him with both. “But you’re neither…you’re like my mom…”

“Oh?” Silco finished tying the last suture. Now he was curious. “How so?”

“She always looked scary on the outside but was never scary on the inside. She said it was how she protected herself…and us…” Silco applied antibacterial gel and started pulling out bandages. “Most people thought she couldn’t love…but we were the ones she showed how much she could love…” A tear escaped Claggor’s eye and fell to the bar top.

Vander had told Silco the events leading to him taking Claggor in. An upstart group of wannabe Chem-Barons decided they now owned a district deep in the undercity. Anyone who opposed them were removed. Most fell in line but Claggor’s mom did not. She was one of the few who stood the line while a small group of others got the children and less hearty individuals to safer parts of the undercity. Claggor and his mother were already becoming outcasts in the district, due to his mother’s stubbornness and outspoken nature, so the other survivors were unwilling to take him in.

“Well,” Silco finished wrapping Claggor’s arm. “You’ve already proven yourself a survivor and a caring individual, and while I didn’t know your mother,” he clapped a hand on Claggor’s shoulder. “I would be proud if you were my son.”

Claggor’s sad-drunk eyes quickly changed to starry-drunk eyes as he looked up at Silco. “Reeeeeaaaaaaaallyyyyyyyyy???”

Silco smiled softly and nodded.

“Are we all patched up over here?” Vander bellowed as he approached the bar. Silco looked up at Vander softly. He turned to start packing up the first-aid kit.

“Keep an eye on it like usual and he’ll be fine.” Silco stood up. “Come on, help me get him to bed.”

“Oh ho!” A now drunken Claggor sat up, swaying dangerously. “I can make it back-“ He attempted to take a step off the stool and would have faceplanted if Vander hadn’t caught him.

“Oh no,” Vander said, effortlessly handling Claggor. “Let’s go.” Vander practically carried Claggor around the bar to the basement dwellings. Silco led the way and held doors open for Vander. Vi was awake and sitting up in bed. Powder was holding water to her face.

Vi was the first to say anything. “What happened to Claggor?”

Powder quickly followed. “Are those…bandages?”

Vander tried to gently lower Claggor onto the bed but Claggor tried to roll out of Vander’s grip and instead faceplanted into the middle of the cot. Without moving much of his arms, Claggor somehow shimmied his way up to his pillow. “Is-m’fine” Claggor slurred out.

Silco sighed and crouched by the girls. “Vander decided to not get new chairs like Uncle Silco told him to,” a brief “Oi!” interrupted “so when Claggor fell after tripping on a patron’s poorly placed bottle, he fell into one of the older chairs and that chair decided to fight back.”

Vander growled at Silco’s telling of the story but didn’t correct him. “Goodnight girls.” He waved and exited the room.

Vi looked sad towards Claggor’s bed. Powder looked excited. “Does that mean I have another patient!?” Silco smirked.

“Yes darling, you have another patient.” Powder tried to run across the room to her new patient but Silco caught her by the waist. “Now, now Powder. He just got admitted to your ward. He doesn’t need tending to just yet. He had an exception drink and was properly bandaged up by myself.” Powder crossed her arms and made an angry face. “Vander will go over his treatments with you in the morning ok?”

Powder huffed. “Okay…” She reluctantly said.

Silco kissed her fondly on the top of her head. “Now go to bed.” He looked at Vi. “Both of you.”

Loud snoring could be heard from across the room. Claggor had barely repositioned himself so that his face was only half smashed into the pillow.

Vi nodded. “Goodnight Uncle Sil.”

Powder gave him a big hug around the neck. “Goodnight Uncle Silco.”

A drunken slurred set of words came from across the room. “g…nite,..,.msssSir Silllyyyyy”

“Goodnight Vi, Goodnight Powder, Goodnight Claggor.”

He made his way out of the room. Vander was leaning on the same wall as the door. He had a smirk on his face.

Silco narrowed his eye as he shut the door. “What?”

“Sir Silly?” Vander couldn’t help but laugh.

Silco smacked his chest playfully as he passed. “He’s drunk Vander.”

Silco made his way back to the bar to clean up the first aid kit and the documents he was looking over when this all started.

As he latched the first aid kit, Silco noticed Vander gazing at him lovingly.

“Can I help you?” He asked as he set the kit back in its place.

“You were really good with Claggor.” Vander stepped closer.

“Oh, were you expecting me not to be?” Silco spat back, leaning one hand on the bar and the other on his hip.

Vander shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” He stepped in closer. “Claggor hasn’t talked about his mother to anyone since he left the district.”

Silco’s eye widened. “Oh…I didn’t realize.” Silco rubbed the back of his neck and averted his gaze. His hair was long enough now to be completely pulled up.

Vander continued pressing forward until he had crowded Silco against the bar, one hand on the bar next to his hip, the other coming up to caress Silco’s cheek. Silco stilled at the action, becoming very aware of where exactly Vander’s hand was on his face and how close he was getting to his neck.

Vander’s eyes flicked between Silco’s eye and his lips. “Gods, I’ve missed seeing this side of you.” He ran a thumb across Silco’s cheek.

“Vander.” Silco warned, placing a hand on Vander’s chest.

Vander let out a sigh and pressed their foreheads together.

“Let me in Silco.” Vander nudged his nose into Silco’s. The hand on Vander’s chest clutched at the fabric as Silco unconsciously nudged back.

The tips of their lips briefly touched before the hand on Vander’s chest shot up and grabbed Vander’s chin and pushed back slightly.

Silco’s breath was shaky. “M-my terms haven’t change Vander…” He could feel Vander’s jaw clench and felt the vibrations of the growl that followed.

Vander pulled away and thumped a fist into the side wall. There was barely any force behind it. “Why Silco?”

“Why!?” Silco shot back.

“Yes, why!” Vander snapped back.

“Not once have you ever argued with my terms. You know why I make them! Especially that one!” Anger filled Silco.

“You set your terms to keep people out, to keep them at arm’s length.” Vander hissed out. “We used to talk about this back in the mines. You have not once tried to talk about this, about us, no matter how many times I’ve tried.”

“Has it occurred to you that there isn’t anything to talk about?”

“Of course there’s something to talk about!”

“Oh really? Enlighten me.” Silco crossed his arms and leaned against the bar. “What exactly are we not speaking about?”

“You read my letter. You’ve heard me out.” Vander clenched his fist. “But I still have no idea where you stand on any of it. I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you came back because something in you stood with me. But now I don’t even believe that anymore.”

“You’re putting an awful lot of assumptions on me!” Silco fumed.

“How can I not when you don’t give me anything!” Vander growled back. “I don’t even know if you’ve forgiven me or if this is all some sort of sick way to claw your way in and take me out from the inside-“

“Of course I’ve forgiven you!” Silco snapped.

The silence hung between them, palpable with each harsh breath that they took in and out.

“…What?” Vander’s voice was so low, it was almost like he thought he would spook Silco if he were any louder.

Silco turned away from Vander, holding his arms close around his chest. “Do you honestly think I would let you near me, let alone let you touch me at all if I didn’t forgive you?” There was a shakiness to his voice.

“Sil…” Vander stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on Silco’s back, only for it to be swatted away.

“Don’t.” Silco still wasn’t looking at him. “I don’t deserve it…I don’t deserve you…” Vander watched a tear fall from Silco’s eye. “How can you possibly forgive me after what I took away from them…from us?”

Vander was shocked. “Silco…” He tried to speak but Silco continued.

“I deserve to be 6 feet under, not them.”

Those were the words that broke Vander’s heart. He rushed forward and pulled Silco into his arms and held him tight. He could feel Silco push against his chest weakly, but he ignored it.

“You deserve the world Silco.” Vander said softly into Silco’s hair.

His arms were so strong yet so delicate, encapsulating Silco with the promise of safety but caressing him just enough to protect even the most fragile of antiques. Silco felt protected and smothered all at the same time. He felt loved and sheltered and suffocated. He attempted to push against Vander’s chest once more, but the embrace only drew him in more.

It was all too much. Vander was all too much. He deserved none of it. A sob finally escaped his throat as he gave up fighting.

He grabbed on to Vander’s shirt and held on for dear life. He could feel his knees give out and felt Vander lower them gently to the ground.

Vander said nothing. He let Silco cry and scream into his chest. He let Silco grab and pull at his shirt in an attempt to ground himself. Not once did he let go.

As Vander sat with Silco, rocking him lightly, the sobs began to quiet. The cries began to wane. Eventually all that remained was the shudder of each breath trying to calm himself and bring himself back to the present.

Vander eased up his vice grip to rub Silco’s back gently. He felt Silco grab at his sides and pulled them close together. He felt a hand slip up along his neck and into his hair.

“Van,” Silco said softly as he pulled back, just enough for them to look at each other. He watched a final tear fall from Silco’s eye. “Help me forget.”

“Okay.”

Understanding the assignment, Vander gathered up Silco by the legs and stood up. Silco wrapped both arms around Vander’s neck, burrowing his face into it. He wrapped his legs around Vander’s waist as Vander carried him to his, no…their, room.

They spent the night forgetting the world around them, while also reminding each other that they still exist in it.

Vander didn’t realize Silco had gotten up until he heard a voice in his ear, “If you don’t get new chairs by the end of the week, I’m giving Sevika a key and letting her destroy every. Single. One.” The door closed behind Silco before Vander could fully sit up and protest.

Chapter Text

Silco was pretty sure this was the first time in his life he had the urge to throttle a child. He wasn’t going to, of course, but the urge was there.

It had been another few months after Claggor’s chair incident. Benzo had mentioned there was another kid in a situation similar to Claggor’s, whose name was Mylo. Vander, without hesitation, said he would take him in.

Silco would describe Mylo as…explosive. Not in the way that Powder was, no, she was more of a grenade that you could tell when the pin was pulled and could plan accordingly. Mylo was more like a land mine. He couldn’t always tell when it was about to explode.

Silco had been away from the bar for close to 6 weeks by the time he met Mylo.

Silco was exhausted. He slipped in through the backdoor and headed straight to the office. He had been vetting a recent influx of vendor bids, many of whom were shells run by Chem-Barons that had no interest in legal transactions. Silco didn’t spend essentially a year building up a network of watchdogs to let some Chem-Baron weasel their way into the Last Drop.

It was closing time at the bar so everyone was occupied with that. He had planned to leave a folder of vendors that were who they said they were and then crawl into bed and possibly having a go with Vander.

What he didn’t plan on was someone had picked the lock to the office.

The hallway was clear. He leaned close to the door to listen in. He heard the clinking of tools and some exasperated grunts of someone who wasn’t quite succeeding at the task they set out to do. Silco quietly made his way into the office. The intruder seemed to be too enthralled in trying to pick the lock on a drawer of the desk. Swiftly, Silco blitzed the intruder, sending the scrappy tools flying. As the flurry of papers settled, Silco had the kid pinned on his stomach, one arm wrenched behind his back, with Silco kneeling above him. Before Silco could question him, the kid grabbed a ledger that had fallen and somehow chucked it and hit Silco in the temple. This disoriented him just enough for the kid to scramble up and out the door. Silco pursued.

The kid had chosen the path straight to the main bar area. Unfortunately for the kid, Silco knew the safest place to jump down from the second floor to apprehend someone fleeing down the stairs. Silco landed on one of the tables, startling Claggor, who was bussing one of the tables nearby. Silco grabbed the nearest object, a stein, and flung it at the fleeing intruder, clocking him, and taking him down.

“Silco! What the hell!?” Vander shouted. He ran towards the intruder.

“What-you’re yelling at me!?” Silco hopped off the table. “This little shit broke into the office and was trying to break into my desk!”

Vander snapped back. “This ‘little shit’ is our new ward Mylo!”

“Geeze, what does this grandpa have against fun…” Mylo slurred out as Vander helped him sit up.

“Grandpa!?” Silco was fuming. Vi ran over and stopped Silco from marching up to Mylo.

“Ok, everyone calm down!” Vander bellowed. “Silco, sit. Claggor, can you get me some ice? Mylo, please just don’t say anything else right now.” He hauled Mylo up and propped him on the nearest chair.

“Aye sir.” Mylo replied with a wobbly salute.

Silco did not sit. He crossed his arms and looked pissed. “Would someone mind telling me why I found your new ward breaking into the office?”

Vander walked up to Silco, nodding to Vi to take a step back. She joined Claggor by Mylo.

“Silco, we will talk about this later.”

“Later? You don’t even seem remotely concerned now!”

“We are working on it Silco.” Vander growled out.

“Working on it!?” Silco was enraged. “You mean to tell me this isn’t the first time!?”

“We will talk later!” Vander bellowed.

Silco clenched his fists and glared at Vander. He was angry. Silco didn’t know if he was just mad at the situation or at everything. All he wanted to do was lash out at Vander, at anyone.

He steeled himself to yell at Vander when-

“Uncle Silco!” Powder, who seemed to have been woken up by the shouting, ran out from behind the bar and attempted to tackle Silco. She sobbed into his stomach. “I-I-I thought you were deeeaeaaaaaad!!!!”

The fight flew out of Silco as he kneeled to comfort her. “Powder, darling, I’m so sorry.” He hugged her tight as she clawed her way up to cling around his neck. She cried into his jacket, muffled by the fabric. He stood up with her still clinging to him. He glared at Vander. “I’ll put her back to bed and then we’ll talk.”

No one moved or said anything until the door to the basement closed. Vander let out the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. He rubbed his face. “Mylo, we talked about breaking into the office.” He turned back to the table where the 3 kids were sitting.

Mylo shifted the icepack off his face. “I’m just trying to sharpen my skills! That office is full of so many kinds of locks!”

“And there is a reason for that!” Vander snapped. The 3 of them all jumped by the abruptness. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to snap at you. Just…finish up closing.”

Mylo dropped the ice on the table. “Is anyone going to explain crazy assault grandpa to me?” He gestured around.

“That’s our Uncle Silco.” Vi answered. “He hasn’t been around much since…well…not since he was injured…”

“But he isn’t as scary as he looks.” Claggor interjected.

“Oh, I disagree!” Mylo glared at Claggor. “He tackled me in the office and then sniped me with a cup after parkouring his way down here! Crazy assault grandpa!”

“Mylo,” Vander said softly. “Silco and I opened this bar together. He has his way of handling things just like I have mine.” Mylo huffed as he placed the ice back on his face. “Now, I’m not saying I completely side with him, but you know the office is off limits. We’ve talked about this.”

Powder’s soft cries echoed off the empty hallway. Silco made his way to the kids’ room and over to Powder’s bunk. “Darling, again, I am so sorry I’ve been away for so long.” He ran his fingers through her puff of blue hair.

“Wh-why do you have to stay away?” Powder snuffled into his shirt.

“To protect you, Powder.” He said softly.

She peered up at him, confused.

“There are many people who don’t like what Vander and I are doing. Many want to hurt not only this bar but those of us in it.” He cupped her cheek. “I needed to find who I could and prevent them from doing those things. Some of those people were very hard to find.”

“But-but you found them?” Powder’s lip quivered.

“Yes darling. I found them.” He hugged her close. “I have people working for me now that can keep an eye on them so I will know if they, or anyone else, try to hurt any hair on your head.”

Powder pushed away from the hug. “Wait, does that mean you’ll stay here now? Now that other people are watching out?” Hope shined in her eyes.

Silco sighed. “No,” tears welled up in Powder’s eyes, “However, it means I won’t have to stay away for as long as I have been.” Powder once again wrapped herself around Silco’s torso.

Silco sat there with Powder in his arms, humming softly, until Powder fell asleep.

After a little while, the older kids filtered into the room. Silco got up to leave. Vi gave him a hug as she passed him to her own bunk. Claggor gave him a smile and a wave before going off to his. Mylo glared at Silco. Silco just rolled his eyes and left.

The bar was void of Vander so he made his way up to the office. If Vander wasn’t there, he could assess the damage the kid had done.

He opened the office door to see Vander sitting in his chair, looking over the vendor bids he brought back. He looked up as Silco entered. “We’re only accepting 2 new vendor bids?”

Silco walked over and leaned against the edge of the desk. “All the others were shells of shells of Chem-Baron holdings. None of them were legitimate.”

“So, this is what you’ve been up to these past 6 weeks? Sniffing out our own?”

Silco huffed. “Well, someone had to since the Hound of the Underground has been too busy sniffing around for a new master.”

Vander slammed the papers on the desk and stood up. He crowded into Silco’s space, but Silco didn’t move. “I am trying to find a way to peace with Topside.”

“All while neglecting the Undercity which looks to you?” Silco retorted. Vander glared. “While you’re up there, sniffing around the enforcers, what do you think has been happening? The Chem-Barons have been brazen, thugs are running the streets. Our Zaun is being tarnished right under our noses.”

“So that’s why you became the Eye of Zaun? To police and micromanage the people of Zaun?” Vander growled.

“I am holding the people of Zaun accountable.” Silco stood up fully now. “I am standing up to the Chem-Barons and the thugs of the street. I am making it clear that we do not take it out on our own.”

They stood there, squaring off with each other for a few moments. Vander sighed and sat back in the chair. “I’m tired of fighting Silco.” Vander pinched his brow again.

Silco smirked and leaned forward, bracing himself on the armrests, leaning close to Vander’s ear. “Then why don’t you fuck me instead?”

Silco barely had a moment to brace himself before Vander was standing against him, grinding against him, one hand holding him close by the back of the thigh, the other hand pulling out Silco’s hair tie. Silco was able to brace himself with a hand against the desk, the other hand clutching Vander’s shirt. He could feel Vander’s teeth nip against his collar bone.

“Van-Vander-“ Silco pleaded. “Just one thing…” Vander squeezed Silco’s thigh and growled into his collarbone. Silco bit at Vander’s ear to emphasize, “my neck is no longer off limits.”

Vander pulled back to look Silco in the eye. Silco released his grip on Vander’s shirt and snaked his hand up into Vander’s hair. He pulled Vander close enough to touch foreheads. “Come on Vander, remind me why I miss that bear-trap so much.”

Vander’s hand reached up and grabbed Silco’s hair. With a sharp tug, Silco threw his head back, moaning loudly as Vander latched on to the side of Silco’s neck. The mixed sensation of his hair being pulled, the mouth nibbling at his neck, the hand on his thigh, and the grinding between them was too much. Silco came right then and there. His moans caught in his throat.

Vander nipped up Silco’s neck, taking playful bites along his jaw as he returned to reality. Silco brought both hands up and laid them flat against Vander’s chest. He pushed lightly, just enough for Vander to be looking him in the eye again.

Silco smirked. “Your turn.”

Silco gave Vander a hard shove. It caught Vander off guard enough that Silco was able to push him back onto the orange and green couch. Silco took a step back and started stripping off his jacket. Vander got the message and ripped off his own shirt. Vander’s and Silco’s shirts hit the floor at the same time. Vander’s belt followed shortly after. Silco stripped himself of his pants, standing bare before Vander. As Vander shucked off his own pants, Silco took a step back. Without breaking eye-contact, Silco felt for the indent under the desktop, finding it, pressing it, and a compartment popped open. Silco pulled out its contents.

“Good to know you kept this stocked.” Silco held up a bottle of lube.

“We already established that Powder kept going through your things in the bedroom after you left.”

Silco hummed, tossing the lube onto the couch next to Vander and stalked forward. As soon as he was within reach, Vander grabbed him behind the knee, pulling him onto his lap. Silco braced his forearms on Vander’s shoulders. When Silco leaned forward over Vander, his hair spilled forward, framing both their faces.

“Well,” Silco smirked and ran a hand through his own hair, pulling it to one side. “Shall we?”

Vander smirked as he ground his hips up, rubbing his cock along Silco’s ass. Silco’s smirk vanished as he moaned at the action, eyes fluttering shut. Vander grabbed the lube Silco tossed, slicking up his fingers. With one hand anchoring on the back of Silco’s thigh and his teeth nipping at Silco’s neck, he quickly worked two fingers into Silco. Vander could feel the vibrations of every moan and keening sound through his lips on Silco’s neck. Silco threaded his fingers through Vander’s hair, holding him against his neck.

“Van…please…” Silco practically begged.

Vander obliged. Silco keened sadly as the fingers were removed, only for that same hand to angle his hips into alignment as Vander thrust up into Silco. With his free hand, Silco grabbed onto the back of the couch.

Vander nipped at Silco’s Adam’s apple as he set a steady pace, angling Silco’s hips and thrusting up to meet. Silco leaned back to better aid in the motions, simultaneously causing Vander to hit that spot. Vander leaned his head back and took in the beauty that was Silco coming undone, just for him.

Vander grabbed Silco’s thigh and pulled, effortlessly flipping them so Silco’s back was pressed into the couch. Silco’s hair splayed out around his head like a crown. Vander intertwined their fingers, pinning one hand above Silco’s head.

Vander leaned down and bit Silco’s chest. Silco’s free hand reconnected with Vander’s hair, massaging and grabbing at it as Vander marked up his chest and neck.

Vander switched up the pace, settling for longer, slower, deeper thrusts, earning the most exquisite noises from Silco.

“Vander…” Silco was barely coherent.

Finally abandoning Silco’s thigh (which definitely had a hand shaped bruise at this point), Vander reached between them to stroke Silco to completion.

As Silco came between them and clenched around him, Vander latched his teeth onto Silco’s collarbone and thrust one final time, deep within Silco.

Vander could taste blood on his lips. “Sorry love...” he said softly as he licked over the teeth marks he had just left on Silco’s collarbone.

“Don’t be…” Silco replied breathlessly. “Your bear-trap is supposed to be sharp.”

Vander chuckled as he stretched out above Silco, nuzzling into his neck. They lay together for a moment, wanting to remain in their current bliss before having to face the reality of the Lanes and the roles they have set for themselves. The titles of ‘The Hound of the Underground” and “The Eye of Zaun” were becoming bigger than either of them thought.

With a groan, Vander lifted himself off of Silco’s chest. “We really need to find a way to keep Mylo out of here…”

Silco reached up a hand and caressed Vander’s cheek. “Don’t worry darling, I have a plan for that.”

Vander didn’t want to know.

Chapter Text

It’s been a week since Silco and Mylo met. Silco has been gone doing Janna knows what. Mylo has not tried breaking into the office since. Vander presumes Mylo is afraid of Silco coming back and finding him in there. He isn’t questioning it. He does think he should have questioned Silco more about his ‘plan to deter Mylo’ though… This weird pseudo-intimidation that is happening now won’t last forever.

As a matter of fact, it did not last forever. Vander was doing inventory at the bar when a soft boom went off upstairs, in the direction of the office. He heard a surprised yell, followed by coughing. When he looked up at the balcony, which connected to the office hallway, he could see traces of colored smoke wafting along the floor, spilling softly over the edge of the balcony.

With a reluctant sigh, Vander made his way up the stairs to assess the damage. By the time he reached the landing, Mylo stumbled out of the colored smoke, waving in front of his face and coughing hard. He was covered in brightly colored splotches of powder paint.

Vander smirked. Of course. This is Silco’s specialty. “Well, what do we have here?”

Mylo froze, and slowly looked up at Vander. “Uh…I can explain?” His voice squeaked.

Vander crossed his arms. “Please do.” He was slightly amused.

Mylo gulped. “Uh…you see…I was…um…”

Vander sighed. “You tried breaking into the office again didn’t you?”

Realizing he was caught, Mylo slumped. “I’m sorry Vander…”

“Now, Mylo,” Vander walked forward to place a hand on Mylo’s shoulder. “I know I let a lot of things slide but we kept telling you that you can’t keep breaking into the office.”

Mylo looked up apologetically. “Can you…Can we not tell assault grandpa about this?”

Vander chuckled, putting an arm around Mylo’s shoulder as he led him down to the first floor. “I’m afraid not. I would also caution you to drop that moniker.” Mylo looked up at Vander as if to protest. Vander continued before he could. “That beautiful explosion was Silco’s handiwork. And I will say that was probably the tamest explosion I have ever seen him rig up.”

Mylo stopped walking. “Oh…” He looked up at Vander with panic on his face. “Oh no…”

Vander smirked, patted Mylo on the back, and finished making his way down to the bar alone. Mylo just stood in the stairwell in mild shock. As Vander turned to go around the bar, the front door chimed. Silco strode through the door, Sevika at his heels, both carrying stacks of odd boxes. Vander chuckled at the timing and continued around the bar. He pulled out 3 glasses, a bottle of Noxian whiskey, and poured some drinks.

Silco placed his stack of boxes on the nearest table and looked up to see the brightly colored child on the stairs. “I guess warnings did not suffice after all.”

Sevika laughed. “I didn’t think you were serious when you said you rigged up powder paint bombs!” She also placed her stack on the table before making her way to the bar.

Silco and Sevika took seats at the bar. Silco addressed Mylo. “Don’t worry, I’m not entirely mad. I am just glad I was able to witness my handiwork.” Silco shot back the drink. “I usually don’t have the luxury of seeing the aftereffects of my craftmanship…considering my usual targets are also intended to be blown up…”

Mylo squeaked. He was trapped. He couldn’t go back upstairs; it was a dead end. If he wanted to retreat to his room or even wash off this powder paint, he would have to pass directly past Silco.

“Now Silco, don’t be putting ideas in the kid’s head.” Vander chided, refilling Silco’s drink.

“Come Mylo,” Silco patted the stool next to him. “Have a seat.”

Mylo looked at Vander, not sure what to make of the current situation. Vander smiled softly and made a motion for him to come down, signaling that it was safe. He pulled out a juice for Mylo. Mylo sheepishly came over and sat on the stool next to Silco. Everything Mylo touched had some sort of powder paint handprint left behind.

Vander leaned against the bar, taking a sip of his own drink. “Are you going to let us in on what’s in the boxes Silco?”

“Mmm,” Silco swallowed the sip he had taken. “Now that is a good question.”

Vander raised an eyebrow. At that response. He looked at Sevika. She put her hands up. “Don’t look at me, he just told me to help bring them here. I’m just hired muscle for this one.”

Vander looked back at Silco. “Well?”

“The answer to that question lies in the skills of dear Mylo here.” Silco turned to look at the brightly colored child.

Mylo seemed startled and looked up at Silco, eyes wide. “Excuse me?”

“I rigged up the powder paints as a deterrent until I could get that pile in order. I had hoped that you wouldn’t trigger it so soon, but here we are.” He shrugged. “If you are so determined to become an expert lockpick, might as well try your hands at locks other than your host’s office.”

Mylo looked between the pile of boxes, Silco, and Vander. Vander also looked surprised at Silco.

“If you can successfully get into each box with your makeshift tools without damaging the boxes or locks themselves, I will be checking as I have the keys to all of them, there is a reward at the end." Silco smiled at Mylo. “Oh and don’t think about trying to steal the keys. When I said I had them, I meant Sevika.” He gestured towards her.

“Don’t get any funny ideas,” She piped in, “I ain’t above roughin up a kid.”

Mylo gulped at the mildly veiled threat. “Uh…how…how will you check them?” He asked, still not sure whether to believe this or not.

“Bring me the contents of each box, with the box of course, and I’ll have Sevika check them in batches.”

“And this isn’t a trap…”

“No, it is not a trap.”

“And they won’t explode at me?”

Silco shrugged. “Can’t really guarantee that. Some of them I acquired from…odd sources, and while they open just fine with a key, I don’t know if someone had rigged any anti-tampering into them.” He smirked at Mylo. “Think of it as real-world practice. You cannot always guarantee that your mark won’t explode in your face.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “Good luck.”

Mylo jumped off the stool and attempted to run towards the boxes but was grabbed by Silco before he could get far. “And concerning the office,” Silco pulled him in close, “I will not guarantee the next rig will be just powder bombs. Do we have an understanding?”

Mylo nodded. “Y-Yes sir.”

Silco released his arm, turned back to the bar and picked up his drink. “Have fun!” He waved over his head.

Mylo ran to the boxes and started inspecting the 2 towers before delicately inspecting each box.

Vander chuckled. “Please don’t threaten my kids Sil.”

“Oh, that was not a threat,” Silco leaned over the bar, “It was a promise.” He winked before he leaned back.

Sevika finished her drink. She clapped Silco on the back as she got up. “Thanks for the drink, I’ll see you later.”

Silco waves her off as he takes another sip.

“Did you bribe her with a drink to help you haul stuff in here?”

“More or less.”

Vander leaned in close over the bar. “When did you rig up the office and why didn’t you tell me about it?”

Silco smirked and leaned in. “I told you I had a plan while we were still on the couch. Don’t tell me I’m that good that you forgot?”

“Silco!” Vander shushed him with a hushed voice. A flush crept up his face.

Silco leaned back with a smug smirk on his face. “I rigged it up while you were asleep, before I left.”

“And you didn’t warn me that I could be painted like a circus clown?”

“It wasn’t going to go off if you used your key.”

Vander smiled and shook his head. “Come on Mylo,” He called, backing away from the bar. “Let’s move this all to the back and get you, and the bar, cleaned up.”

Silco watched as Vander made his way to the table that was now covered in both locked boxes and streaks of brightly colored powder paint, as Mylo was carefully sorting through them.

Mylo looked up from his amazement and looked at Silco. “I-uh…thank you Silco…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I haven’t seen half of these lock types before…this is amazing…”

Silco finished his drink before getting up to help with the boxes. “Think of it as a lesson, to not break into the hand that feeds you.” He picked up a small stack of boxes and started walking towards the basement door.

“Aye sir!” Mylo saluted him enthusiastically.

Once they got the boxes settled into the basement common room and Mylo ushered off the clean off the powder paint, Silco and Vander made their way back to the bar to clean up the powder paint.

Silco took to cleaning off the table, while Vander cleaned off the bar.

“You know,” Silco started, “We could always leave the upstairs as is and just install a blacklight.”

Vander laughed and walked up behind Silco. He put a hand on Silco’s hip and whispered in his ear. “You and I both know that is a bad idea, considering what other things light up under blacklight.”

Silco flushed, his eye wide. He turned around and shoved Vander playfully. “You pig!”

“I’m not wrong.” He put his hands up in defense as he steps back towards the bar.

Silco sighed. “You’re not wrong.” He finished with the table and chair. “Despite how much I will hate the cleanup, him covered in powder paint was worth every second.” He stated as he moved towards the stairwell, cleaning up the errant footprint here and there.

Vander paused. “What exactly is the reward for picking all those locks?”

Silco doubled back to Vander and reached into his vest. Standing close to Vander, not sure if one of the kids will pop up unexpectedly, he pulled out a slender, notched device that looked like a changeable skeleton key.

Vander looked at it as Silco spun it around in his hand. “What is it?”

“An adaptable skeleton key. Can essentially pick almost any lock, if you know what you’re doing.” Silco tucked it back into his vest. “Picked it up while I was vetting the new vendor bids.”

Vander looked a bit confused. “Why give something like that to Mylo?”

“He has potential.” Silco shrugged. “If he is really that adamant about his lockpicking skills and can get through those locks with the meager metal strips he calls tools, then he would earn it.”

Vander seemed to mull it over in his head. “Some of those locks seemed pretty intricate. Can they even be picked without a key like that?”

“Barely, but it can be done. There are enough boxes there that he will be kept busy for a long time.”

Vander crossed his arms and huffed at Silco. “I’m honestly impressed.”

“That’s not a first.” Silco jested.

“I’m serious Silco.” Vander stepped forward and placed his hands on Silco’s hips. “In one week, you figured out how to deter Mylo from the office, while also setting the groundwork to train him into an expert lockpick.”

Silco hummed, leaning into Vander, trailing his hands up his arms. “Well, some of us have to look out for the kids with sharper minds. Not all of them benefit from brute muscle.” Silco squeezed Vander’s shoulders for emphasis.

Vander leaned in, pressing their foreheads together.

They stood in each other’s presence, allowing the soft silence to settle, until they heard an ‘ewww, gross’ and some giggling come from around the bar. They pull apart, both flushed, to see the girls peeking around the corner, Claggor hiding a bit further back.

Powder ran over to hug Silco. “You’re back early!” She squealed before grabbing Silco’s shirt and tugging, her look changing to a stubborn one. “How come you brought Mylo a stack of gifts but not us!”

Vi and Claggor came from around the corner to join them.

Silco kneeled in front of Powder. “I didn’t bring Mylo any gifts, Powder.”

“But-“

“Let me finish Powder.” She huffed and crossed her arms, puffing out her cheeks. “I brought Mylo homework.” Powder seemed to deflate at the word, no longer angry about the perceived ‘gifts’. “Besides,” Silco reached into the other side of his vest. “I did bring you a gift.” He pulled out a slim metal case, resembling a pencil case, and handed it to Powder.

She squealed. She took the metal case and then carefully opened it. Seeing the contents, she slammed the case shut and threw herself around Silco’s neck. “THANKYOUUNCLESILCO” and she ran off back to her room.

Vander watched their youngest run off in excitement. “What was in the case?” He asked as Silco returned to his feet.

“A new case of chalk pastels.” He said, straightening out his vest. “Now that the rest of the kids have joined us, who’s up for helping clean up powder paints?”

Vi and Claggor groaned as they realized they were the only two left to hear that comment. With a grin, Vander ushered the kids upstairs while Silco grabbed a stack of rags and some brooms.

They only had a few hours till the bar opened after all.

Chapter Text

The second anniversary of the Battle at the Bridge was coming up soon. Silco felt uneasy about it. The first anniversary he had spent alone. He spent the day atop the abandoned cannery by the docks. It gave the perfect view of the bridge. He had brought a large bottle of Under-Whiskey but ended up only drinking 1/3 of it. He was too busy running through the events that took place.

The firebomb. The enforcers. Felicia. Connel. The destruction.

He didn’t know if he could handle spending it with Vander and the kids.

Vander had told him how the first anniversary went for them. They had gone to the bridge to lay flowers for the departed. A number of other Zaunites had organized a silent march to do just that. Silco remembered watching the torches of the crowd marching to and from the bridge.

The girls were much more settled now, according to Vander. While they knew that Claggor had no connection to the battle, Mylo was still a mystery. He had been found wandering the streets alone, attempting to survive through breaking in and stealing. He never talked about what happened to his parents or how he ended up on the streets.

Silco had left Sevika in charge of most of his operation. He had been spending an increased amount of time at the bar with the girls leading up to this anniversary,

Vander kept saying how far Powder has come since Silco came back. Her emotions ran hot constantly, the goods being amazing, and the bads being nothing short of terrifying. Silco being around was sort of like an anchor for Powder. She didn’t seem to reach those terrifying lows, and her highs didn’t seem to take her off of Runeterra.

The day before before the anniversary, Silco and Vander found themselves tidying up the bar after closing. The kids were in bed early. The stress of the coming days was nearly palpable through the Undercity as a whole and the children fed off of it the worst.

They were playing some new music on the jukebox. Benzo had stopped by and given them some vinyls that he had recently acquired.

One lively song about ‘caramel dancing’ (Silco wasn’t entirely certain, it was sung in a foreign language, and he wasn’t fully paying attention) just ended.

The next song was more of a soft lovesick melody.

Vander dropped his rag onto the nearest table before pulling Silco into him by the waist. “Let’s dance.”

Silco flushed by didn’t say no. He was slowly getting reacquainted with Vander’s romantic flares.

They spun and swayed, listening to the music and the lyrics.

And now my lonely nights are filled with the tears I cry, how could I let you go, and why didn’t I say goodbye?

Vander whispered to Silco, “I should never have let you go.”

Baby I love you, I miss you, I can’t live without you, I’m stuck on this merry go round.

Silco leaned his head on Vander’s shoulder and hummed in response.

My bed feels cold and empty, wish you were by my side. I’d never let you go, I’m standing here with arms open wide.

“I meant it when I said you could come back and stay here, Silco.” Vander mused.

If I had been put in a different place and time, if the stars and the planets could be realigned, we could start over and hit the rewind on this movie that plays without end.

Silco stilled. “Things are different now Vander. You know that.”

You’re like a ghost in the night, a flickering light, like embers in the wind.

“I don’t want you to become the ghost in the night that barely stays here.”

Please forgive the cry of my still selfish heart, even though I can’t do everything over again.

“You’re being selfish Vander.”

I’m a shout from the mountain to wherever you may be, to the ends of the earth, through space and time, I promise to see you again.

“How is wanting you to be happy being selfish?”

Baby I love you forever, together we’ll face the eternal merry go round, I am your shield and your sword, I give you my word, I’m with you to the end.

Silco pulled away as the song swelled. “Because you’re asking too much.”

“Wanting you to be happy is asking too much?” Vander scoffed. “Love, that’s the bare minimum!”

“I don’t deserve it!” Silco shouted back.

Vander was enraged. “Bullshit you don’t! Everyone deserves to be happy.”

“I killed them Vander!” Silco snapped. “I threw that firebomb. I ignored your pleas and I threw that firebomb, and Felicia and Connel are now dead. Despite my intentions, I killed them and orphaned those girls!”

“That’s what confuses me Silco! You are so caught up in the byproduct of your actions and yet you keep saying you forgive me? Why do I deserve your forgiveness? You didn’t throw that firebomb knowing it would lead to Felicia and Connel’s death, but I grabbed you by the throat and plunged you into that river with every intent of killing you that day!”

“And that’s the difference Vander!” Silco slammed his fist onto the nearest table. “You failed! That’s why I can forgive you! You tried to kill me and failed. I threw that firebomb knowing someone was going to die…I just never thought it was going to be them…” Silco turned back to Vander, but was thrown off completely by the pink tuft of hair at the bar. His eye locked with Vi’s wide eyes.

Vander saw the instant change in Silco and turned around to see the young Vi. Her eyes started brimming with tears. “Vi…”

Her gaze kept switching between the two men, not sure which to focus on or who to run to. She had awoken from a nightmare. She went to seek Vander for comfort but found the argument instead.

Silco tried taking a step forward. “Violet, I-“

She broke eye contact and ran for the door.

“Vi- wait!” Vander called out, running after her.

Vander and Silco made it outside but were stunned to find they couldn’t see Vi. They franticly looked around, calling for Vi. There was no sign of her anywhere, as if she disappeared as soon as she crossed the threshold of the bar.

In terrified panic, Vander sank to his knees. She was gone and Vander knew it was his fault. Tears began to fall down his face.

“Van…” Silco crouched in front of Vander. “Vander, we have to find her. We have to keep looking.”

“She knows…” Vander said softly. “She knows everything.”

Silco grabs Vander’s face. “Vander! That doesn’t matter right now! We must find her before someone else does.”

Vander seemed to snap out of the spiral he was falling into. He stood up, letting Silco’s hands fall away from his face. “I’ll alert Benzo. He’ll be able to watch the other kids.”

Silco stood as well. “I’ll find Sevika. She can help me light up my network and see what we can find.”

Silco turned to move away, but Vander grabbed Silco’s arm before he could leave. He snaked his other hand around the back of Silco’s neck and pulled him close, resting their foreheads together. Silco tensed but understood the message of the action. He gave Vander’s forearm a squeeze before pulling away, this time Vander lets him go.

They reconvened at the Last Drop with the intended targets. Benzo had a sleeping child in his arms, no older than Powder. He put him down to sleep before Silco and Sevika got back.

“Silco barely filled me in on what’s happened.” Sevika started, not wasting any time with formalities. “If we have any chance at finding Vi, you two need to tell us why she ran away.”

Silco plopped into a chair and rested his head in his hands. Vander leaned against the bar at a loss for words.

“She’s not wrong Vander.” Benzo added. “You know Vi. The reason she ran may give us a clue as to where she went.”

The moment stretched, longer than anyone cared to admit.

Silco broke the silence. “She learned the truth.”

Vander followed. “Silco and I were fighting. About the Battle at the Bridge.”

“What truth is there that we don’t already know about that day?” Sevika leaned against a table, glaring at Silco.

Vander looked at Silco with a sorrowful look. Silco briefly looked up at Vander before averting back to the floor.

Silco finally admitted out loud, “I’m the reason Felicia and Connel died.”

Benzo and Sevika just stared at Silco with wide eyes.

Sevika jumped in. “How can you be so sure? It was a riot!”

Silco stood up abruptly. “It wasn’t a riot until I threw that firebomb. That action set off both sides that resulted in their deaths.”

Sevika fell quiet.

Vander stepped into that silence. “That wasn’t the only truth she learned.”

“Vander.” Silco warned.

Benzo looked at his friend. “What happened Vander?”

Vander looked up at Silco’s face, a soft and sad expression resting in his eyes. Silco turned away from all three of them.

“I am the one who injured Silco. I blamed the riot on him and tried to kill him that night.”

Benzo gaped at Vander. His gaze ended up shifting to Silco, in awe at the truth. Sevika slowly tried to approach Silco. He shrunk into himself as he heard her approach.

Vander continued to speak. “Vi is terrified. I…I can’t even begin to understand the hurt she is feeling right now.” His breath caught in his throat.

Silco added, still turned away from the group. “This wasn’t how we planned on her finding out…not that we planned for any of them to ever find out.” He finally turned towards the group. “This is a grievance between Vander and me, one which we have been trying to work out on our own. Vi just stepped into the crossfire while we weren’t paying attention.”

Sevika placed a hand on Silco’s shoulder. “We need to find Vi fast. The streets of the Lanes is no place for a scared, angry, and confused 11 year old to be running around. I know a few people who can help.”

Benzo nodded. “I have a few people I can shake awake to help search. The more eyes the better.”

“Please, both of you,” Silco interjected. “Try and keep the reason she ran quiet. We’ve barely processed the ramifications and implications ourselves.”

“No worries, Boss.” Sevika said. “We’ll find Vi.” She reassured before leaving the bar.

Benzo left shortly after. “I’ll be back when I roused up a few people. I’ll keep watch over the youngins when I return.”

The bar once again was plunged into stillness. Silco and Vander didn’t try to move or look at each other. The sounds of their breathing contended with the music that still played on the jukebox.

Silco’s breath caught in his throat. He gasped and coughed as he stepped back, falling into a chair when it hit his calves. The bar began to spin. Images of Vi staring into his soul and running off played in his mind on a loop. The words he yelled at Vander overlaying each time. He clutched at his chest, trying to suck in air. He felt light headed, his vision swimming.

He didn’t notice Vander crossing the room. He didn’t notice Vander kneeling in front of him nor did he hear Vander call his name.

He felt strong, warm arms encircle him. He felt a face nuzzle into his shoulder. He could feel lips move against his shoulder as they called his name.

The sound of his name being called through the sobs of a man who is rarely shaken broke him out of his haze.

He clutched back at Vander, burying his face into his neck. He could feel the sobs from Vander as he let his own spill forth. Silco leaned forward and slid off the chair. He settled onto Vander’s thighs as he hugged the man close.

The fear of losing this child, her child, their child, was almost too much. In that moment, their grief was larger than their grievances. Their gripes were meaningless in the face of this. Losing Vi would mean failing Felicia. If they couldn’t protect her child, despite everything else, what was the point?

They held each other until they had to face this reality.

Chapter Text

They had been searching the Lanes for the entire day. If you asked anyone, they would presume that more people were inclined to help since it was Vi who went missing, the eve of the 2nd anniversary.

Sevika had been organizing the search efforts of the network Silco had built. A lot of people were filtering out of the search as the day came to a close, they themselves going home to be with their own families on this somber eve.

Sevika wandered out to a lesser-known area, a place she frequented as a kid. It was above an abandoned warehouse. There was a billboard at the top for “Cranko’s Specialty Cranks”.

Sevika climbed to the top and pushed open the door to the roof. She climbed around debris that had fallen off the billboard over the years. Right under the billboard you could see the whole of the Lanes.

As she approached, she saw a flash of pink scuttle away. She made her way to her favorite spot and dropped down, dangling her legs off the edge.

Sevika leaned against the billboard and lit a cigar.

She sat there for a minute, letting Vi think she didn't see her.

"Your dads are worried about you, you know."

There was a moment of silence before a soft voice answered. "They're not my dads."

Sevika chuckled. "Well, they're losing their shit right now like dads would. Have half of Zaun mobilized to look for you. Hell, Mylo and Claggor tossed the arcade looking for you."

Silence. Sevika blew some smoke rings.

"Silco had to stop looking." Sevika waited in the silence before continuing. "He didn't want to stop...but Powder..."

She saw Vi finally look at her, terror in her eyes.

She took a long pull on the cigar. "Powder is inconsolable. No one could calm her but Silco. He had to stay back at the bar with her."

Vi turned back away from Sevika.

They sat in silence, watching the sunset.

"I was there you know." More silence. "On the bridge that day."

A few beats passed before a soft voice answered. "...you knew them?"

"Knew them? I fought with them. I fought for them. Your mom was a beacon among us women. She wasn't afraid to stand up to the boss man when we were only looked upon as objects to enjoy."

Silence settled between them once more. Sevika turned to look at Vi. She was curled into herself, knees tucked into her chest. Her eyes were puffy and red.

"You have her fire." Vi looked up and made eye contact with her.

Sevika turned back to the sunset. "For what it's worth, even if Silco hadn't thrown that first firebomb, one of us would have...hell I can't even say I wouldn't have. The riot would have broken out one way or another." Sevika blew another smoke ring. "And what Vander did, what he tried to do...well, that's between him and Silco."

She tamped out her cigar and stood up. She started to walk towards the door.

"Wait...where are you going?"

Sevika turned back. Vi was staring straight at her, panic in her eyes. "To keep looking for you. I'll give you a head start before I tell them I spotted you up here."

Sevika waited for a response from Vi.

Vi seemed to process what Sevika was offering her. She glanced back down at the ground. "...I don't know how to get back..."

Sevika took the few steps back to Vi and held out her hand. "I'll help you."

Vi got up and ran to Sevika. She ignored the outstretched hand and hugged her tight around the middle. Vi was just a head shorter than Sevika, her pink hair tickling her chin.

Sevika gave her a light squeeze. "C'mon, let's get you back before your dads resort to burning down the Lanes."

Sevika made a mental note that Vi didn't correct her this time.

They made their way down the warehouse to the ground floor in silence. A few feet from the main door to the outside, Sevika heard Vi stop. She turned back to Vi.

“I…” Vi wrapped her arms around herself. “I don’t know how to face them.” Sevika stayed silent. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about it all day…I just…I keep running it over and over in my head…”

Sevika stepped back to Vi. She put her hand on her shoulder. “Anything I can help with?”

Vi shifted her eyes away from Sevika. “…what were they like, the three of them?”

Sevika knew Vi was talking about Silco, Vander, and Felicia. She took a moment to think about it. She had an idea about where Vi’s mind was going.

“I guess to sum up all three with one word, I’d say intense. They each had their own way of channeling their intensity. Silco was a dreamer. He had the vision of freedom that was achievable in our lifetime. Vander was a foundation. He was always someone you could rely on, no matter how rough things got. Felicia…”

Sevika paused, trying to find the words. “Felicia was the heart between them, the strings that held everything together. She was the one who got Vander to look beyond the mines. She was the one who brought Silco back down to Runeterra.”

Sevika dropped her hand from Vi’s shoulder. “I mean, she could never get them agree on how to get things done, but she got them to agree that something had to be done.”

After a moment, Sevika continued. “After her death, I can only imagine how broken they felt…I can only tell you how it felt to watch my community come undone by her death.”

Vi reached up a hand and grasped the ring that hung around her neck through her shirt.

Sevika rubbed the back of her neck. “Look, if you’re not ready to face them…you could stay at my place and I could just tell them you’re safe.”

Vi looked up at Sevika. “I…thank you, but I need to be with Powder. Could you just tell them I need time to process? That I’m not quite ready to talk about it?”

Sevika let out a sigh. “Yeah, I can do that.”

The walk back to the Last Drop was quiet. Sevika gathered that Vi had just run, not with any place in mind, but just to not be there.

It was dark now, the streets were empty. The last people involved in the search were reconvening at the Last Drop to make a game plan for the morning.

Sevika stopped walking while they were still in a darkened alley across from the Last Drop.

“Hey kid,” Vi looked up at her. “Do you want me to go in alone and let them know? I can’t guarantee Vander won’t rush you into a hug.”

“He won’t do that, of that I’m certain.”

Sevika raised an eyebrow. “Are we talking about the same Vander?”

“I…he’s changed a bit since Silco came back.” Vi looked back at the last drop. “Nothing drastic, just, less intense. Their interactions didn’t make much sense until now. Before the bridge, they acted so…like my parents. Now they seemed like they were dancing around something, like they were waiting for a bomb to go off.”

Sevika smirked. “Ever observant, just like your mom.” She patted Vi’s shoulder.

Vi started walking first. Sevika let Vi lead the way back into the Last Drop.

Benzo, Vander, and a few other regulars were huddled around a table when the door chimed. Vander’s back was to the door so Benzo spotted her first.

“Vander.” Benzo said softly, interrupting him.

Vander looked up at Benzo. Benzo just pointed behind Vander.

Vander turned around and gasped.

Time stilled for Vander. His knees felt weak, and he swayed. The patron next to him caught his arm and helped steady him. They helped Vander into a chair.

“Vi…” He barely choked out; his throat had gone dry. “You’re ok…”

Sevika put a hand on Vi’s shoulder, trying to support her.

Benzo began ushering the others around and out past Vi and Sevika, telling them to spread the word that Vi had been found. As Benzo passed by again, he put a hand on Vi’s other shoulder and squeezed gently.

“I’ll check on the kids.” He made his way behind the bar.

There was a beat after Benzo closed the door.

“Vi…I’m so sorry…I…” Vander fumbled for words, putting his head in his hands.

Vi put a hand on Sevika’s, gave it a light squeeze, before removing it from her shoulder. Sevika nodded, understanding. Vi stepped down into the main room, approaching Vander slowly. Hearing her footsteps, Vander looked up and watched her come closer. He fought the urge to rush forward and sweep her up into a hug. When she got close enough to stand in front of him, she reached out a hand to him. He took it, squeezing gently as if to make sure she was actually there.

“Vi…” Whatever else he wanted to say caught in his throat. A tear fell from his eye.

Vi’s voice was shaky when she finally spoke. “I…I don’t think I can talk about what I heard…not yet.”

“Okay.” Vander breathed out.

She squeezed his hand. “But you’re both still my dads…”

Vander nodded, smiling softly at the moniker.

Vi dropped Vander’s hand and for a moment, his heart sank. However, in the next second, she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugged him close. Vander wrapped his arms around her and just sat in the moment.

After a moment, Vi pulled back. “Where’s Uncle Silco and Powder?”

Vander stood, placing a hand on her shoulder. “They’re asleep in my room. Powder was…” Vander struggled for how to describe Powder.

Vi placed a calming hand on Vander’s arm. “I know. Sevika told me.”

Vander looked up at Sevika, who had taken up a defensive posture, arms crossed in front of her. He made a mental note that she has earned free drinks…probably for life.

“Come on. She’ll be happy to see you.” He briefly cupped a hand against her cheek before walking towards his quarters.

Silco had fallen asleep curled around the sleeping form of Powder. His hair was down and splayed out on the bed around him. Powder was curled into Silco’s chest, fists grabbing the fabric of his shirt tightly, even in sleep. Silco was facing towards the door when they walked in. The sound of the door woke Silco. He lifted his head off the pillow so he could see with his good eye. At the sight of Vi, his eye widened.

He turned his attention to the sleeping ball in his arms. “Powder…” Silco cooed quietly, running his hands through the blue locks. “Darling, wake up.”

A crying moan came from the sleeping form, before curling tighter into Silco’s chest.

Vi walked over to the edge of the bed and knelt. Vi reached out a hand to Powder’s head, replacing Silco’s. “Hey Powder.” She called softly.

The ball tensed up before slowly turning her head, scared that the voice wasn’t real. When she locked eyes with Vi, Powder shrieked and rolled all the way over, off the bed and into Vi’s lap. She grabbed onto Vi like she would vanish if she let go and cried.

Vi held her tightly. “I’m so sorry Powder. I didn’t mean to scare you!”

Silco sat up on the bed, tucking his legs under himself. When he made eye contact with Vander, Vander shook his head ‘no’ and Silco understood. He stayed silent.

Powder sobbed out words between cries, “Why-did-you-leeeaaaaave!?”

“I…” Vi looked up, making eye contact with Silco. Silco shied away from her gaze. She looked back down at Powder. “I had a really bad nightmare about mom and dad…I felt like I was back on the bridge even when I woke up and I panicked…” She held Powder’s face in her hands, wiping away tears with her thumbs. “And then I got lost…until Sevika found me.”

Powder looked up over Vi’s shoulder and spotted Sevika lingering in the doorway. She practically yelled at her, “Thank you Auntie Sevika!!!!” before clutching to Vi again.

Vander took a step forward towards the girls but was stopped by Sevika. She walked in ahead of him.

“Come on you two, it’s been a long day.” She helped Vi and Powder stand. “Let’s get you two properly to bed.” Sevika ushered the girls out of the room.

She popped her head back in the doorway and hissed out in a whisper, “You two. Get. Your shit. Together.” She grabbed the door and closed it before she disappeared down the hall with the girls.

Chapter Text

Vander just stared at the door, incredulous at Sevika’s actions. He turned to look at Silco. Silco was still kneeling on the bed. He had his head bowed and his hands clenched into fists on his thighs.

“What are we doing Vander?” Silco asked, his voice shaking.

Vander crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, turned towards Silco. He reached out a hand and tucked the right side of Silco’s bangs behind his ear. Tears were welling in his eye.

Unsure how to answer Silco’s question, he offered up other information. “Vi said she isn’t ready to talk about it.” Silco squeezed his eye shut, pushing a tear to fall down his cheek. “But she also said we’re still her dads.”

This confused Silco. He looked up at Vander, his eye wide. “She…she said what?”

“She said, and I quote, ‘you’re both still my dads’. Sevika can confirm it.” Vander cupped Silco’s cheek gently, wiping away the tear.

Silco choked out a cry, pulling away from Vander and covering his mouth.

Vi heard them yell. She heard what they yelled at each other, about their own actions. She had run from them, from the safety of the bar. She hid for the entire day, on the eve of her parents’ death.

She spent the whole day thinking about those truths and yet, came back and called them both her dads.

She listened to Vander yell about how he tried to kill Silco, and she still called him her dad.

She listened to the guilt of Silco starting the riot that devastated her family, and she still called him her dad.

Silco choked out another cry behind his hand before getting off the bed.

“Silco…”

Silco reached for his overnight bag, plopping it on the desk in the corner. Vander sunk at the action, thinking Silco was leaving.

Silco rooted through the bag until he found what he was looking for. He held it, clenched in his hand, took a few deep breaths, and wiped the tears from his cheek.

He walked back around the bed to stand in front of Vander.

“Stand up.” He instructed.

Vander, although confused, stood up.

“Give me your right hand and close your eyes.”

Vander looked at Silco quizzically. “Silco, I-“

“Give me your right hand and close your eyes.” Silco repeated, glaring into Vander’s eyes.

Vander offered his open hand between them and closed his eyes. He heard Silco take a deep breath before he felt a metal ring slip onto his pinky finger. Vander took in a sharp breath as his eyes shot open.

The familiar mottled colored metal band stuck out against his skin. “This…this was lost in the river that night…” Vander was dumbstruck. He pulled the ring off to check the inside. ‘F S V’ stared back at him. He slipped the ring back onto his finger. “How did you find it?”

Silco looked at the ground between them. “You’re only half correct. You did lose it that night, but not in the river…” Silco took a moment. “When you…when we…when I was struggling…” Silco was having trouble explaining. “The ring slipped off, but it slipped off into my shirt.”

It took Vander a second to put everything together. “You…you had it all along?” Silco nodded. “What changed?”

Silco looked back up at Vander. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve kept the ring safe but hidden. What changed that you decided to give it back to me?”

Silco took a second to respond. “Violet.”

Silco brought up his own right hand and clasped Vander’s in his. It was at that moment that Vander realized that Silco was wearing his ring again.

“Wait, Silco…your ring. You…you took it back from Powder-” Vander’s voice caught in his throat.

Silco flashed a small smile. “Yeah…I did.”

They looked at each other as realization dawned on Vander.

Silco was staying. Silco decided to stay at the bar again.

And returning Vander’s ring…after Vi’s acknowledgment of them being her dads even after learning the truth…

Keeping their right hands intertwined, Vander brought up his left and pulled Silco into a kiss.

Silco did not fight him. Silco leaned into the kiss. Silco let him deepen the kiss. Silco pulled him closer.

Silco chose to forgive himself.

Silco took back his right hand in order to use both to pull off Vander’s shirt. They broke apart only long enough for Vander’s shirt to go over his head. Silco threaded his fingers into Vander’s hair and pulled him back into the kiss. Vander began pawing at Silco’s clothes. First his jacket, then his shirt. Vander was thankful that Silco was wearing a button-down shirt. The shirt barely hit the floor before Vander was unbuttoning Silco’s pants.

Vander desperately tried to toe off his boots but found the lacing was too restrictive for that. He tripped and fell back onto the bed. He was able to brace himself with one arm and stayed upright. Silco had fallen and braced himself against Vander’s chest.

Silco burst out giggling at the actions. Vander couldn’t help but also giggle. Silco stepped back and continued undoing his pants, sliding them off. Vander reached down and swiftly undid the laces so he could pull his boots off, followed by his pants.

Once both were naked, Silco straddled Vander’s lap. He threaded his hands back into Vander’s hair and kissed him deeply. He reacquainted himself with the back of Vander’s teeth.

Vander moaned into the kiss before flipping them, so he was pressing Silco into the mattress. Silco gasped at the sudden action but wasted no time wrapping his legs around Vander.

Vander ground his hips down into Silco, rubbing them both together. Silco moaned, tilting his head back. With the fresh expanse of his neck open to him, Vander leaned down and licked from his collarbone, up his jugular to his ear. A gasp and a shudder rattled through Silco.

Silco clawed at Vander’s back, not quite getting purchase on the taught muscles. Vander nipped gently along Silco’s jaw before capturing his lips in a deep, slow kiss. He ground down again, causing Silco’s mouth to hang open with a low moan. He took the opportunity to take Silco’s lower lip between his teeth and nip gently before diving back in.

Without breaking the kiss, Vander felt for the side table drawer. He fished around for the bottle of lube they had brought back into the bedroom, now that Powder wasn’t trying to take Silco’s things.

Deftly, he poured some onto his fingers and reached down between them. Vander had mapped out Silco’s body multiple times over the years they’ve known each other. Finding his target, Vander sunk a finger in.

Silco twitched at the unannounced intrusion but settled in quickly, locking eyes with Vander.

“Vander…” Silco called softly. Vander could hear the wanting behind Silco’s voice. It was a sound he missed, that he hadn’t heard in over a year.

Their meetings over the past year have all been about needs rather than wants. Silco was letting himself want again.

“Tell me what you need Sil, what you want.” Vander whispered into Silco’s ear as he added another finger.

Silco’s legs twitched against him as Silco gasped, throwing his head back. It was a few moments before Silco could gather himself enough to be coherent.

“I want-I want you to love me…” Silco wrapped his arms around Vander’s neck. “I need you to make love to me…” A tear spilled out of his eye, falling back into his hair.

Vander pulled his fingers out. Silco whined. Vander aligned himself with Silco, peppering kisses to his face. A broad hand settled on the back of Silco’s thigh as the other intertwined with Silco’s hand, pushing it above his head.

“I’ve got you Love…” Vander whispered against Silco’s lips as he slowly, gently pushed in.

He swallowed Silco’s moans with a kiss until he was buried fully inside. Silco broke away to gasp in air, as the motions made him breathless. Vander stayed there for a moment, lazily mouthing against Silco’s collarbone. Silco’s fingers brushed through Vander’s hair, massaging at his scalp.

Silco let himself settle into the touch of Vander. For once, he wasn’t rushing. He wasn’t asking for the pain to punish himself. He rolled his hips lightly to test how he felt. Vander’s teeth caught at his collarbone at the motion, just above the light scarring from the bite in the office.

“Sil…I…I can’t hold back if you do that…”

Silco tugged his hair in response so that they were looking eye to eye. “Then don’t, my love.” Vander rolled his hips unconsciously at the words. Silco’s hand came forward to caress Vanders face. “Ruin me the way I know you can.”

Despite the urge to take and quickly destroy Silco, Vander started slowly rolling his hips. This wasn’t about satisfying a need or an urge. Silco had shown him that he wasn’t going to be running off anywhere afterwards. Vander could take his time and properly wreck Silco.

He watched as Silco’s eyes fluttered closed as his jaw went slack with low moans. Silco’s hand slid back into Vander’s hair.

Vander wanted to stay like this forever, basking in the beauty that was Silco coming undone. As he rolled his hips, slowly pulling out just a little more each time, he could feel the tension leave Silco’s tightly wound frame.

He could feel the leg he wasn’t holding slide down and hook behind his thigh. The leg he was holding, he could feel the muscle slowly relax into Vander’s hold. The hand he held above Silco’s head would periodically clench around his as Silco would remember it was there, holding tightly and not wanting to let go. He could feel Silco arch into his chest, trying to get as close as possible. He could feel the grasp in his hair as Silco tried, and failed, to hold onto the last tether that kept him grounded.

As the hand grasped down his neck, it began clawing for purchase against Vander’s back.

“Van…” Silco pleaded.

Without breaking the slow pace he had set, Vander increased the intensity of his thrusts, sliding out slower but then burying himself faster. He could feel Silco squirm as the climb for both of them was slow but steady.

He could hear the breathless, soft moans, he pulled from Silco with each thrust. He kissed lightly up Silco’s neck and along his jaw.

Silco snapped his head forward, capturing Vander’s lips in a greedy kiss.

“Please…” Silco’s hand slipped forward again to cup his face. “Vander…”

Vander slid the hand holding Silco’s thigh up to settle on Silco’s hip. With a better grip, Vander began thrusting faster at the behest of his lover.

Silco threw his head back as his hand slid down Vander’s neck and rested at the crook of it. His thumb rested at the divot between Vander’s collarbones.

Silco was slowly unraveling as his moans began catching in his throat, his cries becoming stunted as he gasped.

Seeing the ruin he was creating, Vander slowed his thrusts, reangled Silco’s hips and then began a rapid rolling of short, rapid thrusts. The hand that was pinned above their heads began grasping and tugging, trying to get free to hold on to Vander more securely. The hand on Vander’s chest threaded back up into his hair and held on tightly.

“Vander!” Silco cried out. His thighs tightened around Vander’s hips as he arched into Vander’s chest, coming untouched between them.

Vander lasted a few more thrusts before Silco pulled his face to look him in the eye.

“I love you, Vander.”

With those words rushing through him, he thrusted one last time, coming deep within Silco. He leaned in and kissed Silco deeply as he rode out his high. Vander released Silco’s hand that he had been pining above. Silco immediately brought it down to join his other hand in threading through Vander’s hair. Silco languidly kissed back, letting themselves bask in the moment.

Vander brought his arms up to hold his torso above Silco’s as to properly look him in the eye.

“Gods, Sil…I love you so much.” Vander sighed. “I love everything about you.”

Silco looked up at him, a relaxed look to his face that Vander hadn’t seen in years. Vander smiled at the sight before dipping back down for another deep, languid kiss.

The night creeped on. The two held each other as they fell asleep.

The morning would bring sorrow and remembrance. They knew they would be facing each other as they faced the morning and the memories. They still had to face Vi.

But that was beyond tomorrow. For tonight, Silco and Vander were in each other’s arms and that’s all that mattered right here, right now.

Chapter Text

The anniversary came and went without much fanfare. Throughout the day, the people of Zaun slowly made their way to the bridge to pay their respects to the deceased.

Silco tried to stay back and spend the day alone, but Powder practically pulled him out the door. She was 6 now and terrifyingly strong for such a small child. Powder had a habit of walking on Silco’s left side, as if she was acting as his eye. Vi opted to walk beside neither Silco nor Vander, instead walking ahead, leading them to the bridge. Vander hung back from Silco, giving him and Powder the space they needed. Claggor, who didn’t lose anyone close to the battle, hung back with Vander.

Mylo’s backstory was still a mystery. He was found on the streets, breaking and entering for survival. He wouldn’t give details of his parents or family, just opting to say he was orphaned when pressed on the subject.

Although Mylo was appreciative of the lock collection Silco had essentially bribed him with, Mylo was still antagonistic by nature. He seemed to clash a lot with Powder, and therefore with Silco and Vi. If Silco had to guess, he thought the kid may be jealous of the attention the girls, especially Powder, receive. But none of them will truly know unless Mylo opens up about his past.

Silco noted that Mylo opted to stick to his right, almost shadowing beside him. At the memorial, Silco kept an eye on Mylo. He didn’t go to any specific alters, didn’t make contact with anyone passing by.  But Silco could see the pain in his eyes. He could see the glisten of tears welling up, threatening to give everything away. He noticed Mylo’s attempt to stealthily wipe away the tears before they could fall. While Powder left his side to have a moment with Vi, Silco placed a hand on Mylo’s shoulder, saying nothing. He gave him a soft smile and squeezed his shoulder before pulling away. Silco hoped it was enough to convey that he noticed and that he was there for Mylo, but he wasn’t going to press. Mylo didn’t answer in any concrete way, but Silco did notice he stood a little closer, sometimes brushing against his arm as they walked.

Vander and Vi spent a lot of their time talking with passersbys. With Vander, it was condolences exchanged between both parties. With Vi, it was mostly words of relief since many of them had gone to bed not knowing if she was found.

At one point, Powder had begun to get sleepy, and therefore cranky. Silco had sat down against the railing, away from the main alter areas. Powder was sat on his lap, curled into his chest. Claggor was the first to join him, on his left, falling asleep almost immediately against Silco’s shoulder. Eventually, Mylo joined them, on Silco’s right, but sat with his knees pulled up and his arms crossed over them. Eventually, he too fell asleep against Silco’s shoulder.

It truly was a sight to behold. Vander smiled softly at Silco when he had a moment to glance around between passerbys. Silco flushed in response to the soft smile because he knew it all looked so…domestic.

Eventually, Vander and Vi had enough mournful interactions and rejoined the sleeping pod of people. Silco had fallen asleep at some point, with his head leaning on Claggor’s. Vander gently tucked some stray hair back behind Silco’s ear. The action caused Silco to wake. As Silco started nudging the boys awake, Vander pried Powder from Silco’s chest in order to carry her back. Mylo popped up as if no one saw him sleeping on ‘creepy assault grandpa’. Claggor was more in a nap daze and had to rub his eyes before letting Vi help him up. Vander shifted Powder into one arm and helped Silco up with the other.

They made their way back to the Last Drop to prepare for the evening of mourners coming in for a drink.

After the day came to an end, Silco made one last run to get the remainder of his personal effects and to get a supply of the medication he has been using for his eye. Singed was always close enough to get a dose or two at a time. If Singed wasn’t there to personally administer his injection, Sevika would usually help. Staring down a needle is not something Silco thinks anyone enjoyed.

That was the main hiccup in moving back to the bar. He didn’t have Singed and Sevika to assist him, no questions asked. He would have to suck it up and administer it himself or go through the process of getting Vander up to speed.

Silco sighed, leaning against the counter. He let the device clatter against the counter as he gave up, for the nth time, trying to give it himself. It was still early, meaning the kids hadn’t awoken yet. He can probably get Vander to ‘help now, ask questions later’ if he was quick enough. Making his decision, he grabbed the device and left the bathroom.

Vander was at his usual place, making breakfast behind the bar. He looked up when Silco placed the device on the bar.

“Are you going without your eyepatch now?” He inquired.

Silco had forgotten he left it on the bathroom counter. “Not particularly. I’ve been trying to give myself my eye treatment but have not been able to.”

Vander banks what he is cooking so he can give Silco his full attention. He stands opposite Silco on the other side of the bar. “Is that what that is for?”

Silco picks up the device and offers it to Vander. “I have to inject this directly into my eye.”

Vander let out a hiss. “Ouch love, I know you’ve never been good with eye related things.” Vander takes the device from Silco, inspecting it.

“I have to line it up with my eye and pull the trigger.”

“I’m guessing you want help before the ankle biters rise?”

With a stern expression Silco stares back at Vander. Vander smiles. He cups Silco’s right cheek, leaning in for a quick kiss. Silco is a little flushed in the cheeks when he pulls back. Keeping his hand to steady Silco’s face, he aligns the device with Silco’s eye.

Vander counts down. “On 3 okay? 1…2…” Vander pulls the trigger at 2.

Its at that exact moment they both hear a “What are you doing to Uncle Silco!”

The needle hits Silco’s eye and he flinches back, crying out and grabbing his eye. He collapses to the floor, leaning back against the bar, breathing in shaky breaths.

“Silco!” Vander cried as he made his way around the bar.

As Vander kneeled next to Silco, Powder came rushing up and shoved Vander. “Why are you hurting Uncle Silco!”

Caught off guard, Vander falls onto his back.

Silco tried to calm Powder. “Darling it’s ok…he was just helping me with medication.”

Powder puffed. “Medication isn’t supposed to make you scream and fall!”

Vander sat up. “I was about to ask the same thing, Silco. You could have warned me.”

Silco sighed. “Powder, you said you wanted to see my eye when I first came back…seeing my eye would probably help explain the seemingly barbaric treatment I have to do.”

Powder nodded and kneeled in front of him. She reached out and gently pulled Silco’s hand away from his face. He looked down at his lap, not quite wanting to look straight ahead at her.

He heard a faint gasp before 3 sets of feet came running around the bar.

“We heard screaming!” Vi said as she rounded the corner.

All 3 teens came to a screeching halt. Silco had been so surprised by their sudden arrival that he just looked up at them instead of covering his eye again.

Mylo stared wide-eyed, not even trying to hide it. Claggor gasped before clasping his hands against his mouth. He looked sad for Silco. Vi was the most startled. She looked between Silco and Vander.

Powder broke the silence. “Is this why you took so long to come back?” She gently reached out fingers to trace along Silco’s cheek.

Silco’s face softened. He closed his eyes. Much to his surprise, most of his eyelid did heal up. It was mostly scar tissue and it was crude to feel but he could close his eye…mostly.

“We didn’t think my eye would survive.” Silco finally offered up. “There is still an infection inside my eye, it’s resistant to most conventional treatments…” He could feel Powder trace the scars around his eye, up into his hairline.

Vander sighed. “That’s why you need to inject directly into your eye…”

Silco nodded, opening his eyes again, looking up at Powder. “So Vander wasn’t hurting me as you initially thought Powder. I asked him to help me.”

Silence fell upon the bar. Vi had looked away at some point, arms crossed. Silco closed his eyes again.

“If you all won’t mind, I would like to fetch my eyepatch from the bathroom-” Silco began.

Powder brightened up and interrupted. “Oh! Wait! I made you an eyepatch!” She got up and bolted around the bar. Silco and Vander stared after her before looking at each other in confusion. A few moments later, Powder came bounding back with a functional eyepatch covered in classic Powder doodles. “I asked Benzo if he could get me one so I could make it pretty for you!” She offered it out with pride.

Silco smiled. “Thank you, Powder.” He took the eyepatch and affixed it to his face.

He put on a devilish smile and waved his hands in a fanciful fashion. “Well, how do I look?”

Powder beamed and gave him a crushing hug. Silco could hear snickering from Mylo. When he looked up at them, Mylo was trying to hide his laughter behind his hands and Claggor was smiling. Vi shot him a smile but he could tell she felt sour about it.

Her demeanor shifted as she smelled the air. “Vander, is something burning?”

Vander shot up off the floor. “Breakfast!” He yelled as he raced behind the bar to salvage breakfast.

At some point that day, Silco ‘accidentally’ left his original eyepatch within Powder’s reach. He was pleased to then find it fully doodled on.

Chapter Text

The ragtag family of misfits fell into a routine in the following weeks. Vander would run the bar, Silco would run the administrative side of the bar. Mylo worked on his lock-picking task, Claggor would make himself handy around the bar. Vi…well, Vi wasn’t exactly handling the truths about Vander and Silco very well.

She had taken to shadowing Sevika when she was allowed. Vi would still practice fighting with Vander but would generally avoid one-on-one conversations. Silco and Vander have decided to just give Vi time. As long as there wasn’t a drastic change in behavior, they weren’t too concerned. They also didn’t pry into the time Vi spent with Sevika. They both had known her for a long time and if Vi found a friend in Sevika, they would be glad that she isn’t making company with less savory people.

As for Powder, she has been starting to dabble in designing and building creations, as opposed to her normal scribbling on any surface imaginable. Benzo’s kid, Silco eventually found out his name was Ekko, would pop over every once and a while with a box of parts and they would dig through it for hours. Unfortunately, one of their most recent builds ended up having explosive residue in some of the parts and it accidentally blew up one of the bar’s booths. Silco had a long conversation with Benzo about properly checking the materials Ekko brought for Powder. As for Ekko and Powder, Silco had a similarly long conversation on explosive detection and safety. He hadn’t become one of the most skilled Demo men of their generation for nothing.

Silco wondered about how this became his day-to-day after all that had happened. He was restocking the bar while he pondered. Vi had left after breakfast to visit Sevika. She was super excited to go, saying that Sevika was going to cut her hair. Vander and Claggor had gone to pick up materials and supplies for fixing the booth that Powder had accidentally exploded. Powder herself had left at the same time as Vi, going to visit Ekko, since Silco had temporarily banned tinkering in the bar proper, until everything can be fixed up and the two can prove to Silco they understood what he has been teaching them. If they were going to blow something up, might as well be Benzo’s shop.

Silco opened a box and pulled out a new shipment of mixers. He heard light footsteps of the last remaining resident of the bar shuffle in. He heard a soft clunk on the bar, followed by a soft tinkling sound of metal instruments. What surprised him was the defeated sigh Mylo let out as he sat at the bar.

Silco placed the last bottle he was holding and turned to look at Mylo. He was staring, dejected, at the locked box in front of him. Silco walked over to him, pulled out a glass and poured him some juice.

“Getting stuck?” Silco asked as he placed the cup down.

Mylo leaned an elbow on the bar and leaned his head into that hand and looked up at Silco. “I have tried so many different methods and ways to approach this, but I can’t even get an inkling of how this comes apart.” He picks up the juice and takes a sip.

“You know, there’s no shame in asking for help once in a while.” Silco absent mindedly sorted the shelves under the bar in front of him.

Mylo paused. “Is that allowed?”

Silco looked at him, puzzled. “What do you mean ‘is that allowed’?”

Mylo placed his juice back on the bar. “I mean, this whole game with the locks and opening them. Is that allowed or will that disqualify me from the prize at the end? Is determining that any of these locks are unpickable an option?”

Silco chuckled. “Well, firstly, let me assure you that every box I found is pickable with your jumble of tools. I may be conniving but I’m not cruel.” Silco leaned against the bar. “Second of all, my only stipulation was to get the locks open without damaging them. If that means getting assistance when you’re at an impasse, then so be it.”

Mylo stared down at the box. He opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it. He tapped on the bar for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts.

Silco spoke first. “How about you talk me through what you have done and then we can go from there.”

Mylo sat straight up. “Well, from first observation, it isn’t a standard lock style. Upon closer inspection, it isn’t anything like Piltovan locks…it’s also unlike any of the Noxian locks. I then thought the complexities could lend it to being Demacian in origin, but the etching on it is too…fanciful to be Demacian.”

“Too fanciful?” Silco raised his eyebrow.

Mylo gestured at the box. “Ya know, magical and flowy…very not Demacian.”

“You seem to know a lot about lock types from each nation.”

Mylo rubbed the back of his neck. “I had a book growing up of the architecture of Runeterra…it’s what made me interested in locks in the first place…they were all so different but did the same thing…but they did it all differently…”

Silco smiled. “So, you’ve ruled out Piltover, Noxus, and Demacia. Where did you go next?”

Mylo perked up at the prompt. “Well, from the materials alone, I know it isn’t Shuriman or Freljordian. I tried approaches from all 5 of those regions anyway…”

“Oh?” Silco’s curiosity was peaked. “And why would you waste your time doing that when you already deduced it was a design none of them would make?”

Mylo shrugged. “I don’t know, part of me thought there could be a chance someone else combined the mechanism from one region and the façade of another?”

Silco smirked. He knew there were at least 2 boxes from the pile that were exactly that. He had acquired them from a ‘trader’ who now lives in Bilgewater for most of the year.

Mylo saw Silco’s smirk. “So, there are boxes like that!”

Silco put his hands up in mock defeat. “You caught me. I’m not telling you which ones though. Anyway, continue.”

“Well,” Mylo once again looked dejected. “I then tried approaching it from any way I could think of, holding the box in all directions…I even held it upside down and tried picking it that way…Not even a small tink of success…I was about to believe this was of magical origin, but you just confirmed that every box was pickable…”

“Have you tried approaching it as if it were magical in origin?”

Mylo looked puzzled. “Well…no. A lock of magical origin wouldn’t be pickable.”

Silco wagged a finger at him. “Now that’s the kind of closed-minded thinking that gets us nowhere.”

“But if it’s magical, why would they let it be pickable? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of being magical?"

"And there is the lesson. Just because something is of magical origin, doesn’t mean it isn’t pickable. Think of all the ways that magic is conducted. How do some people initiate magic? Not all sorcerers do the same motions or use the same channelers.”

Mylo had opened his mouth to ask a follow up question but was interrupted by the front door slamming open.

“Mr. Silco!” Claggor yelled into the bar.

In the doorway was Claggor, holding up the limp, barely conscious, and very bloodied body of Vander. Silco grabbed the first aid kit and ran around the bar. He dropped the kit on a table as he ran to help Claggor. He grabbed Vander’s other arm and tried to get him into the bar.

“Hey Sil…” Was all Vander said before he fully collapsed onto the floor.

“Claggor what happened!?” Silco rolled Vander onto his back. He took in the pair of slicing wounds that ran across Vander’s chest.

“I…there was a Chem-Baron…Vander-he faced off against him…it all happened so fast…” Claggor was staring wide-eyed at Vander’s wounds.

Silco reached out and grasped Claggor’s arm firmly. “Claggor, everything is going to be ok…Get me the bottle of Under-whiskey, a glass, and a rag. Can you do that?” Claggor swallowed and nodded before getting up and running to the bar. “Mylo!”

Mylo crouched down next to Silco. “Do you know where Sevika’s apartment is?”

“Yeah, Vi stopped by with me once.”

“I need you to get Sevika. And then either you or Vi need to get Benzo. Can you do that?”

“Yes Sir!” Mylo did a mock salute before running out the front door.

Silco leaned over Vander and took his face in his hands. “Van…look at me.” Vander’s eyes fluttered and Silco could feel his head loll to one side. Bruises were beginning to form under his beard and up around his left eye. “Vander…please stay with me.”

Claggor deposited the fetched items on the floor next to Silco before grabbing the first aid kit from the nearby table.

Silco looked up at Claggor. “Remember when I stitched up your arm?” Claggor nodded. “Well, how about we have another go?” Silco poured a small swallow of Under-whiskey into the glass and handed it to Claggor. Claggor hesitated. “It’s just a swallow, not a full glass this time. You’re shaking and I need you to take the edge off.”

Claggor took the glass and drank it. He made a sour face as he handed the glass back to Silco. Silco poured himself a full drink and knocked it back. “Let’s go.”

Claggor opened the first aid kit and found things for Silco as he needed them. Silco cut away the remains of Vander’s shirt to reveal not only the twin slices, but the beginnings of many bruises, possibly some cracked ribs.

“Vander, you fool.” Silco breathed out.

He grabbed the rag and began trying to corral the blood from…well…everywhere. Once he could visualize the depths of the slices, then he could properly address them. Vander hissed when Silco pressed too hard. Silco took that as a positive sign of Vander still being conscious.

“Claggor, I’m going to need you to hold pressure on the wound I’m not actively working on.”

Following direction, Claggor pulled out new bandages and held pressure on the lower of the two slices. Silco began stitching up what he could, pausing every once and a while to check if Vander was still conscious. Silco was almost finished with the first slice when Sevika ran through the doorway, Mylo close behind.

“What the hell happened!?” Sevika stopped short at the sight on the bar floor. Mylo plopped onto one of the chairs, trying to catch his breath.

Silco didn’t stop or look up. “According to Claggor, they ran into a Chem-Baron and Vander decided to play the hero.”

Claggor protested. “I wouldn’t say it like that!”

Silco looked up at Claggor for a second before continuing. “Describe the Chem-Baron to Sevika.”

Claggor looked up at her. “They were fairly tall…black hair, but shaved on the side…lots of tattoos…he had some sort of metal around his jaw-”

“Fuckin Finn” Sevika spat out, interrupting. “How many of his goons did Vander take down?”

Claggor was surprised by the question. “Uh…about 5…before the first slice…then about 6 more maybe? The last guy got the second swipe in as he went down…” Silco motioned for Claggor to finish cleaning and dress the wound Silco finished stitching. Silco began on the second slice. “I’ve never seen Vander that angry before…”

Silco paused his actions. “Vander was enraged?” He looked up at Claggor.

“The Chem-Baron had said something about wishing he had had the chance to find Vi before we did…”

Silco turned to look at Sevika. “WatchDog orders stand.”

Sevika smiled angrily. “Yes boss.” She turned and made her way out of the bar.

Mylo looked after her. “Uh…where is she going?”

Silco resumed stitching up Vander’s remaining wound. “To take care of it.”

Mylo was about to protest until he made eye contact with Claggor, who shook his head ‘no’ at him.

Claggor then spoke. “Hey Mylo, can you get us some more rags from the bar?”

“Uh…yeah…” Mylo did as instructed.

They worked in relative silence for the remainder of Silco’s stitching. Mylo had made himself busy by collecting the bloodied bandages and discarded materials. Eventually, Benzo made his way through the front door, without Vi.

“What did this bloody fool do now?” He walked up behind Silco and didn’t even flinch at the sight of Vander.

Silco answered first. “Squared off with Finn apparently.” He said almost nonchalantly. He finished his last suture.

Silco motioned for Claggor to start dressing the second wound as he leaned over Vander’s face again. “Van…” He tilted Vander’s head towards him. “Are you still with us Van?”

Vander took a deep breath and fluttered his eyes open. “Hey love…” Silco could feel Vander’s hand shift towards his knee, fingers reaching out to brush softly against it. Silco smiled softly and pressed a kiss against Vander’s forehead.

Silco sat back on his heels and looked to Benzo. “Now that he’s stopped bleeding, care to help me get him to bed?”

Claggor stumbled an interruption. “Uh…Benzo? Where’s Vi?”

Benzo went to trade places with Claggor as he answered. “She thought it would be best to send me on ahead and wait to tell Powder about all this.” He reached down and helped Silco heave Vander off the floor. “The wee lass feels just a bit too much at times.”

“Mylo, can you open the door ahead of us?” Silco asked Mylo.

Mylo went ahead of them but seemed puzzled. “How…how can you walk into all of this and just be…ok about it?”

Benzo huffed as he helped Vander stumble his way to the room. “Son, when you’ve lived through hell, nothing phases you anymore.”

Silco called back to Claggor. “Bring the wide bandages please!”

Benzo and Silco slowly lowered Vander to sit on the edge of the bed. Benzo focused on keeping Vander upright while Silco removed the last of his shirt. Silco then went to the bathroom and wet a hand towel before coming back and cleaned off the remainder of blood on Vander’s chest. It was easier to do it when Vander wasn’t actively bleeding.

Silco half-kneeled on the bed next to Vander. He propped up one of Vander’s arms on his shoulder, while Benzo held up his other arm. Claggor handed the bandages to Silco. Silco methodically wrapped the bandages around Vander’s chest, putting light pressure on the stitches to help reduce the oozing.

Benzo addressed the boys. “Mylo or Claggor, could one of you run to my shop and let Vi know that Vander’s patched up?”

Mylo responded first. “I’ll go get them.” He jogged out of the room.

Once Silco was finished applying the wrap, he and Benzo maneuvered Vander to lay back against the pillows.

Once Vander was settled, Benzo corralled Claggor out of the room. “Let’s go get the front of house cleaned up while Silco gets Vander settled, alright?”

Benzo closed the door behind them. Silco made a mental note to thank him later. He sat on the bed next to Vander, legs tucked to the side. His hand was absentmindedly tracing some of the bruising on Vander’s abdomen. Vander let out a hiss when Silco traced too close to his ribs. Silco pulled back his hand. Vander’s eyes fluttered open and looked around until he spotted Silco.

A hand came up and caressed one of Silco’s thighs. “How is Claggor?”

Silco smiled softly and placed a hand on Vander’s forearm. “He’s going to be ok. Practically dragged your half-conscious body here by himself.”

Vander let out a low hum. “I do have to apologize to him later…” He squeezed Silco’s thigh lightly.

Silco brought a hand up to caress the unbruised side of his face and leaned forward to press their foreheads together. “You need to apologize for the heart attack you gave me.”

Vander smiled softly. “I’m sorry love.” He tilted his head up. Silco came down to meet him with a soft kiss.

Vander pulled back suddenly. “Silco, the one who attacked us, Finn…he-”

“Shhhhh” Silco silenced him by running his thumb across his lips. “Claggor told us. I’m taking care of it.”

Vander closed his eyes and pressed a kiss into Silco’s thumb.

The moment was interrupted by the pounding of tiny footsteps up to their room. The door burst open with a shout of “VANDER!”

Powder came bursting into the room and flung herself onto the bed, climbing over Vander’s legs, then up the bed between Vander and Silco, practically pushing Silco off the bed. She nestled herself between his arm and his chest, draping her small arm across Vander’s chest. Vander breathed in sharply.

“Gentle now love.” Vander said softly, bringing the hand that was once on Silco’s thigh to rub against her back. Powder cried softly against Vander’s side.

Silco righted himself after being ejected from the bed and faced the girls. Vi was only just inside the door. He made his way around the bed towards her.

He gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, a tear falling down her face. He brought his hand up to wipe away the tear with his thumb. Vi scrunched up her face but didn’t pull away. Instead, she jerked towards Silco and hugged him, burying her face into his chest. Silco hugged her back. He could feel tears falling onto his shirt, soft shudders as she tried to hold back her tears.

Silco bent his head to whisper in her hair, “He’s going to be alright. I promise.” He stepped back from the hug, holding her face with both hands. “I’ve seen him take much worse and still survive.” He took a moment to study her. “Your hair looks amazing by the way.”

Sevika had indeed cut Vi’s hair. She had taken Vi’s ragged pixie-turned-bob and shaved the left side of her head. She had then layered the remaining hair.

Vi smiled at him. “I mean it Vi, it suits you.”

“What’s this bout Vi’s hair?” Vander called from the bed.

Silco pulled his hands back so Vi could approach Vander’s side.

“I asked Sevika to cut my hair.” Vi replied. She sat gently on the edge of the bed.

Vander reached up and caressed the left side of Vi’s face. “Silco’s right, it does suit you.” Vi smiled.

They then heard a soft “Uncle Silco…” come from Vander’s other side. Powder popped her head up from where it was pressed into Vander’s side. “Is Van really going to be ok?”

Silco smiled softly. “Yes Powder, Vander will pull through. The cuts were very superficial. His ribs will probably take the longest to heal so hug gently!”

Satisfied with his answer, Powder returned her head to its original position and snuggled in close to Vander.

Silco laid a hand on Vi’s shoulder again. “I’m going to make sure the boys are actually cleaning the bar and not making a bigger mess.”

Vi reached up and squeezed his hand before he pulled away.

Silco knew his life would never just be domestic. Shit goes sideways when anything threatens to become domestic. Honestly, Silco wouldn’t have it any other way.

Chapter Text

Having Vander out of the picture temporarily would have been disastrous for the Last Drop. However, they had just hired a new bartender. Unfortunately, he wasn’t supposed to start until tomorrow, leaving Silco to run the bar tonight. Silco will forever be thankful for Benzo, as the man offered to help tonight.

Silco wouldn’t have floundered. No, of course not. He prided himself on being a sly businessman. He could have handled a bar and patrons.

Silco would never admit that the thought of schmoozing with customers made him want to jump off a bridge but that was neither here nor there.

The regulars were quite surprised to see Silco out on the floor with no Vander in sight. At least, they were surprised until word got around that Vander went toe-to-toe with a Chem-Baron, alone, and won. Once the word seemed to make its way around the bar, patrons were hailing Silco or pulling him to the side to offer well wishes for Vander’s recovery. While Silco had been back in the Lanes for some time now, he still found it strange that people who first recoiled when seeing him after the second anniversary were now fondly approaching him.

Mylo had retreated back to the basement with his once-confounding lock. Powder had taken residence in Silco and Vander’s bed for the time being, wanting to make sure Silco was truly telling the truth. Claggor and Vi had stepped up tonight. VI seemed to have taken a hit from the confidence stick with her new haircut and was charged up, running around the bar. Claggor seemed to be running on the high from helping to stabilize Vander.

Silco had just come back from the stockroom after fetching 3 bottles of tequila for Benzo. He rounded the corner and physically ran into a patron, almost dropping the bottles. The patron was quick to wrap an arm around Silco’s back, successfully keeping Silco from falling backwards and keeping the bottle of tequila tucked under his arm from dropping. This motion, however, pulled Silco into their chest.

“Excuse me!” Silco stumbled out once he mentally righted himself.

The patron apologized. “I’m sorry, I came down the hall too fast.” He didn’t remove his hand from Silco’s back.

Silco stared the man down. He was a little bit taller and was somewhere between Silco and Vander in stature. His face was full of stubble and his hair was perfectly quaffed. His eyes were strikingly dark and he was clad in all black, with silver accents.

Silco brought his free arm up and pushed on the patron’s chest with the 3^rd bottle of tequila. “If you wouldn’t mind releasing me, I am no longer in danger of falling over.”

The patron smirked. “Oh, I am sorry.” He released his hold but did so by dragging his hand around Silco’s body slowly. “I was just taken aback by seeing someone like you in a place like this.”

Silco narrowed his eye. “Someone like what?”

The patron, in all his audacity, brought up his hand to Silco’s face. “Someone of your beauty or course-”

Before Silco could even process what the patron was doing, the man EEKed and jumped, pulling back his hand.

“I’m so sorry Sir! I just tripped on the rug.” Claggor’s voice called from behind the patron. The man turned to look at Claggor and Silco could see the man’s back was drenched. Silco then looked to Claggor, who was holding a now empty pitcher, and realized there was no rug.

Silco jumped in before the man could get a word in. “Oh, Claggor! Can you take one of these to Benzo and get some rags to help dry this patron?”

Claggor took the offered bottle of tequila and nodded at Silco. “Yes sir! I’ll be right back.”

After Claggor left, the man turned back to Silco. Silco shrugged, reallocating the bottle from under his arm to his now empty hand. “Kids. They do try their best.”

The man chuckled and ran a hand through his quaffed hair. “I was meaning to cool off anyway, hence why I was rushing through here.” The bathrooms were just beyond the stockroom hallway. “I’m Kiri, by the way”

Silco initially just HMMed in response, before adding, “Well, Kiri, someone like me is in a place like this because I own the damn thing.” He flashed Kiri a shit-eating grin. “Silco.”

Kiri got red in the face and gaped at Silco. Claggor came back with rags. “I am so sorry again sir, I didn’t see the edge had been turned up.”

Kiri composed himself before taking the offered rags. “It’s no problem, I’ll just dry myself off in the bathroom. If you’ll excuse me.”

Silco and Claggor watched the man walk away from them. Once the bathroom door shut behind the man, Claggor took another bottle from Silco. Silco leaned in as they walked back to the bar.

“If you’re going to lie, try to not blame it on a non-existent rug.”

Claggor turned beet red. “I’m sorry Mr. Silco. It was the first thing that popped into my head.”

“And while we are on this topic, why did you put yourself in a position where you needed to lie in the first place?”

They handed off the bottles of tequila to Benzo.

Claggor looked at his shoes. “Well sir…I had a weird…feeling about that man…”

“A feeling?” Silco pried.

“I…uh…was kind of watching him for a while…”

Silco crossed his arms. “Claggor…” His tone warning.

“I noticed he was kind of following you around and constantly watching you…and he looked at you kind of the way Vander looks at you but more like a lion imagining how the gazelle will taste rather than…how Vander looks at you…” Claggor looked up at Silco as he trailed off. He stumbled onward. “And I know you can handle anything but it just made me so mad like, you’re ours and he looked like he wanted to eat you and I panicked?” Claggor’s voice squeaked as he rambled.

Silco stared at Claggor, wide-eyed, for a few moments, before a chuckle snort escaped from Silco. He couldn’t stop himself from laughing.

“Oh, Claggor!” Silco pulled him into a hug. “Please never change.” Claggor hugged him back. Silco pulled away after a moment. “And thank you. I can handle most things, that is true, but it’s a nice feeling when others are watching out for you anyway.” Claggor beamed at Silco’s words. Silco looked sternly at Claggor. “But just make sure to lie better next time.”

“Yes sir!” Claggor nodded before leaving Silco.

Silco couldn’t help but smile after the kid. He chuckled to himself lightly as he rubbed his face, shaking his head.

“What’s got you all giddy?” Benzo questioned as he neared Silco.

In a rare moment, Silco burst out laughing, clutching his side. Benzo gaped at his like Silco grew a second and third head. Silco attempted to compose himself. “I- I just- who knew- I didn’t- did that just happen?” Silco looked at Benzo.

“Did what just happen?” Benzo was still in shock at the laughing Silco.

Silco wiped the laughing tear from his eye. “Claggor just dumped a pitcher of water on a patron because he felt threatened at their attempt to flirt with me.”

Benzo blinked for a moment, processing what Silco just told him. He then burst out in raucous laughter. “That kid has a good heart!” Benzo clapped Silco on the shoulder before heading back to the waiting patrons at the bar.

Silco took this moment to excuse himself from the bar proper and work on paperwork up in the office. He opted for this instead of checking on Vander because well, if he went into their bedroom, Silco wouldn’t want to come back out and there was still work to be done. Besides, Powder would have brought down the bar if anything were to happen to Vander and since the bar was still standing, he wasn’t worried.

Despite his best efforts, his mind kept going back to the interaction from earlier. Other than Vi’s admission that she saw him as her dad and Powder’s obvious favor towards him, he didn’t think the boys truly thought of him as anything more than the weird uncle who appeared, was nice to them, and was in Vander’s good favor.

But Claggor had said ‘you’re ours’. As in, Silco belonged to the group of them, and the patron’s obvious attempt at flirting made Claggor think he would try to take Silco from them. Made him believe it enough to be brazen in a way he didn’t expect from Claggor.

Claggor had essentially just called him family.

Silco’s pen clattered against the desk at the realization. His breath hitched in his throat as he pushed away from the desk. He leaned forward, elbows against his knees, and buried his face into his hands. He tried taking steady, meditative breaths. He felt like his nerves were trying to crawl out of his skin. He quickly got up from the chair and started pacing around the room, trying to shake off the feeling.

He knew he chose to stay. He knew he had begun to forgive himself, to let Vander back in. He knew what it had meant to give Vander back his ring. He knew the girls were going to be a part of his life forever when he toasted to ‘Blisters and Bedrock’ at Felicia’s announcement. He knew…

He stopped his pacing, biting at the inside of his cheek.

He didn’t know how it would feel when the boys started accepting him. Yes, he and Vander were working on forgiving each other. Yes, Vander had taken in the boys while they were working on that forgiveness…

But Claggor was so threatened by flirting? Claggor felt close enough that he was threatened by a stranger who just looked interested in Silco. Claggor had accepted this new ragtag family of misfits to such a degree that he felt protective.

Silco choked out a sob. Silco felt like a fraud, like a charade. He felt like he had been just playing house to satisfy some part of himself, and it began to feel like he wasn’t ready for the reality of what it meant. He wasn’t ready for this. He hadn’t forgiven himself enough for this.

He didn’t deserve this. He hadn’t earned this.

He felt tears well up in his eye. Another sob attempted to escape his throat as he felt tears start to fall. With one arm wrapped around himself and another clasping over his mouth, Silco fought with the urge to break down and scream.

He knew he needed Vander to talk him down from this. But Vander was through a crowded bar, on another floor, bedridden, being protected by their youngest…

Their youngest.

Another sob broke through his defenses as he fell to his knees.

The girls. Felicia’s girls. The girls who knew too much loss for such a young age. The girls who were born into danger from all directions. Even Vi’s stint of running through the Undercity hadn’t gone unnoticed by Finn, be it by the eyes of his own men or by the word from an ‘insider source’.

Growing closer to all of them just put them in more danger. Their lives were increasingly in his hands and the weight of that bore down on him and threatened to break the last pillars that held him aloft.

His head felt fuzzy as he gasped for air. It felt like no matter how much he breathed, he was suffocating. He arched his back in an attempt to fill his lungs more than they would allow. He desperately tried to breath in longer, bigger breaths as he felt like his brain was fading out, much like the feeling of being drowned…but instead of water it was the air that betrayed him. It was withholding the very essence he needed to breathe in.

The room began to spin. He pressed his palms to the floor to try and ground himself, hoping that the four points of contact would help stabilize something. Tears fell from his eye, creating darkened spots on the carpet. His throat silent, for once, as it tried to breathe the air that had no air.

He began to claw at his throat, thinking something, anything, must be stopping the air from reaching his lungs.

He didn’t hear the door click open or the yell of his name. He fought against the hands that pulled his hand from his throat, the hands that tried to grasp at his arms. He felt a mask covering his nose and mouth, a hand at the back of his head holding it on. He desperately tried to claw at it, to pull it away. The hands that held him were stronger than him in this moment. His head started to feel like buzzing as the sensations became less fuzzy until-

“Silco!” Silco’s eye shot open and the panicked face of Sevika stared back at him.

Silco stopped scratching at her hand as he realized what she was trying to do and instead held on. He closed his eye again and just breathed for the first time in what felt like an eternity. He walked himself through meditative breathing, 5 seconds in, 6 seconds out.

He eventually tapped Sevika’s wrist 3 times, index finger, middle finger, index finger. It was their signal that Silco was no longer caught in a panic spiral. With that signal, Sevika pulled away the mask she was holding, but kept her hand at the back of Silco’s head to ground him.

Silco fought the urge to breathe deeply again, staying with the meditative breathing counts. He brought a hand up to rest on the arm that was still holding him. He reopened his eye but instead of looking at Sevika, he opted to look at the ground between them.

“…thank you…” He said after a few seconds. Sevika said nothing but gave the back of his head a light squeeze.

A few more moments passed before Silco tapped Sevika’s arm with the 3-tap signal again. She removed her hand.

“Are you going to be ok?” Sevika asked.

Silco let out a sigh. “Probably…eventually…”

“Sil…” He looked up at her. “Are you sure? That was the worst I’ve ever seen you.”

Silco looked back at the floor. “I probably shouldn’t be alone for a while…”

He could practically hear the smirk on her face. “Yeah, well, you do seem to muck yourself up when left alone.” Silco couldn’t help but smirk at her tone. “Can I ask what set off this glorified implosion?”

He looked up to meet her eyes again. He could feel a single tear roll down his cheek. He attempted to smile. “Claggor had thrown water on a patron who essentially cornered me. When I asked why he said he felt protective because, and I quote, ‘you’re ours’.” His voice broke at the end. Sevika put a hand on his shoulder. “Then, when I realized I was starting to spiral, I realized that Vander was downstairs, through the bar, with ‘our youngest’, and I just imploded. And then-” Silco paused and his eye went wide. “Finn.”

Sevika broke into a grin. “Well, I was just coming to talk to you about that.” Silco let out a sigh of relief, feeling some of the underlying panic dissolving. “I will start with the bad news, Finn himself has gone dark.” Silco felt a pang in his chest. “However. WatchDog orders have been handed out, and the troops have mobilized.” Sevika squeezed Silco’s shoulder. “Finn will be taken care of.” Silco let out another sigh.

Sevika cleared her throat. “In the meantime,” Sevika pulled off her cowl and placed it around Silco’s neck. “You look like someone mauled your neck.”

Silco’s hand shot up to his neck. He could feel 3 linear welts forming down the side of his neck. Silco stared at Sevika.

“When I came in, it looked like you were trying to rip out your own neck.” Sevika pushed her bangs back with a sigh. “For a moment I thought you were generally trying to, until you didn’t respond to me yelling.”

Silco pulled the cowl properly around his neck. “Thank you Sev…again…”

“Benzo tells me that Powder has taken residence in your room with Vander.” She stood up. “Come on, I’ll get the little tyke so you can get yourself properly grounded.” Silco glared at her as he stood up. She swatted at his arm. “I didn’t mean it like that. I know he grounds you by just being there.”

Silco rolls his eyes as they leave the room. He closes and locks the office door. Sevika throws an arm around his neck, letting it dangle off his shoulder.

“You know, a good toss would do your anxiety good.”

Silco ducks out of her arm and shoves her. “Sevika! I just stitched him up this morning!”

She smirks back at him. “And I know how well you stitch people up.” She swats his chest with the back of her hand. “I know those will hold.” She winks at him and walks away.

Silco flushes and growls before following after.

Chapter Text

Benzo had a handle on the bar as Silco and Sevika came down the stairs. Benzo shared a knowing look with the both of them, understanding that Sevika would take over for Silco once she put Powder to bed. They made their way into Silco and Vander’s bedroom.

Powder was once again tucked into Vander’s side, a small arm tossed over his abdomen. Vander was absentmindedly playing with her hair. There were papers covered in doodles everywhere. It looks as though she decided to decorate their room since Vander would be taking it easy for a little while. Well, as easy as Vander would ever take healing.

Vander looked up at them as they entered, a small smile at first, which fell to a look of worry when he saw Silco’s face. Vander could always tell when Silco cried. Silco didn’t do it often and he took plenty of measures to make sure bystanders would never know that he had been crying, but Vander could always see through it.

Sevika came over to the bedside and leaned down to “whisper” into Vander’s ear. “Your boy here just had a one of the worst panic attacks I’ve ever seen and tried to claw out his own throat.”

Silco froze, glaring daggers at Sevika. Vander looked shocked. Sevika didn’t bother waiting for a reply, simply walked around the bed, and pulled the sleeping form of Powder away from Vander.

“Auntie Vika?” Powder slurred out sleepily. Despite the questioning tone, Powder wrapped her arms around Sevika’s neck.

“Your dads have to sleep now. Silco will watch over Vander, ok?”

Powder was very tired and just curled into Sevika’s neck with a quiet, “Goodnght…”

Silco had not taken his angry eye off of Sevika and stared after her when she closed the door. Neither of them said anything. Silco could practically feel the worried gaze of Vander against his back.

“Silco…” Vander started softly. It still made Silco jump.

Silco tried to brush it off. “I don’t know why she said that.” He turned to walk around the bed. “I’m fine.”

“Then take off the cowl.” Vander called him on his bullshit.

Silco stopped and clutched onto the fabric. He took a deep breath before continuing around to the other side of the bed. He sat on the edge, towards the head of the bed, back towards Vander. He could feel Vander reach out to brush his fingers against his thigh. When Silco didn’t flinch away, Vander rested his hand around his thigh.

“Sil…” Vander squeezed his thigh gently. “Talk to me.”

Silco said nothing. He could feel the pillars breaking again at Vander’s touch. Sevika had only stopped the spiraling pitfall of the panic attack, but the cause was still brewing beneath the surface. He let out a shaky breath as he brought his hand to rest upon Vander’s.

Silco figured he would start from the beginning. “A patron tried to flirt with me.”

Vander gave Silco’s thigh a squeeze. “Don’t deflect Silco.”

Silco turned his head towards Vander, even though it was to his left. Silco gave Vander’s hand a light squeeze in return. “For once I’m not. I’m trying to give you context, Van.”

Vander flipped his hand up to properly hold Silco’s hand. “So a patron tried to flirt with you?”

Silco smirked. “He practically ran into me as I was bringing Benzo more tequila. Got a little handsy too.”

“Oh?” Vander ran his thumb softly over the back of Silco’s hand.

“That’s when Claggor spilled an entire pitcher of water on him, and then lied to his face.”

He heard Vander chuckle. “Our Claggor? Lied to a patron?”

“I never said he was good at it.” Silco paused. “I’m pretty sure the patron was too flustered by being caught that he didn’t notice.”

“I’m going to assume you asked Claggor why he did that?” Vander was quick to put the pieces together.

Silco sighed. “That’s what set off my panic attack.”

Vander squeezed Silco’s hand. “Come here, Sil.”

Silco let go of Vander’s hand to take off his boots, followed by his jacket and pants. He paused with a hand on the cowl, before deciding to take it off. He could hear a gasp from Vander.

“That bad, huh?” Silco tried to jest.

“Sevika wasn’t kidding around about it.” Vander answered.

Silco crawled under the sheets, joining Vander in bed. At some point after Silco left Vander to clean up the bar, Vander had gotten the sheets out from under himself and settled in. Silco assumed the girls helped him before Vi rejoined Silco.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Silco that Vander initially attempted to reach for his neck, before Vander stopped himself and realized what he was trying to do. Instead, Vander spread his arm out to the side, letting Silco curl into his side, resting his head on Vander’s shoulder. Vander wrapped his arm around Silco, his fingers tracing random patterns onto Silco’s arm. Silco in turn absentmindedly played with the edges of the bandages around Vander’s chest.

Vander prompted first. “So why did Claggor toss a pitcher of water at this patron?”

Silco waited a moment before responding. “He noticed the patron staring at me like ‘a lion imagining how the gazelle will taste’ and it made him panic…”

Vander thought for a moment, before letting out a huff. “Considering it was Claggor who said it, it’s almost endearing.”

Silco paused before continuing. “He said he panicked because…he said ‘you’re ours’…”

Vander’s fingers stilled against Silco’s arm. “Ah.”

Vander understood the unspoken meaning of those words. Vander had known Silco for decades at this point and understood just how difficult it was for Silco to accept family. He remembered how spooked Silco had been after Felicia told them the news about her pregnancy, how he had to practically peel him off the ceiling. The idea of being connected to someone so emotionally was terrifying for Silco. Vander knew that one of the reasons Silco let himself get so close with Vander was that Vander could easily hold his own. Silco didn’t have to worry about Vander the way he had to worry about the girls. The way he now had to worry about the boys.

Vander leaned his head down and gently placed a kiss to the top of Silco’s hair. Silco shifted onto his elbow so he could lean up and capture Vander’s lips with his own. The arm around Silco dropped down to hold him around his waist. The hand that Silco had on Vander’s chest unconsciously pressed down to help with leverage, earning a hiss from Vander.

Silco pulled back his hand. “I’m sorry!”

Vander brought up his other hand and pulled Silco’s hand back to his chest. “It’s ok love.” Vander stroked the back of Silco’s hand with his thumb.

Silco leaned in for one more languid kiss before settling back into Vander’s side. He brought a leg over Vander’s, nestling it between Vander’s legs and hooking his foot behind Vander’s knee.

A few moments passed, the two of them laying in the silence together, listening to each other’s breathing.

Silco broke the silence. “Thieram starts tomorrow…” Vander hummed in acknowledgment. Silco continued. “It will be a nice change of pace…having to focus on something other than the kids…”

Vander chuckled. “We both know you’re just glad to not have to rely on Benzo to help out behind the bar.”

Silco sits up. “That man does not know how to properly pour drinks! He’s far too heavy handed with the alcohol!” Vander laughs. “Laugh all you want but just know that we literally lose money whenever he tends the bar because he just pours away!”

Vander wraps his hand around Silco’s side and encourages him back down to the bed. Silco obliges, flopping a little aggressively against Vander’s shoulder, earning an ‘oof’ from Vander.

They fall back into silence, their breathing being the only sound in the room.

Vander is the one to break it this time. “The kids are survivors.” Silco says nothing. “They wouldn’t have made it this far if they didn’t have enough fight in them.” Silco hummed in acknowledgment, turning his head to place a kiss into Vander’s shoulder.

This time, they let the silence overtake them. They fell into a restful sleep, holding each other.

Chapter Text

It was the early hours when Silco stirred from sleep. Nothing in particular woke him up. He was still nestled in Vander’s arm. Neither had moved much in their sleep. Silco tried to stretch without jostling Vander too much, so as not to wake him up. Settling back in, Silco’s fingers ghosted across the bandages on Vander’s chest, until he felt a wet spot. Concerned, Silco lifted his head to look. There was a small area of strike though on the bandages, from the first wound he stitched up. Silco assumed that in the flurry of trying to stop the bleeding, he may have missed a spot or two. The pressure wrap did a lot to keep any further bleeding to a minimum, but there was something that still needed fixing.

Silco attempted to get up but found the vice-like grip around his hip dissuasive. Rolling his eyes at the unconscious possessiveness, he scooted up the bed. He reached up and tilted Vander’s head towards him.

“Vander…” He called softly. A deep breath and the hand on his hip momentarily tightening was the only response he got. He gently patted Vander’s cheek and called his name again, a little louder. “Vander.”

Vander grunted before taking in another deep breath, his eyes fluttering open. They darted around the room until they fell on Silco’s face. He smiled softly, tightening his grip on Silco’s hip, consciously this time, and squeezed him close. “Mornin’ love…” Sleep dripped from his voice.

Silco leaned in for a brief kiss. “As much as I would love to stay here and bask in your arms, I need to get some supplies from the bar.” He said as he pulled away.

Vander looked confused. “Supplies? What for?”

Instead of verbally answering, Silco reached a hand down and poked in the center of the strike through on the bandages. Vander hissed as he looked down at where Silco’s hand poked.

“Oh…”

“I’m going to have to patch that up if you have any chance of surviving training Thieram today.”

Vander huffed but released Silco anyway. “We hired Thieram because of his pre-existing skills. Training shouldn’t be that hard.”

Silco shrugged before rolling out of Vander’s space. Since the bar was closed and it was a bit early for the kids to be awakening, Silco didn’t put anything over his boxers and tank top. He made his way out to the bar, picking up the first aid kit, a bottle of Under-whiskey, and two glasses.

He padded back to their room. Vander had taken it upon himself to shift up the bed, resting his back against the wall. He looked winded by the effort. He eyed the bottle under Silco’s arm.

“Isn’t it a little too early for liquor?” Vander raised an eyebrow.

Silco snickered. “Oh, it’s not for me.” He set the whiskey and glasses on the nightstand closest to Vander.

“Oh, you think I need something?” Vander jested.

Silco rolled his eyes as he placed one knee on the bed next to Vander’s hip. “Call it a habit now that the kids are around and getting injured.” He reached over Vander to place the first aid kit on the space Silco had been occupying earlier.

Before Vander could get a hand on Silco’s thigh, Silco stood back up, collected one of the glasses, and strode to the bathroom. He filled it with water, grabbed a rag, and came back to the bed. Once that was deposited on the night stand, Silco placed his knee back on the bed and then swung his other leg over Vander’s legs, straddling him.

As Silco was opening the first aid kit, Silco could feel Vander’s hands on his thighs, slowly making their way up. They stop with fingertips just shy of Silco’s boxers.

“As much as I do love your mits on my thighs, I will need you to lift your arms.” Sico stated as he began to free the loose end of the bandage.

Vander gave him an exaggerated pout and squeezed his thighs before letting go and raising his arms as instructed. He leaned forward when prompted and helped as much as he could in getting off the bandage.

Vander hissed lightly as Silco peeled back the gauze padding that was directly against the wound. Silco decided to just make a pile next to the bed of the soiled materials, which he would collect later. Once the sutured wounds were open to the air, Silco reached over and grabbed the water and rag. He dropped something into the water before dipping in the rag itself. Silco then began to gently clean around the wounds.

Vander tried hard to not hiss whenever Silco ventured too close to a broken rib or deep bruise. Regardless of the pain, it did bring back memories for him. “This brings me back Sil.”

Silco did not pause what he was doing. “Oh? How so?”

Vander rubbed his hands in small circles around Silco’s thighs. “Back when we were full of anger and ignorance. Pulling heists, not caring about what ultimately happened around us.”

A smile tug at Silco’s lips as he picked up a needle, some forceps, and suture material.

“Half the time we’d end up like this at the end of the day with you stitching me up.”

Silco rolled his eyes as he began placing sutures along the wounds where it was lacking. “I honestly started to believe you were being reckless on purpose so you would have an excuse to keep me all to yourself at night.”

Vander didn’t refute the accusation, instead just hummed for a little bit. The sting of the needle didn’t bother him much anymore.

A thought ran through Vander’s mind, and he chuckled. “Do you remember the museum heist?”

Silco, finished with patching up the sutures, began putting away the instruments. “Oh, you mean the heist where I was shot in the ass?”

Vander laughed. “Yeah, that’s the one. You were so adamant that I could NOT stitch you up.” Vander’s right hand slipped under Silco’s boxers to caress the scar they were talking about. It was a linear, jagged scar, that was about 3 inches long just above the crease in Silco’s thigh where it meets his ass.

Silco smacked Vander’s arm playfully. “That’s because I wanted to salvage as much of my beautiful behind as I could. I wouldn’t have been able to handle whatever atrocity you would have been responsible for. Besides,” Silco pressed a sharp finger into a star-burst scar right under Vander’s left collarbone, “You were also healing from being shot here if my memory serves.”

Vander dramatically hisses at the gesture. “That was the one time we couldn’t have angsty, adrenaline fueled sex after a sideways run.”

Silco dramatically rolled his eyes. “You were always such a dog after any run.” He pulled some ointment from the first aid kit and began applying it.

Vander looked shocked at the accusation. “Me? You were always the one trying to climb me like a tree!” He squeezed Silco’s ass for emphasis.

Silco pressed gauze padding to the wounds, a little too aggressively, very much intentionally. “It’s not my fault you’re built like a tree!”

With a hiss, Vander snaked his free hand up Silco’s back, pressing him closer. Silco met with kind and brought his arms around Vander’s neck, bringing their lips together in a heated kiss. Vander squeezed Silco’s ass, earning a moan. Vander chased the moan with his tongue.

They were too engrossed in each other to hear the door click open.

“Vander! Uncle Silco- Whatcha doing?” Powder barged into their room.

Both were startled by Powder’s sudden entrance, turning to stare at Powder. Vander slid his hand down Silco’s thigh to a more respectably public level by his knee.

“Well Powder,” Vander began, very red in the face, “This is what dads do when they’re in lo-” Silco cut Vander off by shoving his open palm over Vander’s mouth, pushing his head back against the wall.

“I was re-dressing his wounds until someone decided to get inappropriate.” Silco, equally red in the face, shot a glare at Vander. “Why are you awake Darling?”

Without skipping a beat and now completely distracted from her initial reasons, Powder bounded up to the bed. “Ooooooo. Can I see?” She reaches for the gauze now obscuring the wounds.

Silco gently stopped her hand. “Not right now Powder, maybe the next time we change the dressing.” She pouted. He squeezed her hand gently. “I ask you again, why are you awake?”

“Oh! Isn’t someone joining us today? I’m so excited to meet them!” She switched back to being excited again.

Vander finally peeled the hand from his face. “That’s right Powder, a new bartender starts today, and he will be lodging with us.”

Her eyes light up enthusiastically. “A new friend!”

“Now Powder,” Silco regained her attention. “Why don’t you wake the others, we will have a family meeting about our new guest over breakfast.”

Powder squealed. “I’ll make Vi make breakfast!” Powder ran out of the room faster than she had entered.

Silco took a moment to sigh before resting his head on Vander’s shoulder. Vander chuckled lightly.

Silco lifted his head, now glaring at Vander. “This is what dads do when they are in love? Really Vander?”

Vander shot back with an equal amount of attitude. “Why don’t you wake the others, we will have a family meeting? Since when do we have family meetings?”

“Since now.” Silco picked up another wide bandage and motioned for Vander to sit up, away from the wall.

Vander opted to not argue with Silco. He was pretty sure Silco was going to lay out rules of conduct with the kids over their new hire, more specifically, since he will be lodging in the spare room. Silco made quick work of the bandage. Securing the free end in place, he gently tapped Vander’s now wrapped chest.

“Since we have now unleashed a tornado on the rest of the kids, why don’t we make ourselves more presentable?” Silco leaned in for a quick kiss.

“We unleashed a tornado?” Vander chuckled as Silco got off the bed. “There was no we in that love, that was all you.”

“It became we the moment we both started wearing our rings again.”

Vander smiled at that, watching Silco make his way around the room, collecting some clothing for Vander, and getting ready for the morning.

Chapter Text

Vander was slow moving as he made his way to the bar. Silco moved alongside him, more for emotional support since, well, if Vander went down, Silco was not catching him.

Three disheveled, sleep-groggy, pre-teens were slumped around the bar with Powder running around with the energy of a nuclear reactor. Vi was, as Powder had promised, starting to make food.

“Vander!”

Powder was excited to see him standing, even though she just saw him not 10 minutes ago. She bounded over and gave him a surprisingly gentle hug. The three heads perked up at their approach, glad to see Vander up and about after yesterday’s events. Claggor walked up first. He looked as if he was about to say something before his eyes welled up with tears.

Vander pulled him into a hug. “It’s ok Claggor, I’m sorry for scaring you yesterday.” Claggor hugged him back, briefly crying into his shirt.

Silco left them to give Vi a hand at making breakfast. Vander and Claggor eventually shuffled their way back to the bar. Vander sat next to Mylo, placing a reassuring hand on his back. Mylo gave back a small smile. Claggor settled on the other side of Vander. Powder eventually climbed her way onto the bar and sat facing Silco and Vi, feet dangling off the edge.

“Hey Uncle Silco.” Powder mused. Silco hummed in response, but didn’t turn around from where he was cooking. “Your hair has gotten sooooo long. Can I braid it?”

Silco realized she was right. He hadn’t cut his hair since the Bridge incident. It was just past his shoulders now.

Vi nudged him with her elbow. “Go on, indulge her. I got this.” She prompted, before yelling out, “Hey Mylo! Get off your ass and help me!”

Silco chuckled as Mylo and Vi began arguing about cooking, Mylo giving in eventually. He came over to the bar and sat at the stool Mylo had just vacated. Powder crawled down the bar and sat on it, just behind Silco.

Vander chuckled at the sight. “Powder, you should put some ribbons and bows in there, make him really pretty for me.” Silco tried to punch him in the side but it came off as a swat at best.

Powder, who had already begun combing through his hair, tugged his hair so that Silco’s head went back so she could look him in the eye. “Can I Uncle Silco!?”

Silco let out a sigh. “If it would make you happy Powder.”

Her face shined as she grinned a toothy smile. She released his hair, scooted back down the bar before hopping off. “Take off your eyepatch while I get some things! It gets in the way of the braiding!” She ran off to her hoard.

She was technically correct. The band that held his eyepatch in place ran through his hair. If he didn’t want it to be braided onto his head, he would have to take it off.

“I guess I should get used to not wearing this again, since it’s no longer an open wound.” Silco said as he began removing the eyepatch.

As he blinked his eyes open, he heard a gasp from Vander. “Sil…”

Spooked by the sudden sound, Silco looked up at Vander, his eyes wide. “What’s wrong?”

Vander made a motion to bring his hand up to caress the scarred side of Silco’s face, remembering himself before he touched Silco. “Your eye, the white is coming back…”

Vi grabbed a silver tray that was reflective and handed it to Silco. He also gasped as he looked at his, somewhat warped, reflection. In a similar way the black had crept towards his iris, white was now creeping out from the iris. The iris itself was still a rich golden orange.

Since the second anniversary, Silco had been forgetting the daily injections Singed had prescribed to him. The headaches that usually preceded the need to inject were becoming less severe and sometimes altogether not present. Since he didn’t want to do the injections anyway, he would always forget without the headaches reminding him.

It had been a few days since the last injection, so Vander hasn’t seen his eye for a few days. Now that his hair is longer again, Silco has been avoiding the mirror since he can just put it up by feel again. He has still been sleeping with the eyepatch on since his eyelid wasn’t a complete closure.

“Why does everyone look shocked?” Powder reappeared with a bag full of goodies and started climbing up onto the bar. She froze when Silco looked up at her. “Your eye…Is…is that a good thing?”

Silco smiled at her. “Yes darling. It means my eye is starting to heal.”

With a gleeful squeal, she attempted to crawl back to her position behind Silco but was stopped by Vi picking her up off the bar and setting her back on the ground.

“That can wait until after we eat Pow-Pow.” Vi tousled Powder’s hair as Powder pouted at her.

“Okay…” Powder huffed out before tossing her bag onto the bar and then running around it to one of the large tables.

When they all ate together, they would gather around a bigger table, rather than sit at the bar. They fell into relative silence as everyone ate. The last bit of sleep grogginess fell away.

Once the food was finished, the kids tried to stealthily sneak away before Vander stopped them. “You think we forgot about the family meeting because of food?”

Mylo and Vi groaned, just wanting to go back to sleep. Claggor and Powder were really the only ones to not try and run. Powder tried to drag Silco back to the bar to braid his hair.

“Hold on now darling. I need you to be paying attention to this as well.” Powder pouted angrily. “I promise that after this meeting, you will have my full attention.” He ruffled her hair as her pout deflated.

“Do we really need a ‘family meeting’ about a new hire?” Mylo stated with his head in his hand. “The bar already has people who work the floor.”

Vander watched as Silco shifted into manager mode. “The difference, Mylo, is that this hire, Thieram, is full time. He is also going to be staying in our spare room until he can find more permanent housing in this district.” Silco sternly glared at the kids. “Do not drive him out. Pranks are to be kept at a minimum, because I know the lot of you will do so even if I try to ban pranking. That means no damage to personal property, no making his room unlivable.”

Silco turned to look Powder in the eyes. “No smoke bombs.” Despite Silco’s serious gaze, Powder giggled at him. “I will be taking your chalks if you do so.” Powder’s face went as serious as Silco's as she frantically nodded in agreement.

Silco looked back at the other three kids. “Do not pester him while he is working. Do not become an obstacle for him to maneuver around. No pranks that will interfere with his ability to work. If he chooses to engage with you outside of working hours, that is his choice.” The three of them stare back, a little scared at how easily he threatened Powder. “Do I make myself clear?”

All three shouted back “Yes Sir!” in unison.

Silco caught the snort that Vander tried to hide. “Any questions?”

Claggor raised his hand sheepishly. Silco nodded to him. “Uh…if you call family meetings, will that involve him?”

Claggor had a point. If Thieram was living there and would be affected by the other inhabitants, he should be part of conversations affecting the bar as a whole. “Family meetings would be us, Bar meetings would include Thieram. How does that sound?”

Claggor nodded.

“Well then, Thieram should be arriving some time in the next few hours. You all have that long to dismantle any rule breaking pranks you have already installed.”

The three oldest shot up and cleared the table. They had the good sense to clean up after cooking since Silco was obviously in a mood. If Silco could straight faced threaten Powder, of all people, they did not want to try their luck.

While they scampered off, Silco turned to Powder. “I do believe I promised you my attention and my hair.” Powder perked up and ran back to the bar, squealing. When Silco got up, he leaned against the table next to Vander. He ran a hand through his hair. “You know Powder, Vander’s hair is getting just long enough to braid. Do you have any extra bows or ribbons for Vander?”

“I grabbed everything just in case!”

Vander whispered to Silco as he stood, with effort. “You’re evil.” Vander pulled Silco into his side, acting as if he was using him as a crutch.

Silco grinned at him. “And you’re heavy.” He poked him in the chest, earning a warning growl from Vander.

Powder called to them impatiently. “Stop being gross and let me braid your hair!”

Vander placed a kiss to Silco’s temple before letting him pull away. Silco hopped onto the stool in front of Powder before patting the stool next to him. Vander was responsible for encouraging this. He was definitely going to reap what he sowed. Also because Silco knew that Vander wouldn’t dare take out the ribbons or bows until he went to sleep, after training Thieram all evening.

Vander watched Powder separate Silco’s hair into two and began French braiding. She would tie in various ribbons as she went. She seemed to really know what she was doing.

“Pow-Pow,” Vander began, “When did you learn to do that?”

Without pausing, Powder responded, “Auntie Sevika’s been teaching me.” She finished braiding the left half of Silco’s head with a bow tied at the end. She scooted over a little bit to have better access to the other half of Silco’s head.

Silco hummed. “I will say, you’re being awfully gentle. I do appreciate it.”

“Your hair is easy.” Powder stated. “It doesn’t catch on itself like Vi’s and mine does.”

Vander laughed at that. “He does have silky smooth hair doesn’t he?”

Vander was sitting to Silco’s left so Silco had to turn his head to glare at Vander. He didn’t get very far since Powder grabbed his head with both hands and turned it back facing forward.

“Please hold still!” She huffed.

Vander laughed heartily. A pair of voices arguing caught his attention. Hushed phrases of “you go” and “no, you go” filtered out from the basement door. He looked up to see both Mylo and Vi trying to shove each other towards the stairs that lead up to the second floor, where the spare room was, just beyond the office.

“And what might you two be up to?” Vander called out in jest, knowing full well what they were up to.

The two stilled, looking up at Vander like deer in a headlight.

Powder absentmindedly ratted them out. “They’re probably going to dismantle the prank in Thieram’s room.” She didn’t even pause her braiding.

“Powder!” Vi scolded.

Powder responded, matter of factly, “Uncle Sil did tell us to dismantle any rule breaking pranks.”

Silco couldn’t help but laugh. “You know that includes you too Powder.”

He felt her hands still for the briefest of moments. Silco knew he would have not noticed had her hands not been in his hair. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She sounded so innocent.

Silco smirked. He figured he’ll tell her to dismantle the paint bomb in the guest bathroom after she braids Vander’s hair.

Vander called to the other two. “Well, go on then, both of you.”

They squeaked before scrambling up the stairs. Vander leaned against the bar, head in hand and watched as Powder finished the right side of Silco’s head. She clapped both hands onto Silco’s shoulders “All done!”

Silco turned to Vander and gave him a look. “Well, how do I look?” Silco knew what he was doing, knew that Powder couldn’t see his face, and definitely knew she could see Vander’s.

He could see Vander swallow before trying to speak, noting the hint of a blush on his cheeks, before Vander gave Silco his own look. “Stunning.” Vander growled out eventually. He looked up at Powder and asked, “You have so much more orange ribbons. Why did you change colors?”

“Because,” Powder grabbed Silco’s head by the temples and tilted his head back so she could see his eyes. “Silco’s left eye is orange and his right eye is blue. I wanted his hair to match.” Silco looked shocked. She smiled softly at Silco and placed an exaggerated kiss to his forehead before letting him go. “Here!” she reached into her bag, pulled out a small hand mirror, and handed it to Silco.

Silco looked at his reflection, properly this time. He hadn’t looked at his face properly in quite a while. The scars were not as stark against his skin. The sclera of his left eye was a strange blooming flower of white around the rich orange iris. He tilted his head down so he could see the braiding. Powder had indeed tied rich orange ribbons into the left half of his head. The right half had an assortment of blue hues.

Powder noticed him inspecting the blue ribbons. “I didn’t have a blue that properly matched, so I used an assortment- Uncle Silco why are you crying?”

Silco didn’t realize tears had slipped from his eyes until Powder pointed it out. She reached out a hand and wiped away the tears from the scars. He felt Vander slip a hand onto his knee and squeeze gently. He placed the mirror on the bar and wiped away the errant tears from the rest of his face.

He tried to smile at Powder. “It’s beautiful Powder. I-” He felt another tear fall. “I guess a part of me was afraid you would be scared of my eye and scars…” Powder reached out and pulled Silco into a tight hug around his neck.

She pulled back. “It was a shock at first, since you didn’t have them before, but you have them now and that’s just you.” Powder was one to speak her mind fully, without sugar coating, without second guessing.

Silco smiled at her, a true, honest smile this time. He reached up and cupped her face. “Thank you, Powder.”

She smiled brightly, before turning to Vander. “Your turn!”

Silco laughed as Powder scooted down the bar to be closer to Vander. Even with Powder being elevated on the bar, Vander was still taller. She seemed to take a second to process this before standing on the bar to assess his hair.

“Turn please.” She grabbed the sides of Vander’s head and turned him without waiting for him to do so first. Vander looked surprised as he glanced to Silco for help.

Silco ignored his look in favor of looking through Powder’s bag. There were mostly solid-colored ribbons but also some charms and dangles that he and Sevika had picked up while traveling around for business. Silco mostly brought Powder back art supplies but occasionally, he would see a bauble or two that made him think of her so he would bring that back too.

Powder grumbled. “I can’t do the pretty braid on you like I could on Uncle Sil. Your hair is too short.”

Silco offered a recommendation. “How about some free braids with clips like these on them?” He pulled out an assortment of cartoon dog clips. Sevika had made it a habit to pick up any hair thing that involved a cartoon dog since she thought it humorously appropriate for the daughter of the Hound of the Underground.

Powder looked over and beamed with delight. “That’s a great idea!”

Vander turned to look at what Silco had pulled out while Powder was distracted. He glared at Silco who just smiled in return.

“I’ll even help by passing them to you when you need them. How does that sound?”

Vander was once again startled by Powder tugging on his hair and setting his head straight. “Where did you get those?” He asked, not recognizing the accessories.

“Auntie Sevika got them for me!” Powder was so pleased with her collection.

“Oh, she did? When did she get those?” He asked, trying to glare at Silco, who just chuckled as he handed one to Powder.

“Since Uncle Sil came back.” She sounded almost exasperated because duh.

Vander just rolled his eyes and settled into his fate. Silence fell between them as Powder would occasionally order another something from Silco. At one point, Powder seemed to try and turn Vander on the stool, but he had settled back onto the bar, with his elbows out on either side of him.

With a huff, Powder demanded, “Turn please!”

He turned on the stool to face her. She crossed her arms and seemed to be studying her work, debating if there was something else she wanted to add. He could see her eyes trace down his face, probably at the bruising that was settling down the left side of his face. She kneeled down on the counter and started rooting through a pocket on her bag. She pulled out what she was looking for and quickly, but gently, applied it to Vander’s cheek. He heard Silco snort beside him.

Powder proudly handed him the hand mirror. The first thing Vander noticed was the heart sticker that Powder had lovingly placed on his bruised cheek. He chuckled, shaking his head. He then ducked his head to assess the damage that was his hair. Little cartoon dogs littered his head around a handful of little braids. He chuckled at the ones that looked like the dog was biting onto his braids.

He pointed at one of them. “These are definitely my favorite.” Powder beamed.

Silco chuckled. “They are my favorite too.” He playfully reached up and tugged at a bit of Vander’s beard. “You should grow out your beard so she can braid that too.”

Before Powder could react, Vander answered with a glare. “Not on your life.”

Powder reached for her bag while she thought Silco was distracted. Silco’s hand came down and grabbed the bag as she did. Silco slowly turned and locked eyes with Powder. Vander was very confused at the interaction. The two glared at each other in a standoff, a silent negotiation was happening between the two. He noticed Powder tug experimentally at the bag and Silco responding by clenching his grip. As he was about to ask what was going on, Powder let go with a pout.

“I’ll be right back.” She hopped off the bar and ran up the stairs.

Vander gaped after her. Silco gently pat his chin, closing his mouth. “You’ll have a nest in there if you leave it open too long.” Silco jested as he slid off the stool.

Vander caught him by the waist and pulled him in. “Are you going to explain what the hell that just was?”

Silco chuckled, leaning into Vander’s chest, settling between his legs. “Powder set up a paint bomb in Thieram’s shower. That was her trying to call my bluff.”

“But you weren’t bluffing.”

A wicked smile stretched across Silco’s face. “And that is what she just figured out.”

They got lost in each other’s eyes for a moment, Vander taking the opportunity to see Silco’s face free from the eyepatch. He brought up a hand to caress Silco’s un-scarred cheek. Silco’s smile softened as he leaned into the touch.

“Janna, I love you.” Vander breathed out before leaning in for a kiss.

The kiss, already chaste, was interrupted by the sound of “Mylo!” and then the sound of 2 bodies hitting the floor and an armful of stuff clattering away and down the stairs. Vander and Silco look up to see Vi shove Mylo from where they both lay on the floor, various prank supplies still making their way down the stairs.

“Why did you stop so suddenly!?” Vi hissed.

Mylo just gaped at her and gestured towards the two at the bar. Vi turned to see Vander and Silco standing very close to one another at the bar, staring up at them.

Powder hummed as she skipped by them, holding her own equipment. “That’s just Vander being inappropriate again.”

Silco snorted at her emphasis on ‘inappropriate’ and pulled away from Vander. Vander looked offended that that was what Powder took away from this morning.

Vi squeaked, “Again!?” and watched as Powder skipped down the stairs seemingly completely unaffected by the affection that Silco and Vander were just showing each other.

Powder continued to ignore everyone, collected her bag and the hand mirror from the bar and continued to the basement door.

Chapter Text

Thieram faltered as he approached the Last Drop. While he hadn’t known Silco or Vander personally, he had heard the stories about them. Vander wasn’t as scary as Silco, but getting the reputation of the Hound of the Underground came from somewhere. And Silco, well, Silco was a shadow. The fact that he knows less about Silco and the fact that he disappeared right after the Battle of the Bridge, was gone for over a year, and then reappeared with scarring all over his face…he didn’t know if he wanted the full story.

The opportunity to work at the Last Drop though. That would give him so much. The fact that they offered him lodging for the beginning of his employment helped ease the transition. He grew up in the Crags, a deeper district, far past the Lanes. And the pay wasn’t bad either. He could easily save up enough to get a decent apartment somewhere in, or just on the edge of the Lanes in no time.

Thieram clutched the strap of his duffle bag as if it would give him strength, just before entering the Last Drop. The sight he walked into was…well…odd? Silco was sitting at the bar, ribbons in his hair. He was laughing at something Vander said. Vander was behind the bar…were those cartoon dogs and braids in his hair? Was that…bruising down the one side of his face? With a heart sticker? His eyes flicked around the bar. There was a sheet haphazardly blocking a booth in the corner that seemed to be…demolished!? They hadn’t seen him yet, maybe he could still walk away-

“Thieram!” Vander yelled boisterously.

They seemed to notice his surprised jump at their acknowledgment. Silco was quick on his feet. “Come in, come in! Don’t be shy!” Silco threw an arm over his shoulder and ushered him towards the bar. “Have a seat, you look a bit confused.”

Thieram flushed at being discovered. “Uh…just a little…” He scanned around the bar again, looking towards the destroyed booth.

“Don’t mind the booth over there.” Vander placed a glass in front of him, pulling his attention back. “Powder had a bit of a mishap.”

“Powder is our youngest.” Silco provided when Vander did not elaborate. He patted Thieram on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I banned anymore tinkering within the bar so you shouldn’t have to deal with that.”

“So Thieram,” Vander asked, “What’s your poison of choice?”

“Uh…” It was a lot to take in at once. “Wh-whiskey?”

Vander chuckled. “You sure about that?”

Thieram took a deep breath. “Yes sir…Under-whiskey to be exact. There’s a kind of a nostalgic comfort to it that other brews don’t have.”

Vander smiled. He took out a bottle from under the bar and poured some into the glass in front of Thieram.

Thieram took a sip, needing something to steal his nerves. The taste surprised him. There was a hint of ash in the undertones. “Is this a Crag brew?”

Silco smirked at Vander. “I told you he knew his whiskey.” He took a sip from his own glass.

“We try to carry something from each district if we can, well, at least recently. Silco has been doing a lot of leg work to acquire partnerships with distillers around the Undercity.” Vander explained. “Mainly since the Lanes acts as a hub for a lot of the deeper districts.”

Thieram was feeling bolder. “Can I ask one thing?”

“Sure.” Vander responded.

“Can I ask…what happened?” Thieram gestured to the left side of his own face.

“Ah. Yes, well…” Vander knew he was asking about the bruising. “Was getting supplies to fix that mess over there when a dumb Chem-Baron decided to try his luck.”

“Don’t let Vander’s bravado fool you.” Silco interjected. “He’s being held together by stitches right now and probably has a handful of broken ribs so he should not be on his feet for too long.”

“Now Sil-” Vander was interrupted by Silco reaching over and poking him hard in the chest. Vander had to brace himself against the bar as he caught his breath.

“We’ll both be out on the floor so don’t think of tonight as being thrown to the wolves. Vander is just not allowed to do any heavy lifting.” Silco casually sipped his drink as if he didn’t just stab Vander’s wounds with his finger.

“You didn’t have to poke so hard love…” Vander pulled over a stool that was behind the bar and finally sat down.

“I had to prove a point.” Silco said before turning to Thieram. “Now, we’ll get back to bar related business in a moment. I do want to warn you about the kids.”

Thieram had seen some of the kids helping out in the bar when he interviewed with Silco and Vander. He knew from various sources that there were four kids who called the Last Drop their home.

Vander started. “They have a tendency for…pranks.”

Thieram chuckled. “I had an older brother, so I’m used to pranks.”

Silco tutted at him and waved a finger. “These kids, for some reason, like to test my patience. I already had to get them to dismantle the pranks they set up in your room." The smile fell from Thieram’s face. “I have since laid out ground rules with them. I cannot guarantee they will leave you alone, but they should mostly stay out of your way.”

“They’re good kids,” Vander added, “They just get carried away sometimes.”

Silco continued, “If they ever give you a problem or cross the line, let me know and I will handle them accordingly.”

Thieram nodded.

“We can get into more about the bar itself later,” Vander offered, “How about you get yourself settled for now?”

“Ah yes, come on then.” Silco hopped off his stool and motioned for Thieram to follow.

Thieram finished the last of his whiskey and followed Silco.

Thieram settled into the bar with ease. Once he was behind the bar, it was like he was in his natural habitat. Many of the regulars had heard that a new bartender was starting tonight and decided to put him through his paces. Thankfully, Vander was there to help out with colloquial drink names and where things were actually stocked. Silco played businessman as he flitted around the bar. He received a lot of complements from the more stylish patrons over his hair ribbons.

At one point, he was leaning against the bar, chatting with Vander and Thieram during a lull. Vi had just brought a tray of empty glasses back for cleaning. Silco felt a large hand fall gently against his mid back, just under the hem of his cropped jacket. He didn’t turn, just casually watched out of the corner of his good eye as the owner leaned into view.

“Do you by chance carry Demacian Whiskey?” It was Kiri, the man that Claggor felt threatened by yesterday.

Thieram looked to Vander, unsure of the answer.

“We do try to keep at least one bottle in stock.” Vander reached up to one of the higher shelves, retrieving a bottle. “Not very popular in the Undercity though.”

While Vander was distracted, Silco brought his drink to his lips and whispered, just loud enough for Kiri to hear. “Mind your hand, lest you find a dagger in your gut.” Silco took a sip. He didn’t notice that Vi had noticed the gesture and what Silco had threatened before she went back to the floor.

The hand slipped off his back without any further acknowledgment from Kiri. While Vander was teaching Thieram how to serve and enjoy Demacian whiskey, Kiri leaned on the counter to look at Silco. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Are you always this brazen?” Silco kept his head forward but shifted his eye to look at Kiri.

Kiri chuckled but did not formally answer. Thieram placed the shot in front of Kiri. He picked up the glass and paused. “Would you enjoy one with me?”

Silco turned to look at Kiri properly. He made no effort to hide the fact that he was sizing him up. “Sure. Why not. Vander, if you please.”

Vander’s gaze flicked between the patron and Silco. Silco could see the gears turning as he put the pieces together. Thieram went to pick up another shot glass, but Vander stopped him. He motioned for Thieram to move on to other patrons.

While Silco did enjoy Demacian whiskey, Vander knew he didn’t always trust when he was served one. Not since Silco had been drugged while being served one when they were younger. They developed a system. Vander would take a glass, rinse it out in front of Silco and place it upside down on a napkin on the counter. This let Silco wipe it out himself, confident that nothing would be contaminating the glass.

Silco held out the glass when he was finished for Vander to pour into.

“Interesting.” Kiri noted.

“Well, you wanted to drink with me.” Silco held up his shot glass.

Kiri clinked their glasses and they both took down the shot, neither breaking eye contact. After swallowing, Silco let his eye fall shut as he breathed in the vapors. He tilted his head back, enjoying the feeling of the vapors filling his lungs and sending tingles throughout his chest. He opened his eye as he breathed out, making eye contact with Vander.

Vander leaned against the bar, leaning into Silco’s space. “It’s been a while since you’ve enjoyed one of those love.” Silco knew it was all for show.

Silco blew a breath into Vander’s face, knowing a hint of the vapors would push into Vander’s space. Vander smiled before turning to Kiri. “Haven’t seen you around these parts before. Not often we get someone asking for Demacian whiskey.”

Kiri seemed unphased by the obvious flirting between the two. “Not quite new. I travel, so I don’t often have time to enjoy the hometown delights.” He turned his attention to Silco when he said ‘hometown delights’.

Silco finished his original drink. He placed the empty glass in front of Vander. “I’m going to take a turn around the room.”

“Don’t get lost.” Vander said with a wink. He observed Kiri cataloguing Silco’s departure.

“So, Mr. Not-Quite-New, what brought you back to town?” Vander brought Kiri’s attention back to him.

Kiri looked back to him with a light frown. “I’m in between jobs. Thought I could take a moment to enjoy what home had to offer.”

Vander pointed to the glass in front of Kiri. “Another? Or something else?”

Kiri seemed to think about it. “Another, then a glass of…surprise me.”

Vander poured another shot of Demacian Whiskey. While Kiri shot that back, Vander poured a glass of the Crag district whiskey.

“Name for the tab?” Vander asked as he set down the drink.

“Kiri.” Kiri picked up the glass and stepped away from the bar.

The night went on rather uneventfully. Silco found himself at the edge of the dance floor, stuck in a conversation with a couple of Babbette’s girls. They were drunkenly complimenting Silco’s hair, adoring that it was his daughter who put them there. Finding an escape point in the conversation, he made an excuse to leave.

“If you’ll both excuse me, Vander is trying to get my attention.”

“Oh, go get your man!” and “I’m so jealous.” were their simultaneous, drunken responses.

No sooner had he stepped away had he been swept up into a swirling embrace and pulled into the middle of the dance floor. In surprise, he grasped onto the form in front of him. Once he got his bearings, he realized that Kiri had grasped him by the hip and swirled them into the middle of the throng of people. Kiri was holding him close with a hand on his mid back, the other hand on his hip with his thumb tucked into the waistband, one knee brazenly pushed forward between Silco’s. Kiri tucked his face into Silco’s neck.

“Care for a dance?”

Silco was stunned by the audacity. He was also impressed by the coordination of the stranger, but mostly in awe of the sheer fucking hubris of a stranger thinking they could touch him like that even after Silco threatened them with a knife.

Silco was so caught off guard, he didn’t realize Kiri leaned in to kiss him until their lips met. Silco tried to push against him but the man was stronger than he looked.

Before Silco could resort to his next line of defense, biting, Kiri was pulled off of him.

Vi had grabbed the man by the back of his collar and pulled sharply, causing the man to gasp and claw at his neck.

“Don’t touch my dad!” She yelled before punching him square in the nose.

“Vi!” Silco heard Vander yell from the bar.

Silco stared down at Kiri, now bent over on the ground as blood poured from his nose.

Vander made it to the edge of the crowd. “Vi! Silco! What the hell happened!?”

Silco reached up and wiped the remains of Kiri’s spit from his lips with his thumb. “He fucked around and found out apparently.”

Vi turned to Silco. “Are…are you ok? I saw him kiss you and I just…I just panicked…”

Vander looked between Silco and Vi. “Wait, he…he kissed you!?” Vander’s expression turned to rage as he turned to stalk towards Kiri, who was now attempting to stand up.

Silco rushed forward and stood in front of Vander. “Vander, you’re injured.” Vander tried to keep walking, Silco put a firm hand on his chest as a warning. “Do not start a fight.” Vander stopped walking but growled.

Vi stalked up to Kiri. “I’m not injured.” She decked him in the face again, sending him stumbling back into a table. She stalked forward again, grabbing Kiri by the collar.

“Violet!” Silco yelled, turning from Vander with his hand still holding him at bay.

She stilled her raised fist. The bar patrons were silent.

“Violet, let go of him.” Silco ordered. She hesitated. “I believe he’s learned his lesson this time.”

Kiri put up his hands in surrender. With a growl, Vi lowered her fist. She released him with a shove before stepping back. Kiri regained his footing and stood tall. He gazed up at Silco. Kiri’s expression was hard to read, his eyes dark. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small bag. He tossed it to Vi, not breaking eye contact with Silco. Kiri straightened his shirt before turning and leaving the bar.

The door slammed behind Kiri. A moment passed before patrons started up conversations around the bar. Eventually, everyone seemed to return their attention to each other, even if they were still talking about what had just happened.

Vi turned and walked towards Silco and Vander. Silco was looking down at the ground.

Vander brought up a hand to Silco’s. “Sil-”

“Go back to the bar.” Silco interrupted, pulling his hand away. “We can’t leave Thieram alone, not yet.”

Vander stepped into Silco’s space and put a hand on his arm. “Silco-”

Silco pulled his arm from Vander. “Please…” There was a tremor in Silco’s voice as he looked up to meet Vander’s eyes. Vander recognized the look in Silco’s eye. It said not now.

Vi stepped in close, handing Vander the bag. “It feels like coins. I think he wanted to at least settle his tab.”

Vander took the bag. He placed a brief hand on Silco’s shoulder before turning away towards the bar.

Vi stood there and said nothing to Silco. She understood that he had just turned away Vander’s offer of consolation. The rage Vander had spiraled so quickly into at someone simply kissing Silco…Vi knew there had to be something else, something deeper.

She ventured a small question. “Are you going to be ok?”

Silco huffed at the phrasing. “I need a moment, Vi. You should take one too. Get some fresh air.”

Vi understood. She hugged Silco briefly. “I’ll be on the roof.” She said as she pulled away.

Silco made his way through the crowd towards his room.

Chapter Text

Vi sat on the roof, flexing her hand. Vander trained her well enough that she didn’t injure it, but a human face is a lot harder than a punching bag. She stared off into the Undercity, taking in the sounds around her. People walked by on the streets below. The world kept going, as if the events that just took place didn’t happen.

She doesn’t know how long she was up there alone when she heard the door open. She could tell it was Silco by his footsteps. He sat down on the edge, back against the railing, facing Vi. His left leg dangled off the edge. He pulled out a cigar and lit it, blowing the smoke upwards above them. Silco just sat in the moment, eye closed, breathing in the cigar and taking in the sounds of the Undercity.

Vi eventually broke the silence. “What made you come back?”

Silco opened his eye and looked at Vi. “Pardon?”

She shifted, continuing to stare off into the Undercity. “After Vander…after what he did to you, what made you come back?”

Silco’s eye widened as he realized she was asking about that. He took a long drag of his cigar and thought before he answered. Holding his cigar in his mouth, Silco reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. He handed it to Vi.

“What’s this?” Vi took the paper and unfolded it. It was Vander’s letter to Silco, the one he had found in their hideout. She read it silently. “Blisters and Bedrock?” She looked up at Silco.

“It came from something your mother said. When she told us she was pregnant with you, Felicia said she wasn’t afraid because we would figure this Zaun thing out. She didn’t care if we had to carve it out of the bedrock, covered in blisters.” Silco took another long drag from his cigar. “Vander and I used the shortened phrase as a reminder of why we were doing what we did.”

Silco looked out over the city. “When you spearhead a revolution, you understand there are risks, but actually seeing those risks become reality, it can destroy you in a second.”

Vi carefully refolded the note and handed it back to Silco. He took it and pocketed it back into his jacket.

“When Felicia and Connel became the price of revolution…Well, Vander saw it as too much of a risk. At the time, it drove me further. I tried to talk him into escalating, to make sure their deaths weren’t in vain, to make the pain mean something.” Vi kept looking at Silco. “Vander took that as a threat to your safety.”

Vi looked away and took a moment. “The note alone doesn’t seem like enough to bring you back.”

Silco chuckled. “You’re not wrong. If I had just found the note, I would have just gone about my business, stayed bitter and brooding. But Vander found me when I found the note. Something brought us to the same place, at the same moment.” Silco sighed. “In the end, it was you and Powder that tipped the scales.”

“Us?” Vi looked up at Silco, eyes wide.

“I primarily came back for you two, because we had made a promise to Felicia. That we would always be there for her girls, no matter what…and then my defenses fell and I remembered why I fell in love with Vander in the first place.”

Vi seemed to be thinking through what Silco had just said. “Right after I came back, you and Vander seemed…different.”

Silco mused over the statement. “When you ran away, because of what we were so caught up in…it kind of shoved us out of our own bullshit.” He held up his right hand, as if to inspect the ring he wore. “That’s when I decided to take my ring back from Powder. I made the choice to put you and her and even the boys above my own nonsense.”

Vi pulled out the necklace with Felicia’s ring on it. A moment sat between them.

“And when Vander said you called us your dads…” Silco trailed off. Vi looked up at Silco. He was staring off into the Undercity. “That’s when I gave him back his ring.”

Vi’s eyes went wide. “Wait…gave him back…Vander said he lost it in the river…he…” Vi seemed to be putting together what she remembered hearing Vander yell.

I grabbed you by the throat.

Silco looked down at the roof they were sitting on. “During the struggle, it had come off, but instead of sinking into the river, never to be seen again, it fell down my shirt.” He took one last drag from his cigar before putting it out on the roof. He didn’t try and stop the tear that fell from his eye. “I gave it back to Vander because despite everything we had done, everything you heard and learned…you still called us your dads-”

Silco was cut off by Vi lurching forward and reaching around him for a hug. She sprawled across the roof, between Silco’s legs and burrowed her face into Silco’s chest. She sobbed into the soft fabric. Silco hugged her close, threading the fingers of one hand into her hair.

He said nothing. He just held her close. He rocked her a little bit, humming a childhood song Felicia used to sing to them. He let Vi cry it out into his chest. They sat like that for what seemed like forever, until Vi stopped crying.

Eventually, Vi gave Silco one last squeeze before sitting up. She didn’t shift back to where she was. She sat there with Silco’s right knee against her back, her legs dangling off the edge, playfully jostling Silco’s dangling leg.

She sniffed. “It’s kind of adorable how Vander is so fiercely protective of you.”

Silco had to laugh at that. “That is Vander’s base nature. The day we met he saved me from being crushed in a cave in.”

She giggled. “That sounds like our Vander.” She quieted for a moment. “That was quite a rage he spun into when I said the man had kissed you…”

Ah. Vi was staring off into the Undercity. Silco heard the question in the statement.

“That…” Silco sighed. “That may be a little harder to explain…” Silco thought for a moment. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to explain that. Vander just sort of picked up on context clues over the years…”

Vi looked up at Silco. “Did something…happen to you?”

Silco shook his head. “Not specifically, not in the way you’re implying…at least, not in regard to the root reason…” Silco trailed off momentarily. “The best summation of it would probably be about trust.”

Vi continued to listen. “My mouth is a weapon; one I learned to brandish at a very young age. In times of being physically incapable of defending myself, I could always find a way to use it. I learned to command crowds, lead people, cut deeper and more viciously than any knife could. I don’t handle being silenced. Choosing to let someone kiss me, it was equivalent to sheathing a dagger…to disarming myself.” Silco chuckled. “I definitely was more volatile about it in my youth. I’ve bitten far too many cheeky individuals.”

Vi giggled. She sighed. “That would explain why we never caught you and Vander kissing before I ran away.”

Silco smiled and flushed. “You would be correct. As much as Vander disliked it, he always respected that boundary with me.” Silco chuckled at the memories. “It took a year and a half of us being…intimate…before I let him kiss me for the first time.”

Vi gaped at Silco. “A year and a half!?” She chuckled and looked back out over the Undercity. "Janna, if I liked someone that much, the first thing I would want to do is kiss them…”

“Oh.” Silco mused. “Is there someone you like that much?”

Vi flushed a deep red. “No! I’m just saying!” Vi pretended to punch Silco in the shoulder.

Silco leaned forward. “Do we need to have a talk?”

Vi shoved him back. “Ew! No!” Vi screeched with a giggle. She got up from her spot. “I’m going back inside before you try that again!”

He smiled genuinely at her. She made her way back to the roof access. “Violet,” He called to her softly. She stopped and turned. “You know I love you right?”

Vi smiled. “I know. I love you too.” She turned and returned to the bar.

Chapter Text

The night came to a close without any more fanfare. Vi took care of corralling the rest of the kids to a respectable bedtime. Silco urged Thieram to take an early night.

“There will be plenty of nights to get the feel of closing.” Silco patted Thieram on the shoulder. “You’re first day has already been more eventful than we had planned.”

Thieram looked to Silco. He was just a few inches taller than Silco. “Are you sure?” Silco could see the exhaustion in his face.

“Perfectly sure. Now go on.” Silco practically shoved him towards the stairs.

Vander called after him. “We usually shoot for breakfast at around 11 if you want to join us.”

Thieram perked up at the invitation. “I’ll try and get up for it!” He jogged up the remaining stairs.

Vander and Silco had been keeping a few feet of distance between them for the remainder of the night. They purposefully tended to opposite sides of the bar. A few minutes after Thieram’s exit, Vander broke the silence.

“How’s Vi?” Vander knew better than to poke the landmine directly.

Silco worked on shelving the clean glassware. “She asked why I came back to you, after what you did."

Vander stilled. He turned slowly towards Silco. “She did?”

Silco was unaware of his now captive audience. “I told her about Blisters and Bedrock, about how her mom trusted us, and how it ended the way it did.” The truth.

Vander said nothing, expecting Silco to elaborate. When he didn’t, Vander prompted. “Did…did she say anything?”

Silco sighed, pulling off his eyepatch. “Not with words, no.” He reached up and started undoing his braids, carefully piling up the ribbons. Vander started doing the same with his hair, collecting the clips in a clean bowl. “From her body language and demeanor, I’d say she is handling it all pretty well…”

Vander hummed. “That does sound like our Vi.” He gently peeled off the heart sticker from his cheek, sticking it to the inside of the bowl.

“She was also curious about how you flew into a rage over a kiss.” Silco ran a hand through his now free hair, letting it fall any which way.

Vander stepped close behind Silco. He moved slowly but with purpose. He brought up his hands and placed them gingerly on Silco’s arms, not gripping, just placing. Silco jumped slightly at the initial touch but didn’t fight it. He knew Vander was testing the waters, trying to gauge what Silco would tolerate in this moment.

When Silco didn’t rebuff him, Vander stepped closer, pressing his front to Silco’s back. He felt Silco lean back into the touch. Vander placed a tender kiss to Silco’s hair. Silco reached up and encouraged Vander’s hands to embrace him. Vander wrapped his arms around Silco’s slender frame, holding him tenderly.

“What do you need from me?” Vander asked softly into Silco’s hair.

The moment stretched as they stood there, Silco thinking, Vander holding him.

“Grab the Demacian whiskey…”

Vander stilled. He drew back with a look of confusion. Silco took this opportunity to reach for a shot glass. Silco returned to Vander’s space, this time chest to chest. He reached up and gently tilted Vander’s face to meet his. He danced a finger across Vander’s lips.

“Be a good boy and bring the bottle to the bedroom?” Silco asked, before pulling away and walking towards their room.

Vander had flushed, his eyes going wide when Silco said good boy. He watched Silco stalk off towards their room. Pulling himself out of his daze, Vander grabbed the bottle of Demacian whiskey and followed.

By the time Vander caught up with Silco, he had already deposited the glass on the nightstand. Silco was sitting on the bed, slowly untying his boots.

Vander poured the whiskey into the abandoned glass. “Let me get that for you love.” He understood the purpose of this night. Silco wanted to retake control of both his enjoyment of Demacian whiskey, and control over himself, who touches him, and how they do it.

Vander slowly kneeled in front of Silco, taking Silco’s boot and resting it on his thigh. Silco took the poured glass of whiskey and shot it back. He braced himself on his arms and leaned back, eyes flickering shut, breathing in the vapors. Vander tenderly untied Silco’s boots, one at a time. He made exaggerated moves, taking off his boots like Silco was a doll to be handled with care. Vander held Silco’s calf in one hand and slid the boot off with the other. He tenderly kissed up Silco’s shins as they were revealed to him.

Silco slid off his own jacket while Vander tenderly kissed up his thighs. Vander brought his hands behind each knee and pulled Silco forward onto the edge of the bed as he kissed up his torso. He felt Silco reach over and pour another shot as Vander came up onto his knees, bringing their faces to the same level. Vander’s hands made their way under Silco’s shirt, slowly tracing along Silco’s torso as he pulled his shirt up. He could feel Silco shiver at the touch. Vander pulled Silco’s shirt all the way off.

Once free from his shirt, Silco grabbed the second shot and knocked it back. He slowly danced his fingers along Vander’s forearms that were bracing either side of his hips. He brought their foreheads together and breathed deeply, letting the vapors pool between them with each breath. Vander brought his hands between them, deftly undoing Silco’s pants. He splayed his hands along each hip, dipping his fingers below the waistband and down Silco’s back, bringing each hand to caress Silco’s ass.

Silco brought his arms up and around Vander’s neck and held on with just enough strength that he could lift up just enough for Vander to slip everything off beneath him. Vander urged him to lean back. Silco leaned back onto his elbows as Vander sat back onto his heels. Vander gently coaxed off Silco’s pants, his large hands trailing down every inch of leg.

Once Silco’s legs were free from the restricting fabric, Vander leaned over and poured another shot, offering it to Silco. Silco shot back the offered shot before laying back onto the bed. Vander lifted one of Silco’s legs, kissing down from his knee to his hip. Vander licked one stripe up Silco’s aching cock before going lower. Silco’s body pooled onto the bed. With one hand pushing Silco’s leg up, Vander ate Silco out. He was slow, methodical, unhurried. He worked Silco open slowly with his tongue. Vander brought his other hand under Silco and splayed his fingers out over the back of Silco’s hip.

Silco squirmed under Vander’s ministrations. Small, soft sounds poured from Silco’s lips as he let himself bathe in both Vander’s attention and the vapors of the Demacian whiskey.

“Vander…” Silco called, signaling to Vander he was ready and needing.

As Vander pulled away to sit back on his heels, Silco perched himself back up onto his elbows. His whole body was flushed, his eyes half lidded, mouth open and panting. Vander poured another shot before stripping off his shirt. Vander handed Silco the shot before standing to remove his pants. Silco took the shot, not breaking eye contact with Vander.

“How do you want me?” Vander asked as he finished removing his pants and boots. His cock was already standing at attention.

Silco didn’t even try to hide his gaze as it drifted down, lingering on Vander’s cock before snapping back up to meet Vander’s gaze. “On your back.”

Silco returned the shot glass to the nightstand before tucking his legs under himself and scooting back, making room for Vander. Vander gently made his way onto the bed, careful not to overexert himself or his aching chest. Once Vander settled with his head against the pillows, Silco swung his leg over to straddle the wide hips below him. Silco reached over and poured another shot before pulling the lube out of the drawer. Vander’s hands settled on Silco’s thighs.

Vander’s head fell back with a gasp into the pillows as Silco slicked him up. Aligning himself with Vander’s, Silco grabbed the shot and knocked it back, swallowing as he began to sink down onto Vander. Vander squeezed his grip on Silco’s thighs so as to not overtake the motions. Every gasp Silco took bathed his lungs in the delirious vapors of the whiskey, making his head spin with pleasure. The empty shot glass fell to the bed, forgotten among the sheets.

Silco’s head tipped back, jaw hanging open, pulling in stunted breaths at the fullness he felt. One hand reached back to brace himself on Vander’s thigh, the other searching out Vander’s. Vander released his grip on one of Silco’s thighs to intertwine their fingers. Silco stilled once his hips met Vander’s. He sat for a moment, letting the stretch and fullness settle into his tired and stressed frame.

Silco tilted his head forward to catch Vander’s gaze. Mismatched eyes locked onto steel grey ones. Silco’s hair spilled forward, framing his sharp face, almost softening his features. With eyes locked, Silco rolled his hips. Vander clenched his jaw and his hands, taking every ounce of willpower to not forcefully buck up into his partner. The feel of Vander’s grip on his thigh sent shivers up Silco’s spine and through his cock. Using their intertwined hands as a brace point, Silco began slowly maneuvering himself up and down, at a slow, rocking pace.

Not being able to fully control himself, Vander met Silco’s rocking with his own, earning sharp moans from Silco. Their pace was slow, controlled, methodical. It was everything Silco needed in that moment. His head swam with pleasure as each rock, each thrust re-grounded him. The contrast between the two feelings, mixed with the spark-like tingling in his chest from the whiskey drove Silco over the edge. He came between them with a sharp cry. He clenched around Vander, stilling his motions due to the suddenness of his release. Vander’s breath caught in his throat at the feeling. He gripped Silco’s thigh hard, nails digging into his skin, as he came inside Silco. Silco let out a low moan at the now overstimulating feeling.

They sat there, basking in the moment, trying to catch their breaths. Their interlocked hands released each other, Vander’s settling on Silco’s other thigh, rubbing soft circles with his thumb. Silco gazed down at Vander. His now free hand came down to rest on Vander’s chest, fingers playing with the edge of his chest wrapping.

“Looks like I made a mess of this.” Silco breathed out.

Vander looked down at his chest, noticing that Silco had come all over the bandages. Silco pulled free the loose end of the bandage, urging Vander to sit up slightly. Vander set himself up on his elbows, allowing Silco to pull off the now soiled bandages. Silco used the bandages to wipe up the rest of the mess he made on Vander’s stomach before dropping the bandages off the side of the bed.

Silco slid his hands up to Vander’s face. “Come here.”

Obeying, Vander pushed himself up, wrapping one arm around Silco’s back. Silco kissed him deeply, breathlessly, as he wrapped his arms tightly around Vander. Faint whispers of the Demacian whiskey could still be tasted in the kiss. The needy, desperate kiss turned languid as the exhaustion from the day set in.

Silco gently pulled back from the kiss, hands caressing Vander’s face. His eyes fluttered open, staring into Vander’s. “Gods, you’re everything I don’t deserve.” Vander doesn’t protest, knowing Silco isn’t finished. “But I will selfishly cling on to everything you choose to give me.” Vander smiled. Silco searched Vander’s eyes, looking for the resolve to say what he wanted to say. He leaned in for another deep, languid kiss. “How about we have Benzo re-size our rings? Wear them properly.”

“Properly?” Surprise bloomed across Vander’s face. “Silco…you mean…”

“Let’s make this official. Not that it has to be but-”

Vander cut him off by launching into a kiss. Vander kissed desperately at Silco, unable to contain the absolute joy flowing through him. In Vander’s eagerness, they both shifted, earning an overstimulated whine from both of them, as they were still joined together. Silco’s hands rested on Vander’s shoulders as they pressed their foreheads together.

Vander chuckled softly. “We definitely aren’t young and spry anymore.”

“I wouldn’t have you any other way.”

Chapter Text

Morning came, and Thieram tentatively made his way down to the bar at around 10:30. Vander was already making a hoard of food, while Silco sat at the bar sipping a coffee. Thieram was almost relieved to see that Silco’s hair was back in his signature ponytail and Vander’s hair was…well…normal again.

“Morning Thieram.” Silco said over his coffee. It startled Thieram, since the stairwell was to Silco’s left. “I am quite used to the sounds of this bar, even if I can’t see you walk down the stairs.” Silco turned fully to look at Thieram. “Sleep well?”

Thieram continued his walk towards the bar. “I uh, yes actually.”

Vander chuckled. “You sound surprised.”

Thieram sat down at the bar and rubbed the back of his head. “I kind of expected noises of the hustle and bustle of a thoroughfare such as the Lanes, even into the night.”

It was Silco’s turn to chuckle. “I would like it put on the record that insulating the rooms in this place was my idea. You could go pass out even during the liveliest of rushes and not hear a peep.”

Thieram laughed. “Duly noted.”

Vander gestured to the coffee pot and kettle. “Help yourself to a caffeinated beverage before the ankle biters attack.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.” Thieram began making himself a cup of tea.

“Speaking of the ankle biters, should we start summoning them?” Silco mused.

“Probably be a good idea, they do tend to filter in slowly.” Vander reached under the bar and hit something that Thieram couldn’t see. He went back to cooking.

Thieram was about to ask when Vander just did when a giggling child appeared from the basement door. The puff of blue skipped around the bar and stopped in front of Thieram. She held up a mess of ribbons and bows and giggled.

“Uh…what’s this?” Thieram asked hesitantly.

“It’s for you!” Powder giggled. “It’s for your hair! I made a clip since you don’t have enough hair to braid but I wanted you to match…wait a minute! Where are your braids!”

Silco snorted into his coffee. Powder pouted when she realized Vander and Silco had taken out their braids. Vander bought Silco a moment to collect himself by presenting Powder with the bowl that held the cartoon dog clips and the ribbons used on Silco.

“We had to take them out to sleep love.” Vander turned back to cooking.

Silco collected himself. “We also didn’t want to lose any by accident during the night.”

Powder crossed her arms and huffed. “But now you won’t match!”

“That’s ok Powder,” Thieram said, “I’ll just wear it alone then.”

Powder’s eyes went wide. “You will!?”

“Of course! You went through the trouble of making it.”

Powder, overjoyed, clamored onto the bar top to install the ribbon hair piece onto Thieram’s head. “There!”

“Hold on though.” Thieram lifted a finger. “My hair is short so I need to test it.” Before Powder could ask, Thieram started shaking his head in multiple directions. Surprising everyone, the hair piece stayed in place, with the exception of a long ribbon that flopped over onto Thieram’s face. Powder giggled as Thieram made a show of attempting to blow it out of his face. Still giggling, she picked up the ribbon and put it back in its place.

It was about this time when Claggor and Vi made their way into the bar.

“Doesn’t Thieram look great!” Powder squealed.

Claggor chuckled. “Of course he does, now get down here.” Claggor reached for Powder who reluctantly let him remove her from the counter. They went to go start setting the table.

Vi leaned against the bar, close to Silco. She spoke softly. “Mylo says he isn’t feeling well…I also heard sounds from him throughout the night…sounded similar to when Powder would have her nightmares…”

Silco set down his coffee. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll go check on him.” Silco got up from the stool. He spoke to Vander. “I’ll be right back.”

Silco made his way into the basement rooms. There, Mylo was indeed still in bed, facing the wall. Silco made his way over and perched on the edge of the bed. He could tell the motion startled Mylo, as he watched him curl up tighter under the sheets.

“Vi said you weren’t feeling well.” Mylo only made a small noise in acknowledgment. “Is there anything we can do or get you?” Mylo responded with a dismissing sound. Silco rested a hand on Mylo’s arm through the sheets. “I’ll put together a plate of food for you. How does that sound?”

Mylo shifted the sheets away from his face just enough to see Silco out of the corner of his eye. It looked like he had been crying. Mylo shook his head no. He pulled the sheets back up, obscuring his face again.

Silco gave his arm a light squeeze. “I’ll leave an assortment for you in the kitchen if you change your mind.” Silco hesitated before getting up. “And Mylo, just know, if you ever need to talk about anything, I’m always here to listen.” Mylo nodded after a few moments.

Silco finally got up. He backtracked a little on his way to the door, grabbing the blanket off the couch, and throwing it over Mylo. Silco leaned down to place a gentle kiss to the mop of hair that peeked out of the sheets before leaving.

Everyone had settled around one of the bigger tables by the time Silco returned. “Is Mylo not joining us?” Vander called as Silco approached.

Silco put a hand on Vander’s shoulder and dragged it across his neck as he walked past to his seat. “No, he’s sleeping off whatever this is. I did promise to leave him some leftovers should he find himself hungry later on.”

Thieram seemed to have captured Powder’s attention, somehow getting her to focus on the task that is breakfast. Well, he wasn’t able to contain all of her attention.

“Vi!! I heard you fought a guy last night!”

Vi and Silco snorted their respective drinks. Vi recovered pretty quickly, having only been drinking juice. Silco on the other hand was drinking fresh, hot coffee…Vander rubbed his back as he tried to regain his senses.

“He was being rude to Silco…” She finally said after determining her face free of juice.

“It was kinda badass…” Claggor added.

Powder stood on her chair in anger. “Rude to Uncle Silco!?” She looked as if she was ready to climb over the table, but Thieram grabbed her by the waist with a rushed “Nope!” before she could. “Let! Me! Go!” She tried to pry herself from Thieram, trying to push his face with her small hands.

“Powder…” Cough. “Darling…” Cough, cough. “I’m fine. Vi sent him a message with her fists and he left the bar.” Silco eventually was able to say, now that his face didn’t feel like it was on fire.

Powder eventually stopped fighting Thieram and went with the dead-weight approach. She crossed her arms and huffed.

Vander chuckled into the conversation, “Nice reflexes Thieram.”

Thieram flushed at the compliment, since it was pure reflex and not an intentional move.

Vi laughed. “He’s right, not many can match the speed of our dear Pow-Pow.”

Vi reached over and ruffled Powder’s hair. Powder, being unamused by her own capture, pretended to bite at Vi’s hand as she withdrew it.

Laughter filled the rest of breakfast. Once they were finished and the table had been cleared, Silco made sure Vander and Thieram were set up with what they needed before heading up to the office to catch up on paperwork.

Before Silco left, Vander pulled him aside and close. “Sil, about last night…”

Silco smiled and pulled him down for a kiss. “Don’t start worrying about in your head. You know my tolerance for Demacian whiskey is much more than just 5 shots. I meant every word.”

Vander smiled like a lovesick puppy before leaning in for one more kiss.

“We will talk more about specifics later. I have to get some paperwork done and you need to be training.” Silco pulled away and headed for his office.

Thieram had about 5 seconds of Vander watching after Silco wistfully to get the flush on his face under control.

Silco was sitting in the office, doing paperwork. He was in the middle of cross-referencing invoices when a soft knock came through the door.

“Come in.” He didn’t look up from his papers.

The door clicked open but opened slowly, almost hesitantly. Silco looked up from his papers to see Mylo, barely peeking around the door with a distressing expression on his face.

“Mylo?” He fully abandoned his work to bring his full attention to Mylo. “What’s wrong?”

Mylo was barely in the room when he answered. “Can I…can I talk about something?”

“Of course! Anything, anytime. Come in!” Silco urged Mylo to fully enter the office and have a seat on the couch.

Mylo looked spooked. He seemed to try and make himself appear smaller. He perched on the couch, pulling his legs into his chest and wrapping his arms around them. He stared off towards the corner of the room. Silco didn’t press. He already opened the door for Mylo, he just had to walk through it.

“I…uh…the man from yesterday, the one that Vi punched…”

“The man that Vi punched? You mean Kiri?”

Mylo seemed to startle at the name, eyes flicking up to meet Silco’s for a brief moment before looking back to the corner. “What- what did he do?”

Silco looked confused. “What did he…” Mylo tensed, his fists clenching, digging his nails into his palms. “He’s been attempting to flirt with me before rudely grabbing me and then tried to kiss me.” Mylo closed his eyes and contorted his face as if in pain before tucking his face behind his knees.

Silco was becoming increasingly concerned. He got up from his chair to sit next to Mylo. He put a hand on Mylo’s shoulder.

“Mylo…what’s going on?” Silco pried.

Mylo lifted his head just enough so that he stared over his knees again. “I…I just wanted to make sure I was remembering correctly…I…” Mylo’s eyes flickered up to Silco’s. “I know him…” Silco gasped, eye widening. Mylo tumbled over his words. “I don’t know him know him…I knew…I’ve only seen him once…but I’ve seen what he does to people…”

Silco could recognize the panic in Mylo’s voice, the fear in his eyes…there was a distant sadness that permeated, just below the surface.

“Mylo…” Silco called softly. “Take a deep breath, over 5 seconds.” Mylo looked up at Silco. Silco talked him through. “Now hold for 5 seconds…Good, now exhale for 6 seconds. Ok, now again…”

Silco talked him through a few rounds before Mylo seemed to calm down, just enough for the panic to subside. The fear receded from his eyes, showing more strongly the distant, longing sadness that peeked out before.

Silco rubbed his back. “Start from the beginning.”

“The beginning?”

“Give me context as to how you met, or saw, Kiri before.”

Mylo breathed in another long, measured breath before answering. “I met him because of my older brother Thatcher…”

Getting somewhere, Silco relaxed into the couch. He leaned back, resting his elbow along the back of the couch, the other hand relaxed in his lap. “Tell me about Thatcher.”

Mylo met his body language by leaning into the back of the couch. He was still curled into a ball, but he was no longer teetering like a vase on the edge. “It was just the two of us. I…I remember having parents, but I don’t remember them…He did what he could to keep us off the streets, to keep food coming in. He…I don’t quite know what he did, but it paid well. He would meet with clients, as he called them…”

“In what way?” Silco tried to prompt out as much as he could to get a feel for what Thatcher did. He had a feeling, but he didn’t want to presume just yet.

“He had a room elsewhere. He took me only a handful of times, to pick up something he had left or to pick up money…”

“Was this room a bedroom?”

Mylo’s eyes flicked up to meet Silco’s eye. “…Yeah…”

“Ah.” Silco understood what was happening. He didn’t blame Mylo for not knowing or understanding. He was only 10 now, and Silco got the feeling Thatcher did not discuss his employment with his child brother. “Is that how you met Kiri, through Thatcher’s employment?”

Mylo nodded. “I didn’t meet him right away, but Thatcher was…affected by him.” Silco didn’t pry, understanding that this was not a fond memory. He let Mylo divulge as he could. “It started with marks around his wrists. I would sometimes catch him trying work out pain in his joints…then there were the cuts and scratches and bruises…Thatcher would always smile and say it was nothing…but I could tell he was hurting.”

Silco reached his free hand and laid it upon Mylo’s wrist. He didn’t grab or push, just laid his fingers on his arm, more to say I’m here, I’m listening.

“And then I met him…”

Mylo was returning home from playing with the other kids in the neighborhood. As he climbed the stairs to their apartment, he noticed the door slightly ajar. They lived in relative safety, but Thatcher made sure that Mylo understood how to protect himself in the not so safe moments. That meant understanding when something wasn’t right.

Mylo creeped towards the front door. He determined there was no one immediately near it so he slipped inside. He quietly pulled off a bit of molding by the front door, revealing a hide away for a pocketknife. Brandishing the knife, he slowly made his way through the small apartment. He heard voices coming from the kitchen. He made his way around through the living space, the less direct route, in case whoever was there made a break for the door.

As he neared, he could hear an argument between Thatcher and another man.

“I told you no Kiri!”

“You have yet to give me a legitimate reasoning!”

“Why is no not enough for you? Instead of acting like a rational person, you stalked me to my own home! You broke in! Ambushed me in my own home! I don’t even want to know what would have happened if Mylo had been here!”

“If you accepted my offer like a rational person we wouldn’t be here now would we?”

Mylo was able to get close enough to see what was happening. Thatcher was tall but Kiri was taller. His presence loomed over Thatcher in a way that exuded darkness. Thatcher was backed against the counter, the other man, Kiri, was posturing in front of him. The man’s eyes were dark, almost soulless.

“What you’re offering, it’s not for me. I won’t leave Mylo behind, nor will I expose him to someone like you.”

Kiri took a step, putting himself chest to chest with Thatcher. “What I’m offering you is a life of luxury, a life of all the spoils you could ask for, for the small price of sex. And yet here you stand spouting off about a mooching, useless child who is the only reason you’re not onto bigger and brighter things.”

“Don’t talk about him like you know anything!” Thatcher tried to shove the man but barely seemed to move him.

“Maybe I should take him instead and train him to be my personal-”

Thatcher grabbed a knife from the counter and tried to slash at Kiri at the insinuation. Kiri seemed to be quicker, grabbing the hand that wielded the knife, sending it clattering to the floor. Kiri twisted his arm and Thatcher let out a cry of pain. Kiri kept moving, turning Thatcher towards the table and shoved his chest into it. He continued twisting, earning cries of pain and pleas of release spilling forth from Thatcher. As they scuffled, one of them kicked the knife, causing it to bounce and skitter across the floor.

The knife skittered directly at Mylo. He had to shift to get out of the way of the skittering blade. This movement caught Kiri’s attention. Mylo could feel Kiri’s stare as soon as his eyes were on him. Kiri smirked. There was an emptiness in his eyes, in his expression.

Kiri kept his gaze locked with Mylo’s as he leaned down to whisper to Thatcher, “And now, unfortunately for young Mylo, I have to teach his older brother what happens when I am refused.”

Mylo saw Thatcher squirm against the table and turn his head to lock eyes with Mylo. His eyes went wide in the moment before Kiri sharply bent Thatcher’s already bent arm. Mylo still remembers the blood-curdling scream Thatcher let out. The sight stunned Mylo. He slumped against the wall he was crouched next to. He watched as Kiri let go of Thatcher, and watched his body slump to the floor, uncontrollable cries of pain coming from him. Kiri straightened his shirt and coat before making his exit, down the main hallway.

Mylo remembers hearing the front door slam shut before he ran to Thatcher’s aid.

“Thatcher couldn’t work much after that…I tried to help however I could…”

“Is that when you started breaking into places?” Mylo only nodded. A silence sat between them. “What happened to Thatcher? Did Kiri do something?”

Mylo shook his head. Silco could see the tears welling up in his eyes. “Thatcher…he…he died on the bridge…He believed in the movement for a better home…for a better life for me…”

Tears started to fall from Mylo’s eyes. He clutched his knees close. Silco gently ran a hand through Mylo’s hair. Mylo suddenly uncurled himself, reaching forward and grasping onto Silco’s jacket.

“That man is dangerous and relentless! He will just keep coming back until one of you is dead!”

“Well then,” Silco stated in reply as he caressed Mylo’s face, “We just need to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He pulled Mylo into a hug.

Mylo sobbed into Silco’s chest. His barricades collapsed as the avalanche of suppressed emotions rolled through him. Silco simply hugged him close, rocking him slightly, and humming a childhood lullaby. Slowly, Mylo’s cries became softer. His vice grip on Silco’s jacket loosened slowly, allowing him to slide down to Silco’s lap. Mylo settled there, head on Silco’s lap, arms dangling off the front of the couch, legs tucked up beneath him, knees dangling over the edge. Silco laid a reassuring hand on Mylo’s arm, the other gently playing with his hair. Eventually, Mylo’s breathing evened out as Silco presumed he had fallen asleep. Silco let out a sigh. He reached behind the couch for a notch in the wall. Finding it, he pressed it twice. His focus returned to Mylo.

Thieram had just finished a round of beers when something caught his eye. Looking up, he saw a slow flashing purple light affixed to one of the top shelves.

“Uh…Vander?” He called down the bar.

Vander was putting away some clean glass wear. “What’s up?” He barely glanced up at Thieram.

Thieram pointed at the light. “What’s that light up there for?”

“What light-” Vander looked up and faltered, seeing the slow blinking light. He took a quick scan around the bar before returning to Thieram. “That is a signal that there is something wrong happening in the office. You feeling confident that you can hold your own for a little bit?”

“Yes sir!” Thieram exuded confidence.

Vander made his way up the stairs towards the office. Vander paused at the door, listening. He couldn’t hear any sounds of a struggle, no sounds of anguish, no voiceless cries. He gently opened the door and slipped inside. He did not expect to see Mylo’s sleeping form on the couch, his head in Silco’s lap. The expression on Silco’s face caught him more off guard. Vander made his way over and sat in the office chair. He leaned towards Silco, elbows on his knees.

Silco spoke softly. “He just fell asleep…”

Now that he was closer, Vander could see that Mylo had been crying. Concerned, he looked back up at Silco. “I… what… what happened?”

Silco took a moment to figure out his words. “I promise to tell you the full story later…long story short, Mylo knew Kiri…” Vander’s eyes went wide. “More specifically, Kiri knew Mylo’s brother…”

“Sil, I have so many questions.”

Silco shook his head. “Not now. Priority is the knowledge that Kiri is dangerous and escalates quickly when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

Vander looked away, jaw clenching. “And what he wants right now is you…”

“And we already saw an escalation.” Vander looked back at Silco. “I don’t want to leave Mylo alone, not now.”

“I’ll spread the word. I believe I saw Sevika enter the bar before the light went off.”

Vander got up and leaned down to kiss Silco’s hair. Silco brought up a hand and ran it through his hair, holding him closely. “Don’t be a hero…please.”

“I…” Vander hesitated, seeing the pleading look in Silco’s eye. Vander closed his eyes and rested their foreheads together. “I promise.” He leaned down the rest of the way to place a chaste kiss on Silco’s lips before drawing back. Silco watched as Vander left the office.

He returned his attention to Mylo. He felt him shiver and twitch lightly, before letting out a whine. Silco ran his fingers through his hair again, whispering softly. “I’ve got you Mylo. We won’t let anything else happen to you. I promise.”

Chapter Text

At some point, Silco had been able to sneak away from Mylo without waking him, to collect a book from the shelves. He was able to sneak back to his original position with Mylo’s head on his lap. Silco figured he would probably stay like that until the bar closed or Mylo woke up, whichever came first. He felt Mylo twitch a little more violently. Silco abandoned his book to watch Mylo closely. His face kept twitching through emotions of anger and sadness. A soft whine escaped his clenched jaw once or twice.

Silco hesitated before resting his hand on Mylo’s arm. “Mylo…” he called softly.

Mylo shot up, batting his hand away. He shot up so fast he threw himself back against the armrest of the couch and kicked out at Silco. His boot landed in Silco’s side.

“Mylo!” Silco was winded by the kick. He held onto Mylo’s boot.

Mylo stopped moving for a moment, realizing where he was and who he was with. He breathed in ragged, deep breaths. “Sil-Silco?”

“Are you alright Mylo?” Silco released his hold on his boot.

“Am I…” Mylo’s eyes flicked between Silco’s face and his own boot wedged into Silco’s side. “Am I alright!?” He pulled his foot back. “I-I just kicked you!”

Silco couldn’t help but chuckle. “You really think a kick from a dazed 10-year-old is enough to take out this crazy assault grandpa?” Mylo just stared at him. “You woke up like you were fighting for your life. Did you have a nightmare?”

Mylo dropped his gaze. He pulled his knees into himself again, nodding to Silco. “Was it about Thatcher?” Mylo shook his head no. “About Kiri?”

Mylo tucked his head and squeezed his knees tighter. “I haven’t thought about him since Thatcher died…”

Silco scooted closer to Mylo. “Seeing someone for the first time after a traumatic event will trigger haunting memories. I understand what that’s like, personally.”

Mylo lifted his head to look up at Silco. “Who…who haunts you?”

Silco looked away. He leaned forward onto his elbows, playing with the ring on his right hand. “Someone I loved…someone who I still love…despite it all…” He didn’t want to lie to Mylo, but he didn’t want to tarnish his view of Vander. “In our case, I understand why he did what he did. He does too. I guess you could say we haunt each other.”

Silco thought to himself, fiddling with the ring, until Mylo said something he didn’t expect.

“It was Vander, wasn’t it.”

Silco looked up at Mylo, wide eyed. “I…”

“I don’t want to know what happened, that’s not why I asked…I just…noticed the way he doesn’t touch your scars…”

Silco ran his hand through his hair, letting out a sigh. “The scar I gave him in return is under the brace he wears on his left arm.”

“Vi said you were away for over a year before she saw you again.”

Silco nodded. “Most of me wasn’t planning on coming back, not wanting to face the reality of what happened. The day I saw Vander again…It took another month for the nightmares to stop before I could walk back into this place to see the girls.” He looked back at Mylo. “It wasn’t until after Vi had run away that I stopped having nightmares about it. Granted, they were replaced by nightmares of you lot getting into trouble, but those original nightmares stopped plaguing me.”

Silco placed a hand on Mylo’s arm. “And I know these situations are very different. I eventually wanted to reconcile with my ghosts. Him resurfacing, coming back into your life, I can only imagine the type of terror that instills.”

Mylo shifts his arm so he can hold Silco’s hand. “And he is still going after someone I care about…”

Silco smiled softly, squeezing Mylo’s hand. Silco turns to look at the clock. “It’s almost closing time.” Mylo squeezed his hand back. “While you were asleep, Vander came to check on us.” He felt Mylo tense. “I…I only told him that Kiri was a threat to us, to you, and to be on the lookout.” Mylo tucked his head back behind his knees. “I will defer to whether or not you want anyone to know about Thatcher. And that includes the other kids. If you want me to say nothing, I will. If you want to tell anyone, I’ll be there for you. If you want me to tell them on your behalf, I will, but only if you want me to.”

Mylo eventually picked his head up from his knees. He stared at their hands. “The context would help…I…I would like to try…but if I can’t…”

Silco squeezed his hand again. “Just look to me and I’ll fill in what I can.” Mylo nodded.

The knock on the door surprised Mylo, making him jump. Vander squeezed in before closing the door. “We closed up early. Benzo and Sevika are waiting downstairs. Vi and Claggor refuse to go to bed without seeing Mylo.”

“And where’s Powder?” Silco asked.

“Thieram volunteered to put her to bed.”

Silco sighed, shaking his head. “He’s been here for two days and already offering to babysit…” He got up, urging Mylo to follow. He eventually unfurled himself and stood up, letting his hand drop from Silco’s.

“When I told him it was because of the patron Vi tried to lay out, he didn’t hesitate.”

Mylo led the way towards the door, faltering when he stood in front of Vander. Vander opened his arms and Mylo rushed in for a hug. Vander rustled his hair before letting go. He let Mylo lead the way back to the bar.

Sevika and Benzo were seated at the bar. Claggor sat at the nearest table. Vi was pacing back and forth between them. As they descended the stairs, Vi stopped pacing.

“Mylo!” She seemed to hesitate to run towards them.

Claggor stood up. “Are…are you ok?”

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Mylo stopped. He rubbed at his elbow and looked away. “I’m fine…I just…Sometimes there’s just too many memories…”

Vi’s willpower seemed to snap as she rushed forward and hugged Mylo tight. “I knew that man was trouble! I just never thought he would be involved with you…” She pulled back, holding Mylo by the shoulders. “Vander won’t tell us more than you’ve met before…”

“Vi.” Silco said, a warning note in his tone, as he stepped up behind Mylo. “Give him some space.”

Vi looked between Silco and Mylo before giving Mylo’s shoulder a quick squeeze and letting go. She walked back and sat at the table with Claggor. Silco laid a reassuring hand to Mylo’s shoulder. Mylo continued walking, going to sit at the table with Claggor and Vi, facing the group. Silco leaned against the nearest table, as moral support. Vander took up his usual spot behind the bar.

Mylo looked to Silco one last time. Silco nodded at Mylo. “I…I had an older brother, Thatcher…He died on the bridge.” There was a light gasp from Claggor and Vi. Sevika and Benzo had lost too many people over the years to be shocked. “Before that…he was the focus of Kiri’s attentions, similar to how Silco is now…” Mylo barreled through, knowing if he stopped, he wouldn’t be able to continue again. “He would come home injured and cut and bruised…Until I came home to find Kiri threatening him. I…Thatcher never told me what Kiri had offered him, but he had refused. Kiri had followed him to our apartment and-” Mylo felt his voice get stuck in his throat. Silco placed a hand on his shoulder. “I had gotten home in time to see the end of their argument and watched as Kiri broke his arm…in multiple places…because he had refused Kiri’s offer…”

“Well shit.” Sevika grumbled.

Claggor and Vi stared at Mylo. Benzo shot back the drink Vander had poured while Mylo was speaking.

“I had heard Vander yelling at Vi last night and came up to see what was happening…that’s when I saw Vi holding his collar, ready to hit him…That’s when I recognized him…” Mylo squeezed his eyes shut, wrapping his arms around himself as if to protect from the memories. “The soulless, evil, darkness in his eyes was unmistakable…”

Silco squeezed his shoulder, taking over. “From what I understand, Kiri is someone who will not stop until he gets what he wants or destroys it in the process. We need to neutralize him before he escalates again.”

Sevika spoke up. “Do you know if he saw you last night, Mylo?”

Mylo looked up at Sevika. “I don’t think so…I only saw him through the crowd…he seemed pretty focused on Silco.”

Vi growled. “I should have kept punching him…” She slammed her hands on the table and stood up. “Why did you stop me Silco?”

“Because despite getting handsy, he hadn’t crossed the line yet. If you punch any patron that gets a little handsy once in a while we would have significantly less patronage!”

“But he kissed you! How is that not crossing a line?”

“Vi, stand down.” Vander warned from the bar. “Despite whether or not we think he crossed a line, Silco is the only one who can define this line.”

“Silco,” Sevika interrupted. “We’re still running on WatchDog orders over Finn…”

“Pivot the orders from Finn to Kiri, this takes precedence. We’ve done enough to Finn’s operation that he should be smart enough to stay in the dark for a little while.”

“Wait,” Benzo interjected. “What the hell are WatchDog orders?”

“Woops…” Sevika hid behind a glass of whiskey.

“Silco…” Vander growled when he didn’t respond. “What are WatchDog orders?”

Silco pinched the bridge of his nose. He hadn’t wanted to tell Vander about WatchDog until Finn was out of the picture but now, he might as well. “They are standing orders for my network to destroy anything or anyone that threatens this family, no questions asked.”

“…destroy?” Benzo looked at Silco, mouth agape.

“No questions asked?” Vander echoed. He began to walk around the bar. “Silco…”

“Vander, we talked about this.” Silco warned.

“Barely!” Vander shouted. “We agreed to not take it out on our own!”

“You were the one who phrased it that way.” Silco retorted, stepping forward. “I am holding our people accountable! I am protecting my family!”

My family. Those words rang out through the bar and hung in the air like heavy smoke.

Silco seemed to realize the words he spoke out loud and brought his hands to cover his mouth in surprise. Silco didn’t know when he had started calling the lot of them his family, but he was sure he had never spoken those words out loud to anyone, even Vander.

Vander walked up to him. He reached for Silco’s arm. Silco flinched back, knocking away his hand. “Someone has to be willing to get their hands dirty to protect what we have left, you know that.” He glared at Vander. “I will not instigate,” Not since the bridge. “But I will retaliate.”

“But will would accept aid?” An unknown woman’s voice broke them out of their standoff. No one had noticed the stranger in a cloak walk through the front door.

Silco bristled, reaching for his knife. “Who are you?”

The woman reached up and pulled the hood back, revealing the face of Sheriff Grayson. She wasn’t in uniform, but in Zaunite clothing.

Silco glared at Vander. “What is this?”

Vander clenched his fists, refusing to meet Silco’s gaze. “You have your way of handling things, I have mine.”

“The fucking ENFORCERS!?” Silco yelled.

“Mr. Silco,” Grayson started. “If you please-”

“Oh, I do not please!” Silco snapped, pulling out his knife and pointing it at her. “You have some guts walking into this place.”

“Silco, wait.” Vander moved in front of him, grabbing the wrist holding the knife.

In anger, Silco punched Vander square in the chest, right on the wound. Vander gasped and dropped to his knees, still holding onto Silco’s wrist. Silco tried to tug his wrist free. Vander responded by gripping tighter and twisting. Silco cried out at the move and dropped the knife before falling to his knees trying to meet the twist and lessen the pain.

Now eye to eye again, Vander growled at Silco. “I reached out to her because someone like Kiri doesn’t go unnoticed in places like Piltover.”

“This- This is our cue to leave.” Vi stood, obviously shaken by the fight between Silco and Vander. Claggor looked between Silco and Vander’s standoff and Vi, nodding in agreement.

“Come on Mylo…We should get some sleep…”

Mylo didn’t respond. His eyes were locked on to Vander’s grip on Silco’s arm. “Let him go…” He tried to say, the words coming out barely in a whisper. Claggor had been reaching for his arm when Mylo spoke. He turned to follow Mylo’s gaze.

“Vander!” Claggor yelled.

Vander’s attention snapped to Claggor, then to Mylo’s shocked, teary-eyed expression. Realizing what was probably going through Mylo’s mind, he released Silco immediately. Silco pulled his arm into his chest, rubbing his aching wrist.

“Mylo…” Vander said softly, sitting back on his heels. “That was not my intention…”

Silco looked up at Vander, confused at his words, but then followed Vander’s gaze to Mylo. His eyes fell to the knife he dropped, realizing in that moment, they had essentially played out the first time Mylo had seen Kiri.

“Shit…Mylo…” Silco started to say.

Mylo squeezed his eyes shut, standing. “Stop hurting each other!”

Silco scrambled to get up and pulled Mylo into a hug. “I’m so sorry Mylo…”

Mylo let him hug him for a moment, before pushing him off. Silco let him. “Just stop fighting…”

Silco felt a hand settle on his back. He knew it was Vander so he stepped aside, letting Vander pull Mylo into a hug.

“I’m so sorry for scaring you like that.” Vander pulled away with a hand on his shoulder. “Claggor is right, you should try and get some sleep.”

“Some proper sleep.” Silco interjected. “I promise that we will tell you what we talk about.”

Mylo nodded one last time before stepping between them. Claggor and Vi followed. No one move until the basement door closed. Vander went to step back towards the bar but halted when he felt fingers reach out for his hand. Silco was not looking at him, but his hand was trying to reach for his. Vander took it and pulled Silco into him. He didn’t resist.

From Vander’s chest, Silco addressed Grayson. “Have a seat, Sheriff.” He pulled away from Vander. “What’s your poison?” He went to retrieve his knife from the floor, sheathing it.

Vander returned to the bar, as Grayson answered. “Any local whiskey.”

She walked towards Silco, sitting in the chair Vi had originally occupied. Silco sat in Claggor’s abandoned chair, facing her.

“So has Piltover met Kiri?” Silco started, not wasting time with an Enforcer.

Vander placed a glass in front of both Grayson and Silco, before sitting next to Silco with his own. Grayson took a sip.

“Vander was correct in his assumptions. Kiri is a violent man and was quickly banned from every…club…in Piltover.”

Vander leaned forward. “Kiri said he grew up here but traveled for work. How much of that do you know to be true?”

“I don’t know about where he grew up, but he has risen through the ranks of a small faction of Bilgewater pirates. They call him General.”

Silco sneered. “So, traveling for work was his way of saying he was a filthy pirate.” He sipped his whiskey. “How lovely.”

Sevika cut in. “You said he was banned from every club.”

Grayson nodded. “He has a type. Tall, skinny men with long hair and sharp features. When he gets banned from one, he looks for the same type at another.”

“The only difference between Zaun and Piltover brothels is that Piltover has better security, am I correct?” Silco mused.

Grayson paused. “I wouldn’t know.”

“Considering Mylo’s connection is that Kiri stalked his brother after being banned proves my point.”

“Wait,” Vander interrupted, “Mylo never said his brother was a sex worker.”

“That’s because Mylo doesn’t know what a sex worker is.” Silco shot back. “I figured it out with how he described Thatcher, and the events leading up to Kiri’s attack.”

“Sheriff,” Benzo entered the conversation. “What would happen for Kiri to get banned? What was his escalation?”

“From what I understand, he would demand more…unsafe and violent acts from these escorts, pushing their limit of what they found comfortable. When they would start to refuse, he would escalate to outright violence. Most involved had some bone broken. He paralyzed the last Escort he attacked. Haven’t seen or heard word about him since.”

“When was the last time he was in Piltover?” Benzo followed up.

“Around the time of the Battle at the Bridge.” Silco stilled at the mention. “I have circulated information among the Enforcers that Kiri has returned to the area. They will be on high alert around the ports and bridges. If he tries to leave through Piltover, he won’t succeed.”

“Hah!” Silco scuffed. “He’s a Bilgewater pirate, he’s not stupid enough to try going through Piltover.”

“Well.” Grayson finished her whiskey and stood up. “I’ll be on my way then, since that is all I can offer you. I doubt you would accept Enforcers running through the streets of the Lanes.”

Grayson threw some cogs onto the table before flipping up her hood and leaving. Once the door closed behind her, Sevika hopped off her stool.

“I’ll go inform the others of the updated orders.” She squeezed Silco’s shoulder as she passed.

Benzo hesitated. “I’ll spread the word to keep an eye out for Kiri.” He slipped off his stool and left behind Sevika.

The two sat in silence for a moment.

Vander broke it first. “We should probably actually talk about this before we explode in front of the kids again.” Vander looked down at his glass.

“We should.” Silco said in agreement, taking a sip.

“We obviously want the same thing.” Vander started.

“We just can’t agree on how those things need to be done.” Silco echoed the words of Felicia.

“What is your network?” Vander asked. There was no malice or anger, just curiosity.

Silco sighed. “I had begun building a network of people I trusted before the bridge. After, I used it to keep tabs on the undercity…mainly the girls. When you found me in the hideout, I had recently begun mobilizing that network to hold-”

“Hold the people of Zaun accountable?” Vander interrupted with a faint smile.

Silco smiled. “It isn’t going after our own. I don’t instigate anymore. I was telling the truth about that. I only retaliate. The name ‘The Eye of Zaun’ began by accident, those in the network kept joking that someone was keeping an eye on the people of Zaun and it became the moniker for the network.”

“Don’t you think it’s ironic that you are the Eye of Zaun, since, ya know, you only use one?”

Silco rolled his eye and laughed. “Don’t you think it’s ironic that the Hound of the Underground is making deals with the masters we’ve been trying to free ourselves from?”

Vander sighed, looking down at his now empty glass. “The Enforcers were becoming bolder by the day after the bridge…I- I couldn’t let them escalate…not again.”

“I got word to the Sheriff saying I wanted to talk, to deescalate for the sake of both our cities. Benzo went with me to meet with Grayson. She agreed that the violence had to end. She admitted that there were standing orders for Enforcers to essentially do what they willed when it came to patrolling the bridges. She agreed to amend those orders if we tried to reign in our renegades, to show Piltover that we could be a peaceful nation and coexist. In a way, I was also holding the people of Zaun accountable for their actions against Piltover.”

Silco reached a hand up to caress Vander’s face. Vander looked up at Silco. “We both took the path that suited us best to protect them.”

Vander reached up and caressed the hand touching him. It was the same hand that he had contorted earlier. He kissed the palm. “I’m so sorry love.” He said as he began peppering kisses down the wrist. Silco shuddered at the ghosting touches.

“I know…” Silco said, shifting so he was now sitting on Vander’s thigh. Vander sat back to look at him. Silco leaned in and kissed Vander. A hand gently rubbed the front of Vander’s chest, around where Silco had punched him. “I am sorry too.”

Thieram blinked up at the dark ceiling. Powder didn’t want to go to sleep without the others. She had pulled all the mattresses onto the floor and made a nest of all the blankets and pillows. Somehow, Thieram ended up in the center of it, with Powder curled up on his chest. The three others filtered in and, as if in some unspoken agreement with Powder, nestled into the nest without question.

Chapter Text

They fell into a holding pattern. They knew Kiri would turn back up eventually, but they couldn’t guess exactly when. Members of Silco’s WatchDog network acted as lookouts around the bar. No one let themselves be alone, even if they were only going to another room. Silco and Vander taught everyone about the warning systems they had rigged up around the bar, back when they first bought the place. If anything happened to anyone anywhere in the bar, everyone else would know about it.

Silco and Vander were immensely thankful for the help that Thieram provided. Thieram was very understanding and offered to help out more than just routine bar work. When asked about why he wanted to help, he just shrugged and said something about ‘Undercity life’. They both agreed to give Thieram a decent bonus after this business with Kiri was finished. He definitely earned it.

The greatest gift Thieram gave them was being another distraction for Powder. Powder would have eventually caught on to the tension that was building in both Vander and Silco and would have eventually pulled from them exactly what was going on and they did NOT want to have that talk with her.

Mylo seemed to be holding it together. There was definitely a burden that seemed to be lifted after talking about Thatcher. The kids have somehow turned it into a bonding experience, each having lost at least one member of their families. Vi would mention to Silco if she happened to hear Mylo have a particularly bad nightmare. She wasn’t doing it in a ‘snitching’ way, more like letting Silco know to be extra watchful in case Mylo lashes out or has a breakdown. The tensions were high, and everyone was on edge. It was a few days before something happened.

It was Silco who broke his own rule. He needed a moment alone, a moment to think. As much as he tried, he needed the silence and solitude to truly ruminate through things. Too often he finds himself distracted by watching every minute move of those around him, observing all of the micro expressions of distress…

That’s how he found himself leaning against the railing on the roof, a cigar hung lazily between his fingers. The sounds of the undercity filtered through his head, bringing a sort of clarity in a moment of overwhelming distress.

There was no sound of the door opening, so the faint, near silent footsteps did not register in Silco’s mind until a body was pressed against his back, pushing him into the railing. Hands grasped the railing on either side of him.

“It’s good to see you again.” A dark voice purred into his ear.

In his younger years, Silco would have reacted violently and immediately. At this point in his life, he has been through one too many confrontations that he stayed calm and collected, formulating the best escape.

“I would have thought Vi’s fists were a pretty decent deterrent.” He took a relaxed drag on his cigar.

“Well, she isn’t out here to get in the way this time, is she?” Silco felt the words being spoken against his neck, teeth grazing lightly.

Silco shoved his shoulder back into Kiri as a warning. Kiri did not take this warning. He slid a hand over Silco’s abdomen, pulling Silco flush to him.

“You obviously have some sort of death wish.” Silco mused.

Kiri chuckled into Silco’s neck. “I’m honestly a little surprised that Mylo found a decent replacement for his brother.”

Silco froze. His eye widened at Kiri’s words. Kiri remembered who Mylo was…he knew Mylo was there…how long has he known?

Kiri slid his hand up Silco’s chest. “No witty retort?” He laughed. “That’s fine with me. I like it when I can silence a witty tongue.”

Silco was broken out of his daze by Kiri’s other hand coming up and grabbing his throat. Panic shot through Silco as memories flooded back to being held underwater. He gasped and flailed at Kiri’s hand. The cigar was lost to the undercity streets below. Silco tried grasping, clawing, kicking, elbowing…trying to hit anything he could.

Kiri grinned. He pulled Silco from the railing, spinning them around so he could press Silco up against the wall of the roof access. He boxed in Silco’s body with his own, bringing his face down to nip playfully at Silco’s jaw. He would switch between gripping Silco’s throat and easing up, toying with him.

Silco looked into Kiri’s eyes for the first time that night. Darkness, emptiness, soullessness was all he could see. A sick, sadistic monster stared back at him smirking.

“Let’s try this again.” Kiri leaned in and tried to kiss Silco.

Silco’s mind was clear enough that he brought up a hand and pushed it over Kiri’s mouth. Kiri grabbed that hand and slammed it against the wall behind Silco before leaning in and kissing Silco. Silco tried to bite him but every time his teeth grazed something, Kiri squeezed his throat, causing his jaw to go slack.

“Tsk, tsk Silco. That’s not nice.”

Panic flooded his mind as Kiri’s hand softened the edges when it grasped. His head swirled as he gasped between squeezes. He felt his limbs start to feel weak as his lungs struggled to pull in what they needed.

In a moment of clarity, Silco felt Kiri’s knee begin to wedge itself between his legs. In that moment, Silco rushed his own knee forward, kneeing Kiri as hard as he could.

It wasn’t as strong of a hit as Silco would have liked but it was just enough to make Kiri falter enough for Silco to shove him off. He turned and ran, only for Kiri to grab his wrist, pulling him back. Kiri twisted his arm behind his back, slamming his chest into the wall. Kiri’s other hand came back up to his throat, pulling Silco’s head back.

“Feisty, aren’t we? I do love a challenge.” Kiri growled into Silco’s ear, twisting his arm more.

Silco cried out. His free hand spasmed against the wall, unable to truly find purchase. In the next moment, Silco heard a snap as pain flared through his arm. He attempted to scream. The hand grasping at his throat prevented sounds from leaving.

The next moments were a blur. Between Kiri’s hand playing with his neck, the fuzzy feeling of suffocation itching at the corners of his mind, the searing, white hot pain shooting up his arm…everything was in a fog.

He didn’t realize Kiri had let go until he was slumped against the ground. There was a scuffle behind him as he gasped in air, the sharpness of oxygen stabbing at the haze in his mind. Survival mode kicked back in as he heard Mylo’s voice.

“Stop trying to take what isn’t yours!”

He flipped himself over in time to see Kiri shove (throw?) Mylo into the railing. Kiri was stalking up to Mylo. Mylo’s face was filled with anger and determination. He dodged Kiri’s attempts to grab him, punching him when he could. He didn’t have as much oompf behind his fists as Vi had, but it kept Kiri distracted.

Distracted enough for Silco to shuffle onto his feet and pull out his knife before lunging at Kiri. He didn’t play around this time, burying his knife into the side of Kiri’s neck.

Kiri’s motions stuttered before collapsing to the ground.

Silco fell to his knees, head spinning by the sudden dash. His right arm hung by his side; forearm twisted at the wrong angle.

He felt Mylo slam into him, wrapping his arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder. Silco brought up his other arm to wrap around Mylo, holding him close. The roof access door swung open, everyone else spilling through the doorway.

Mylo and Silco did not move or acknowledge the new arrivals in any manner. They needed to ground each other.

“Silco! Mylo!” Vi cried out, running forward to them. Vander surveyed the scene. Kiri’s motionless body lying next to a sobbing Mylo who was clutching at Silco. He was unsettled.

Mylo pulled away once Vi reached out to touch him. “He- he broke his arm.” Mylo stuttered out.

This snapped Vander out of his survey. He walked around Silco, observing the damage. He kneeled at his right. He gently ghosted his fingers up Silco’s upper arm. That’s when he saw them, the marks on Silco’s neck, the hand shaped bruises blooming across his pale skin. Silco was staring down at Kiri’s body, his eye glassy.

“Vi, Claggor, take Mylo inside.”

“But Van-”

“Now.” Vander’s tone left no room for questions. “And get Benzo. We’ll need a doctor.”

Vi nodded. “Ok…”

She pulled Mylo away from Silco. The three of them left the roof.

“Sil…” Vander called softly. Silco did not respond. Vander hesitantly reached up to Silco’s scarred cheek, gently tilting Silco’s face towards him. Silco let Vander move him, but his eye never left Kiri’s body. “Silco.”

Silco’s eye finally snapped up to Vander’s. Silco opened his mouth as if to say something, but any sound he attempted to make caught in his throat, producing a raspy wheeze at best. Panic set in as his throat refused to produce proper sounds. His undamaged hand came up and grasped at his throat, as if trying to remove something. He looked to Vander in a panic, trying to plead with his eye for Vander to help.

Vander froze when Silco grabbed the hand against his cheek and pulled it to his neck. “Silco!” He tried calling his name, in hopes it may break him out of whatever spell he was caught in.

Unsure of what else to do, Vander let Silco push his hand where he wanted. He let Silco wrap his fingers around the back of his neck. He allowed Silco to push his thumb above his adam’s apple. Something clicked in Vander’s mind.

He was trying to remove the feeling of Kiri.

Vander brought their foreheads together. He gently squeezed the back of Silco’s neck, dragging his thumb down Silco’s throat, over his adam’s apple, resting at the divot between Silco’s collarbones.

Silco let out a small gasp at the motions, there was much less panic in the tremble of his breathing. Silco squeezed Vander’s wrist and caressed the back of his hand with his thumb, urging him to continue. Vander traced his thumb back up Silco’s neck the way it had come.

Vander shifted his hand to cover the bruising. Silco gasped softly, his eye widening at Vander. Vander slid his hand down until it rested firmly on the front of Silco’s chest. Silco’s eye closed as he took in two, deep, measured breaths.

Vander then slid his hand back up, over the bruising, but then continued back and up into Silco’s hair.

“You’re alright Sil. He can’t hurt either of you anymore.”

Silco ducked his head into Vander’s neck and grabbed onto Vander’s shoulder. Vander held Silco close with the fingers in his hair. He brought up his other hand to wrap around Silco, only to accidentally bump Silco’s broken arm. Silco hissed and pulled back. Now that Silco was no longer in a panic spiral, they both looked down to assess the damage.

Silco’s forearm was twisted, making his palm face a direction it had no business facing. Vander grasped his elbow and delicately began unwrapping the bandage that Silco still always wore on that arm. Once it was most of the way off, Vander tightened the wrapping that was by the elbow, holding it in place with his other hand. Vander ghosted his hand down Silco’s arm, cradling his hand in his. He looked up and met Silco’s eye. Silco nodded at Vander.

Vander pulled and rotated. Silco SCREAMED.

The pain of his bones scraping together back towards their proper place shot past the barricade that Kiri had put in his throat. Sound ripped from Silco’s lungs as he collapsed forward into Vander’s shoulder, clutching at his shirt. Vander quickly re-wrapped Silco’s forearm as a makeshift pressure bandage, hoping to keep the bones and vessels in more of a proper alignment until a doctor could properly set it.

Silco continued to cry out, screaming any air that attempted to stay behind. Despite the pain, Silco let out a breathy laugh and smiled. Being able to make sounds was big for Silco. As he told Vi, he couldn’t handle being silenced.

Vander finished tying off the bandage. He pulled a rag from his back pocket and made a makeshift sling out of it.

When finished, Vander caressed Silco’s face again. “You think you can make it downstairs?”

Silco looked back at him with a smug look. He tested out his ability to speak again. “probably not…” he managed to wheeze out. It hurt, but he was glad he could still speak.

Vander gently gathered Silco in his arms, trying not to jostle his broken arm too much. They made their way down the stairs, back to their family.

Chapter Text

The doctor put Silco on strict vocal rest for at least a week. At that time, they will come back and reassess how he was healing. As for Silco’s arm, the doctor set it and cast it. Powder wasted no time decorating it.

Sevika oversaw the removal of Kiri’s body from the roof of the bar. She adamantly refused to let Vander help. She said “Your man needs you more. I got this.” She wasn’t wrong. Once that was taken care of, Sevika acted in Silco’s stead, refocusing the WatchDog orders back to Finn.

The kids insisted that Silco should stay in the common room when he was awake, since at least one of them would be around to help if he needed anything. Silco gave in, since it was also a way for Mylo to be close without being obvious.

Mylo was…doing ok. He did spend most of his time sitting with Silco, working on his lockboxes. The proximity seemed to help ease Mylo. He still had his bravado built up like he had before, but at least now Silco knew why he had built it in the first place. Mylo’s sarcastic bites weren’t as sharp to Silco. It reminded him of himself in a way, before he met Vander, and they started planning for Zaun.

At some point, Benzo and some other patrons fixed the exploded booth. Benzo admitted he had felt bad about the booth since it was his supplies that Ekko brought over that exploded in the first place, leading to Vander getting injured. Thieram lent a hand of course.

The most surprising change was that Silco stopped wearing his eyepatch. His sclera was almost completely white now. Only the faintest hints of black could be seen if he looked all the way to one side. Powder had picked up the habit of just staring at Silco’s eyes. She kept saying “They are so pretty!” and then she would draw these elaborate designs in blue and orange.

Shortly after the doctor gave Silco the ok to start speaking again, in small increments of course, Sevika waltzed into the bar, carrying a paper bag. She plopped it on the bar as she leaned on it.

She sighed as Thieram placed a glass of whiskey in front of her. Vander had informed him of Sevika’s status of ‘free drinks for life’.

“You know,” She ignored the questioning look from Silco at the bag. “I’ve always wondered why you named the network ‘WatchDog’.”

Silco raised an eyebrow. “You’re asking this now?” His voice was still hoarse from the inciting trauma and subsequent vocal rest.

“Just curious, since you seemed to only name it after you came back to the bar.” She shot him a knowing look.

Silco chuckled. “‘Watch’ refers to the Eye of Zaun. ‘Dog’ refers to the Hound of the Underground. Didn’t think it was that obscure.”

Sevika jokingly punched him in the arm. “Smartass!”

Silco narrowed his eyes at her. “You already knew that didn’t you? Why ask?”

“I just wanted to see if you’d admit it to my face.” She emptied her glass and motioned for another. “Anyway, as to the reason I’m really here, you’re lucky I was able to find this.” She tapped the bag. “I had to cash in a few favors.”

Silco looked confused.

Sevika rolled her eyes. “Of course you don’t remember. You asked me to look for it right after Vander got sliced up.” She slid the bag down the bar.

Silco closed the ledger he was working on and peeked inside the bag. “Oh!” He looked back at Sevika smiling. “Thanks.” He said, hoarsely.

He hopped off the stool, holding the bag, and patted Sevika on the shoulder as he passed by her. Silco made his way to the common room where Mylo was sprawled out on the couch, holding a lockbox upside down. Silco approached and swatted at Mylo’s legs, indicating he wanted to sit. Mylo sat upright, placing the lockbox on the table.

“What’s that?” Mylo asked as Silco sat down.

Silco answered by handing the bag to Mylo. He took it with a confused look on his face. Silco motioned for him to open it. Mylo reached into the bag and pulled out a rather large book, about an inch thick. His eyes went wide as he read the cover.

Pictorial Encyclopedia of Historic Runeterran Architectural Plans, Details, and Elements

“This…this is the book…” Mylo was struggling for words as he ran his hand over the cover. “When…” He looked up at Silco.

Silco cleared his throat. “I- I asked Sevika to keep an eye out…”

Mylo looked back at the book. He cracked it open and leafed through the pages. “I remember all of this…” He smiled softly. Tears welling in his eyes. “Thatcher used to make up stories about the people drawn into the pictures…what they did, what they loved…if they were having a bad day…”

Silco put an arm around Mylo’s shoulders. Mylo leaned into him. A tear slipped down his cheek. Mylo pointed to a grumpy warrior and an apathetic mage illustrated in front of a historic Noxian temple.

“He would make jokes about how they were secretly in love and would meet at sunset… oh, wait.” Mylo flipped through, enthusiastically, to the section on Bilgewater. He flipped through the pages quickly, looking for something. “Here!” Mylo pointed to a pair of what looked like pirates in front of a grand ship. There was a tall, skinny pirate holding a knife to an unlucky looking crewman. “Thatcher loved to tell stories about these two…”

“What would he say?” Silco prompted.

“He would tell an epic story about siblings who were separated at birth, one becoming a pirate, the other a wealthy businessman…they reconnected and devised a plot to punish the man who separated them. That was the captain of this ship…” Mylo rambled on about the story Thatcher had spun for years.

Silco smiled, enjoying the joy that Mylo was reliving. The best way to keep someone alive was to remember the joy they brought. Eventually, Powder barged into the room, asking what they were doing. She wormed her way between them on the couch as Mylo started over, telling her about the separated siblings and how they found each other.

Silco watched as Mylo was able to enrapture Powder’s attention. This second time telling the story, Mylo embellished it more, added voices and arm motions. If Silco had to venture a guess, this was probably how Thatcher told the story in the first place. He leaned back and let the two interact. They didn’t often get along, so he took this as a win.

As Mylo wound down his story, Powder refocused on what he was holding.

“Where did this book come from?” She asked, flipping the cover so she could look at it.

Mylo paused before answering. “Silco asked Sevika to look for it…” A sad smile took over his expression. “I had mentioned in passing how I had a book like this when my brother was alive…it’s what got me interested in locks in the first place.”

Powder looked up at Mylo with large eyes. “Auntie Sevika found a book from that long ago!?”

Silco chuckled silently.

Mylo answered. “Well, it’s not the exact book I had…” Mylo flipped the book over and opened the back cover. “Thatcher and I had written our names here on the copy we had.” He ghosted his fingers over the blank page.

Powder perked up and hopped off the couch. She ran to her bunk and rifled through a bag. Clutching something she ran back and crawled back onto the couch. She held out an assortment of markers of different colors.

“You can put your names in this one too!”

Mylo looked surprised for a moment before looking back to the book with a smile. He nodded and reached for a marker. “Let’s do it!” He wrote his name down in brown. He then grabbed a bright blue marker and offered it back to Powder. “Write yours down too.”

Powder faltered. “But…it’s your book…it was yours and Thatcher’s…” Silco had been working with Powder, making sure she understood that while they were all family, not everything was shared between everyone. Silco could bring things for the others, and it didn’t mean he loved her any less.

Mylo didn’t skip a beat. “That book was mine and Thatcher’s. This one is ours.” He again gestured for Powder to take the pen.

Still unsure, she looked back at Silco. Silco reached forward and plucked a red marker from her offerings. “He did say it’s ours. He gave you permission darling.” He ruffled her hair.

She looked back at Mylo. He smiled softly at her. She finally smiled and took the offered marker and scrawled her name in the book. After writing her name down, she scooted back on the couch so Mylo could pass the book over to Silco. He signed his name with a beautiful flourish that would be expected from a man such as him.

Powder squirmed. “Do you…do you want the others to put their names?”

Mylo looked at the three names already written. He eventually nodded. “Sure-”

No sooner had the words left his mouth, Powder leaped over the back of the couch and ran out the door.

Mylo looked after her in mild shock until a giggled erupted from him. Silco joined him in laughter at her antics. Eventually, Vi, Claggor, Vander, and even Thieram were ushered into the small room.

“Powder, what’s this all about.” Vander prompted when she stopped pushing at his thigh.

“We’re all family and Mylo wants us to sign his new book!” She grabbed the remaining markers and started handing them out.

She handed a pink one to Vi. “A new book?” Vi asked.

Powder handed Claggor a dark blue one. “Uncle Silco asked Auntie Sevika to find a book Mylo used to have with Thatcher.” She handed the orange one to Vander. “They had signed their names in the back of the other one, so this one should also have the names of his family!”

Mylo was slightly shocked at the absolute candor in which Powder spoke. He flushed and rubbed the back of his neck, taking the book from Silco and handing it to Vander. “It’s what inspired my interest in locks…I had mentioned it in passing the day you were injured…”

Vander looked up at Mylo in slight surprise, before looking at Silco with a knowing look. “Of course. This one never forgets a detail like that.” He pointed his orange marker at Silco who just shrugged.

Vander knelt on the floor, opening the book to the back page on the table. He scrawled his name next to Silco’s. He slid it down the table so Vi and Claggor could sign it. Powder stopped her running in front of Thieram and looked up at him. Thieram felt a little uneasy that he was shuffled into the room with them. As he was about to say something…anything…when Powder reached up and shoved a yellow marker at him.

“You’re included too.”

Thieram was surprised. He looked up at Mylo, expecting a disapproving stare at Powder’s choice to include him. Instead, Mylo smiled and gestured for him to join. He sheepishly took the marker and headed to the table. He knelt and signed his name on the edge. As the last one to sign, Thieram closed the book and handed it back to Mylo. A silence fell on them as Mylo looked fondly at the book.

Silco cleared his throat, rather aggressively, and gave Vander a look. Vander gave him a quizzical look. Silco nodded, knowing what Vander was asking.

“So, uh…” Vander rubbed the back of his neck. “Since we are all assembled in one place…” Vander looked back at Silco for the encouragement he needed. Silco reached out a hand to Vander, who took it. Everyone looked at them, expressions edging on concern. “We figured we should inform all of you that we…uh…”

Silco squeezed Vander’s hand. “We’ve decided, that even though we don’t need to, we are going to get married…”

Everyone burst out in excitement. Vi leaped over the table and tackled Vander in a hug, before flopping on the couch to hug Silco. Mylo and Claggor cheered. Thieram smiled at them.

Powder, on the other hand, stood aghast.

“Pow-Pow, what’s wrong?” Vander asked.

Her eyes glistened with a hint of trouble. Her mouth broke into a shit eating grin.

“You’re saying we get to plan A WEDDING!?”

Chapter Text

Zaunite weddings were not like Piltovan weddings by any stretch of the imagination. While Piltovan weddings were grand, lavish, and long, Zaunite weddings could usually be described as mildly subdued ragers with a purpose. Yes, there was still an officiant and witnesses, but life and time moved much faster in Zaun. There never truly was time to slow down for the whole procession, the meticulous vows, the decadent chapel, the strategically planned seating chart for a ridiculous number of guests.

Zaunite weddings got to the point, pronounced them wed, and then got on with a party that lasted into the wee hours of dawn.

This one would be no different. Powder took it upon herself to plan the decorations of the Last Drop for such an occasion. Silco and Vander sat back and let her pour her heart and soul into. If it were only up to the two of them, they would sign the paperwork and be done with it. However, neither of them could deny the kids this, especially Powder.

Thieram stepped up and said he would handle the ordering for the occasion. He insisted that it would be his gift, to coordinate extra food and drink for the night, within reason of course.

The first person they told after the kids was Benzo. They had asked Powder to let Benzo know they had something to say when she went over to play with Ekko.

Benzo eased into the stool at the bar. “Now what’s this all about? Powder wouldn’t stop giggling as she said you wanted to see me.”

Vander slid him a drink. “Silco and I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Oh? A favor?” Benzo questioned, taking a sip.

Silco and Vander exchanged looks before each of them slipped off the ring on their right hand and placed them in front of Benzo.

“Do you remember these?” Silco asked.

Benzo picked up one of the rings and inspected it. “Oh! I do remember these!” He picked up the other to verify. “I made three of these, correct?”

Vander confirmed. “Vi wears Felicia’s on a necklace.”

Benzo hummed in acknowledgment. “Well, what is this favor then?”

Silco raised an eyebrow at Vander, as if the answer should have been obvious.

Vander answered Benzo. “Well…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “We were hoping you could resize them for us…”

“Resize them?” Benzo looked at the two of them, placing the rings back onto the bar. “They seemed to fit pretty well when you took them off just now.”

Silco rubbed his face with his hands. “We were hoping you could resize them to fit a different finger, on our left hands.” Silco held up his left hand, pointing at his ring finger with his thumb.

Vander and Silco watched as the gears began clicking into place on Benzo’s face. “You- I- what?”

Vander sighed and came around the bar to stand beside Silco, draping an arm around his shoulders. He reached out a hand to rest on Benzo’s shoulder. “We’re making this official, Benzo. We’re getting married.”

Benzo’s expression bloomed into happiness as tears began bubbling from his eyes. He lurched forward off his stool to wrap both of them in a gripping hug. Benzo happy sobbed into their shoulders as he tried to speak. “I’M-HIC-SO HAPPY-HIC-FOR YOU-HIC-BOTH!”

Vander and Silco patted Benzo on the back, letting him get his emotions out. He finally pulled back, attempting to wipe his face despite the tears that kept flowing. “Of course I’ll resize these!” He sat back on his bar stool and pulled out some tools to retake measurements of their fingers. He jotted down some notes before tucking the rings into a pocket. “Now, how long do I have to turn these around?”

Silco and Vander glanced at each other, before Vander answered. “We were planning on next week?”

“Well, that was fast!” Benzo chuckled. “Not like you lot could keep something like that quiet for long!”

Silco flushed. “Actually, we agreed on it the day after Vander was attacked by Finn…so it’s been about a month…”

Benzo gaped at Silco before turning to Vander. “Didn’t expect you’d be able to hold that kind of information secret for that long!”

“Benzo! I can keep information to myself!” Vander chided.

“Hah!” Benzo chuckled. “Says the man who told me he finally kissed Silco within 24 hours of it happening!”

It was Silco’s turn to gape at them. “Excuse me!”

Vander flushed a deep red. “Well, Sil, I was just very excited…”

Benzo continued. “I never thought you would hold out for Silco that long honestly! A year and a half!” Benzo addressed Silco. “The amount of bellyaching this man did, trying to figure out why you wouldn’t let him kiss you!” He shot back the last of his drink. “All while haulers and brutes alike were throwing themselves at him like he was free meat!”

“Benzo.” Vander growled, warning him.

Silco rolled his eyes, deciding to play along. “And tell me, dear Benzo, did you happen to partake in the bet on whether I was loud or stoic in the bedroom?”

Benzo went silent, his jaw closing with a snap, his face turning beet red. “Now, well…you see…”

Vander leaned in, also deciding to play along. “Oh, did I not tell you Silco? Benzo was one who ran that bet.”

Silco raised his eyebrows. “I never thought you would have it in you Benzo!”

“Ok, well,” Benzo tried to save face. “I wasn’t the one who brought it up or debated which one you were. I merely suggested that they make a bet on it since the debate was getting a little too heated and I thought, well, someone would find out eventually, and thought I could make a cog or two.” Benzo finished defending himself with a huff, crossing his arms.

Silco burst out laughing. The tension in Benzo eased at the sound.

Vander piped up. “Hey, what happened to that money anyway? Since no one won? There was quite a lot in the pot if I remember correctly.”

Benzo paused. He almost looked sorrowful, glancing up to the memorial of Felicia on the wall. “Well, she can’t threaten me from the grave…Felicia bet that you were both.”

Vander and Silco gaped at Benzo, before turning to each other, then turning to gawk up at the memorial photo of Felicia.

Silco broke the silence. “That wily bitch.”

“Actually, that makes a lot of sense…” Vander looked back to them. “I always wondered where she came up with her share to buy the bar.”

“When she came to collect, she threatened…a lot…for me to keep my mouth shut. Didn’t expect her to hoard that prize money for all those years.” Benzo thought wistfully. “She ended up using that money to give the two of you a lasting gift I guess.”

Vander poured the three of them a drink. He held up his glass to the memorial. “To Felicia, still being ten steps ahead of us even from the grave.”

Silco and Benzo raised their glasses with acknowledgment before the three of them downed their shots.

Preparations were fully underway. Word spread fast after they told Benzo. Many regulars dropped in and dropped off gifts at the bar for them. Silco and Vander had decided they would only close the bar for a few hours for the ceremony the day of, before opening it up to everyone as a big celebration.

Vander was working normally behind the bar with Thieram when Sevika strolled in. She was carrying some boxes with her. She plopped down at the bar, depositing the boxes on the floor by her feet.

“What’s all that for?” Vander chuckled as he passed her a glass.

Sevika took a sip and hummed as she relaxed into the bar stool. “Some formal wear for the kids. Gift from Babette.”

“Oh? I’ll have to send her a bottle.”

Sevika scoffed. “That’s not the point Vander! This is her wedding gift. How often do the kids get to dress up in something fancy? Forget that they live in the Undercity for a brief moment?” She took a sip. She glanced around the bar. “Silco out?”

He shook his head. “Nah, up in the office. Trying to get ahead of paperwork before next week.”

She rolled her eyes. “Think Chuck over there can hold the bar down while I talk to the two of you for a second?”

Vander chuckled as a quiet, “My names Thieram…” drifted over from where he was making a cocktail. He followed it up with, “I got it, you go.”

Vander nodded at Thieram and placed his rag down. Sevika downed the rest of her drink before gathering up the boxes and following Vander up to the office. Vander knocked softly before entering.

There were papers everywhere. It was the most disheveled the office has looked since Silco came back.

“Wait!” Silco called before they could step into the office…not that there was much floor available to step on.

Silco began ordering some of the piles on the floor, making it possible for the two to enter. Seeing Sevika walking in behind Vander, carrying boxes, Silco started removing the piles he had placed on the couch. Once the couch was clear, Sevika placed the boxes down and sat with a huff.

Silco eyed the boxes. “Are those…clothing boxes?”

Vander smiled. “Apparently a gift from Babette. It’s formal wear for the kids.”

“We should really send her a bottle.” Silco mused.

“Oh, would you two just accept a gift!?” Sevika grumbled. The boys looked sheepish at her scolding. “Anyway, I wanted to ask the two of you something.”

Silco moved some papers on his desk before perching on the edge. Vander moved to sit in the office chair that Silco obviously left for him.

“What did you want to ask?” Silco pressed.

“Do you guys…do you have someone to officiate?”

They looked at each other before Vander responded. “No, we hadn’t really gotten that far in the planning.”

Sevika pushed back her bangs. “Silco, I know I already agreed to stand for you, but I thought I would offer to officiate.”

Both men looked dumbfounded. Silco eventually laughed. “Since when are you ordained?”

Sevika grumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. “I was drunk and someone egged me on saying someone like me could never be approved for that kind of power so I called their bluff…”

Vander smiled. “Have you ever exercised that power?”

Sevika smirked. “Yes actually. You know the Married Madams at Babette’s?”

Silco chuckled. “You’re the one that married them?”

“Yup. They thanked me by giving me a hefty discount for about a year.”

Silco rolled his eyes. “You would.”

Vander patted Silco’s knee and squeezed. “We would be honored if you would officiate.” He stood up. “I’ll leave the two of you to discuss. I should probably get back to the bar before Thieram thinks I abandoned him.”

Vander leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Silco’s temple before heading out the door. Silco smiled after him.

“Ugh, you two are so domestic.” Sevika snorted.

Silco threw an eraser at her. “I’m NOT domestic.”

Sevika dodged it easily. “Well, my other gift is definitely NOT domestic either.” She pulled a box from the bottom of the stack.

“Your other gift?” Silco took the box from her.

The box had beautiful, scripted lettering across the top, Amore. Silco flushed bright red. “You went to a piltie lingerie store!?” He hissed at her.

“Oh, shut up and open it.” She waved him off.

Silco huffed but did as he was told. He slid the top off of the box, placing it on the desk. He pushed back the paper. A beautiful, crimson red silk gleamed back at him. He hesitated before touching the soft material. He pulled it from the box, letting it unfurl. It was a long, crimson red, silk robe with black lace accents along the neckline, the hem, and the sleeves.

“Sevika…” Silco was at a loss for words.

“I know you would never admit that you like the finer things that Piltover had to offer… Thought you deserved a chance to have something finer in the next chapter of your life.”

Silco stared at the material in his hands. It felt like butter in his hands. It draped over his forearm like water spilling over a rock. It was delicate. And Sevika was right. He tenderly placed the robe back in the box, replacing the lid. He stared at it for a moment, running a hand over the embossed lettering.

“I…Thank you.” Silco said, back still towards Sevika.

She stood up and crossed the room. She draped an arm around Silco’s shoulders. “I know you’ll enjoy it.” She winked at him. Silco elbowed her playfully in the ribs. “And I can bet Vander will enjoy it more.”

Silco shoved her. “Ok, now get out.”

She put her hands up in defeat. “I’m just saying. I am never wrong about these things.”

It was past closing. Thieram was finishing restocking the clean glassware. Silco was closing out the till. Vander was hauling…something…into the backroom. Silco closed the drawer with a sigh.

“Hey, Thieram.” He asked the empty bar.

“Yeah?” Thieram answered as he finished putting glasses on the upper shelf.

“I…” Silco paused.

Thieram heard the hesitation in Silco’s voice. “Is everything ok?”

“Yes, everything is fine.” Silco brought himself back to the conversation he started. He turned to Thieram. He almost looked sheepish. “I know we have asked a lot from you this last month.”

Thieram smiled sheepishly. “It’s no trouble really. I don’t mind.”

Silco smiled softly. “Can I ask one more thing from you?”

“Uh, yeah, what is it?”

Silco fidgeted with his hands. “So Sevika is going to officiate the wedding. Which means she can’t stand as my witness…” Thieram waited for Silco to finish. Silco rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t really have anyone else to ask to stand in for her… Would you mind standing in as my witness?”

Thieram smiled. “Of course!”

The emphatic response surprised Silco. “Wait, really?”

Thieram chuckled. “Do you honestly think Powder is going to let me sit this out anyway?”

Silco laughed. “You’re right. Let me guess, she already made you a matching boutonniere?”

Thieram shrugged. “She does like making people match.”

Chapter Text

The day of the ceremony came. Vander was curled around Silco’s back as he awoke. Vander pressed his nose into the back of Silco’s neck. Silco stirred, stretching his legs out before curling back into Vander.

“Mornin love.” Vander mumbled into the back of Silco’s neck.

Silco hummed. “Today is the day.” Something was off in his voice.

Vander pulled him in closer. “Nervous?”

Silco didn’t answer. He traced his hand along the arm around his waist, threading his fingers with Vander’s. “Why would I be?”

Vander chuckled. “I, for one, never thought I would get this chance.”

Silco rolled over to look at Vander. “Wait, really? Never?”

Vander looked surprised at Silco’s surprise. “Love, you’ve always kept me at arm’s length for our entire early relationship. After it took me a year and a half to kiss you, I accepted that marrying you may never happen. And then…well…” He brought up a hand and caressed the scarring on Silco’s face.

Silco brought a hand up to caress Vander’s. “You never thought, for one moment, that getting me to agree to marriage would be easier than letting you kiss me? Husbands are always killable, darling.” Silco turned his head and kissed Vander’s palm.

Vander gaped at him. “Silco!”

Silco eyed him playfully, before bringing his face close to Vander’s. He nudged Vander’s nose with his. “Nervous?”

Vander rolled them over, so he was pinning Silco to the bed. He kissed him languidly. Vander pulled away after nipping Silco’s lip. “Never.”

Vander leaned in for another kiss when he was interrupted by a bang on the door.

“You two had better not be fucking!” Sevika called through the door.

“Fuck off Sevika!” Silco yelled back, Vander leaning down to nip at his neck.

Sevika opened the door anyway. “Get up boys! We have things to do!” She walked straight up to the bed, taking Vander’s now abandoned pillow and smacked Vander with it. “Let’s go, you horny dog! You can fuck him later!”

“Sevika!” Silco yelled at her, flushing. He pushed at Vander to sit up.

She threw the pillow in Silco’s face once Vander sat up. “Let’s go!”

Thieram had helped the boys get situated in their fancy dress, since they hadn’t had the opportunity to do it before. Mylo sported a brown vest, while Claggor sported a dark blue one. Thieram himself had a sunny yellow vest. Since the three of them were standing for Silco, they had matching red ties. Powder had made matching boutonnieres for everyone, a mix of reds and oranges. Thieram pinned them to the boys’ lapels.

Sevika, in turn, helped the girls get ready. Vi sported flowy culottes with a sleeveless top, in a pretty, raspberry pink. She wore Felicia’s ring necklace on the outside of her clothes. Powder had a poofy, powder blue dress. She instinctively twirled once Sevika got it secured.

“I feel like a princess!” She giggled.

Sevika was wearing a sleeveless, backless, haltered, deep-purple gown, dripping with golden chains with her steel-toed boots. She let Powder braid her hair and affix her boutonniere to her head. In turn, Sevika braided Powder’s hair and affixed her boutonniere. The longer half of Vi’s head was long enough to braid so she let them braid it too, to match. Sevika affixed the final boutonniere to her head.

Sevika and the girls were making their way up from the basement as Thieram and the boys were making their way down the stairs. They all met at the bar, along with Benzo and Ekko. Benzo was wearing a green vest with an orange tie, and Ekko was wearing a green suit. Powder bounded up to them, handing them their matching boutonnieres.

The bar stools had been moved to the side. Powder had hung fairy lights and draped fabric behind the bar to make it look like a magical backdrop. Vander approached. He was wearing a finely tailored black suit, with a grey vest, black shirt, and orange tie.

“Vander!” Powder yelled as she ran up to him.

Vander lifted her into his arms. “Pow-Pow, you look like a magical princess.”

She giggled and hugged him around the neck. He placed her back on the floor and she ran off to talk with Ekko. Vander approached Sevika. “Hey, could you check on Silco?”

Sevika suddenly looked concerned. “What happened?”

“Nothing! Well, technically nothing…He kicked me out of our bedroom about an hour ago. I suspect he may be overthinking again.”

She patted him on the shoulder. “I got you.”

She made her way to their room. She didn’t bother knocking.

“Vander, I told you-” Silco went quiet when he realized it was Sevika. He ducked back into the bathroom.

“Vander sent me in to see if you were still lucid.” She walked over to the bathroom and leaned on the doorway.

Silco glared at her through the mirror. He was wearing a striking burgundy suit. Black vest, black shirt, burgundy tie. His hair was down and it looked like he had been running his hands through it. There were some makeup products on the counter.

“Are you thinking of covering your scars?” Sevika asked.

Silco ducked his head. “That’s what I’ve been debating…”

“Ok, well, what were you planning on for your hair?” Sevika prompted. “We can talk through it while we do your hair.”

Silco handed her the brush. “I was going to just do a low bun.”

She stepped forward, taking the brush, and started working Silco’s hair into a low bun. “So why were you initially thinking of covering everything?”

Silco sighed. “Because they are a reminder of the worst of both of us…”

“Fair.” Sevika said. “Then what’s stopping you?”

Silco locked eyes with her in the mirror. He shifted his mismatched eyes away after a moment. “I…I’m not sure.” He fiddled with a hair tie. “Vander…It’s like he has accepted everything…scars and all, his failures and mine…”

Sevika plucked the hair tie from his hands. “And what about you?”

“What about me?”

Sevika picked up one of the red ribbons Powder had given him, tying a proper little bow around his bun. “What have you accepted?”

Silco turned around to look her in the eyes. The low bun allowed some of the shorter hair in front to fall forward, framing his face nicely. He dropped his gaze again, fidgeting with the edge of the counter. He thought for a moment before chuckling. “Vander.”

“All of Vander?” She prompted.

He smiled up at her. “All of Vander.”

Smiling, Sevika affixed Silco’s red and orange boutonniere to his lapel. “Come on, let’s get you married.”

*

Sevika and Silco rejoined the group of them at the bar. Upon noticing Silco, those who gathered for the ceremony began to quiet down and take a seat. Vander looked at Silco as he approached.

Vander reached out his right hand, caressing Silco’s scarred cheek. “Janna, you’re beautiful.” Silco smiled.

A song played through the jukebox, filling the background with soft music. Everyone took their places around the two of them.

Sevika cleared her throat. Vander pulled back his hand from Silco’s face, taking his hands instead. “Who’d have thought we’d be standing here with these two mine moles getting married?” She started, snickers passing through the crowd.

Sevika rambled through the obligatory speech of an officiant. She asked each of them in turn if they would take the other as their lawfully wedded husband. They each responded with an “I do.”

“The rings?” Sevika motioned to Benzo.

Benzo was barely keeping his shit together. Eyes were filled with tears, and he would try to discreetly sniffle every once in a while. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the two newly resized rings and handed them to Sevika.

She talked them through the exchanging of rings. Silco’s breath caught in his throat when Vander slipped his ring onto his finger. His breath trembled as he slid Vander’s ring onto his finger.

“Well, that’s it for me. Go ahead and kiss each other you old fools.”

Vander surged forward, kissing Silco with all the love he had in his heart. Benzo sobbed and cheers broke out around them, but neither heard. Vander’s hand on Silco’s back was the only thing keeping him upright and not falling backwards. They pulled apart, resting their foreheads together, just staring at each other.

They took a step back from each other and looked out over the screaming crowd. The kids rushed in and hugged them, Powder of course pulling Thieram into the mix. Thieram and Sevika eventually pulled away from the group to pull back the fabric behind the bar, making it so they could actually work behind it. Sevika poured herself a drink and wandered off into the crowd. Patrons and friends filtered up, offering their congratulations to the newlyweds.

Everyone celebrated and drank. Eventually, Benzo did the ironic glass tap to get everyone’s attention.

“Now, I have been supporting these two knuckleheads for a long time and supplying them with music for the jukebox. I have one final gift for you two. I found this song that fits your love for each other.” Benzo began to get misty-eyed. “I also think it’s time for a first dance.”

Vander turned to Silco as Benzo fiddled with the jukebox. He offered out a hand. “Shall we?” The music started.

I don’t know nothin’ about you

But baby I want to

I know forever seems so long

But maybe it don’t feel wrong

Silco rolled his eyes, accepting the hand. He let Vander guide him to the dance floor.

Would you let your walls down for someone like me?

‘Cause you make me wanna be the man I’m meant to be

Vander pulled him close. Silco rested his head on his shoulder.

Feelings they come and go

So, I’m good to take things slow

I’ll wait till you realize

Just what you mean to me,

To me

“I’m glad I took the risk and waited for you.” Vander whispered into Silco’s hair.

Don’t know how I lived without you

My daydreams, they were so blue

And I know together we’re so strong

Lord, take me when you’re gone

Silco leaned up and kissed Vander chastely.

‘Cause you let your walls down for someone like me

Could you help me be the man I was meant to be?

“Janna, you bring out the best of me.” Vander waxed poetically.

Feelings they come and go

So, I’m good to take things slow

I’ll wait till you realize

Just what you mean to me,

To me

“You’re such a sappy romantic.” Silco jested.

I’ll wait a hundred days, a thousand nights,

Try a million ways to get it right

As long as you’re by my side

“And you wouldn’t have it any other way.” Vander retorted.

“No, I wouldn’t.”

Feelings they come and go

So, I’m good to take things slow

I’ll wait till you realize

Just what you mean to me,

To me

The song ended as Vander leaned down for another kiss. Silco reached up and held the back of Vander’s neck, letting himself be bathed in Vander’s affection.

The music changed and people started dancing around them. They didn’t seem to care.

Over by the bar, Powder made a fake retching sound. “I know it’s their wedding but why do they have to be so inappropriate!”

Thieram snorted into his drink, the whiskey spilling down his chin. He leaned forward in just enough time for the whiskey to miss his vest.

“Easy there, Chuck!” Sevika exclaimed walking up to the bar.

Thieram wiped his face with a rag. “The name’s Thieram!”

Sevika waved him off. “Hey, have you met Gimble?” Sevika gestured to the young woman next to her. She was around Thieram’s age, auburn waves spilling over her tanned shoulders. She waved shyly at Thieram.

Thieram flushed. “I…uh…we’ve crossed paths briefly, but uh…we’ve never formally met… I’m Thieram…you’re a contract courier, right?”

Gimble’s face lit up. “Yes! I’ve been picking up contracts for Benzo mostly, but I’m starting to pick up more contracts for this bar actually.”

Sevika made her way around the bar to pour herself another drink. She patted Thieram on the shoulder, saying “Good luck, Chuck!” before slipping away to find another woman who wasn’t straight.

Gimble giggled. “Why does she call you Chuck?”

Thieram rubbed the back of his neck. “Honestly, I have no idea.”

Powder huffed and hopped off the bar. “Why is everyone so gross!”

Thieram flushed at Powder’s insinuation. “Powder!” He made eye contact with Gimble and they both chuckled.

Powder ran off to find someone who wasn’t ‘being gross’.

At some point, Vander abandoned his jacket, vest, and tie. He had rolled up his sleeves and popped a few of the top buttons. He was dancing with the kids on the dance floor. Silco found his way back to the bar for a drink. He too abandoned his jacket at some point, but only his jacket. He took a sip as he watched Vander embarrass the kids with his worst dance moves. He eventually noticed that Vander was no longer wearing his arm brace. Like the skin on his face, the skin of his arm eventually healed. The scar was long and jagged. Vander noticed he was being watched and locked eyes with Silco. Letting the kids win in their fight against embarrassment, Vander left them to their own devices and joined Silco at the bar.

“You’re staring Sil.” Vander said as he leaned against the bar with his right arm.

“Is there something wrong with staring at my husband.” He took a sip while side-eying Vander.

Vander smiled, taking the drink Thieram placed in front of him. “Not if it’s my husband that’s doing the staring.” He took a sip.

He nearly spit that sip out when Silco’s fingers trailed up his exposed forearm. He managed to save himself and swallow it down.

“I see you’ve abandoned your brace…” Silco continued feeling the skin.

“Well…” Vander swallowed, hard. “The skin is completely healed now…”

Silco tested a theory and dragged a nail down the center of the scar. Vander tensed and crowded into him.

“Silco…” Vander warned into his ear.

“So, it is sensitive.” Silco whispered back, abandoning the scar and traced his hand up the outside of Vander’s forearm.

Vander pulled back to look Silco in the eyes. “Store that thought for later, love.”

Silco took a sip of his drink without breaking eye contact. “Oh, just you wait. I have many thoughts for later.”

Their banter was interrupted by friends approaching them to offer their congratulations.

The night ran on. People filtered out of the bar. Gimble left with the promise of having lunch with Thieram in a few days. The kids eventually gathered in one of the booths, Powder falling asleep on Vi’s lap. Everyone knew that Silco and Vander would never take time off for a honeymoon, so Benzo, Thieram, and Sevika began gathering the kids. They had agreed that Thieram and the boys would stay at Benzo’s for the night and the girls would stay with Sevika.

Vander and Silco said goodnight to the kids as they were ushered out with their overnight bags.

Chapter Text

Silco sneaked off while Vander walked everyone to the door. Closing up, Vander locked the door. The bar was silent now, save for the jukebox.

Vander, out of habit, began to tidy up behind the bar. It was his way of unwinding after an eventful day and this day sure was eventful. He was humming to himself so he didn’t hear the soft footfalls padding up behind him. Small, delicate hands wrapped around his waist, trailing up his chest. He could feel Silco press himself to his back.

“Now why is my husband cleaning the bar on our wedding night?” Silco purred into his back.

Vander chuckled, running a hand down Silco’s arm. He stilled when he felt an unfamiliarly soft fabric…silk?

He turned around to look at Silco. His hair was down, and he was wearing a floor length, crimson red silk robe with black lace accents. Silco stepped back into his space, running his hands up Vander’s chest.

“Sil…” Vander was breathless at the sight.

Silco leaned in and kissed the small portion of exposed chest at the top of Vander’s shirt, where the buttons were undone. “Come to bed, darling.” Silco purred as he nipped up Vander’s neck. “You don’t want to keep your husband waiting now do you?” He brought their faces close. “Or is this your way of telling me you want to get freaky in the bar?”

Silco’s hands trailed down Vander’s chest to his belt. Before Vander could answer, Silco unbuckled his belt and dropped to his knees. Vander had to brace his back against the bar or he would have keeled over.

The sight was breathtaking. The silk robe splayed around Silco, his pale knees peeking out from under the fabric. The tie had loosened, letting the neckline slip off one shoulder. Mismatched eyes staring up at him as Silco deftly pulled Vander’s cock from his pants.

Slender fingers wrapped themselves around him as Silco leaned forward and licked a stripe from the base to the tip. This broke Vander out of his trance. He threaded his fingers through Silco’s hair and pushed him back.

“Sil…” Vander breathed out hesitantly.

“Van.” Silco matched his tone. “It’s ok. I want to.”

Vander slid his hand down to caress Silco’s face before pulling back and bracing both hands on the bar. Silco leaned in, licking at the tip before enclosing his mouth around it. Vander’s breathing stuttered as he shut his eyes and tilted his head back.

Next to marriage, this was something he was sure would never happen. Silco’s apprehension around kissing was amplified when it came to…other things occupying his mouth. Not to mention, the one time he was drugged and forced to…

Silco chased those thoughts away as he took Vander deeper into his mouth. Vander was far too big for him to take completely, but he managed what he could. Vander could feel himself hit the back of Silco’s throat. Silco swallowed around him, making him shudder.

“Sil…” He breathed out as a warning.

Silco hummed in return. The sensation made Vander’s skin crawl. He threaded his hands back through Silco’s hair and pushed him back. Silco released his cock with a pop, tongue flicking out and chasing the retreating tip.

Mismatched eyes flickered up to Vander, although the pupils nearly obscured their coloring with how blown they were. Vander urged him to stand. Silco practically crawled his way up his chest. Once standing, Vander tugged at his hair, earning a moan as Silco tilted his head back. Vander dove in to nibble at the exposed neck. His free hand snaked around Silco’s waist, pulling him close. The buttery soft fabric sending chills up both their spines.

Vander pulled back as his hand traveled lower, grabbing at Silco’s ass. Silo leaned into Vander, bringing one knee up his side to wrap his leg around Vander. The robe fell back, letting the pale skin contrast with the black of Vander’s pants. As if on cue, Vander ran his hand up the exposed thigh under the robe. His hand came to a stop caressing Silco’s ass when his fingertips came into contact with…something slick?

Vander gaped at Silco, who just had a predatory smile on his face.

“I was alone, waiting for my husband for quite some time.” Silco rolled his hips into Vander.

Vander matched Silco’s smile as he reached down with his other hand to grab at the thigh Silco was still standing on. With a quick motion, he lifted Silco by the thighs, prompting Silco to wrap his thighs around him. The movement pushed their aching cocks together and they both moaned at the contact.

Silco leaned down from his new position and languidly kissed Vander. Vander responded by bringing a hand behind Silco to test out just how much he had prepped himself in the short time he had slipped away. Silco gasped at the new intrusion and clenched his legs around Vander.

“My, my. Someone was a little impatient.” Vander hummed into Silco’s neck.

“Impatient!?” Silco scoffed at Vander. “I expected you to jump me as soon as the kids were out the door.”

“Well, it seems I have to catch up then.” Vander pushed off the bar, carrying Silco towards their bedroom.

They barely made it inside when Vander spun them around and pressed Silco up against the door. Vander kissed Silco deeply as he lined himself up with him. As Vander pushed inside him, Silco threw his head back against the door, letting out a long, low moan.

“Vander~” Silco mewled.

Keeping his promise to catch up, Vander set a brutal pace, fucking up into Silco who just spasmed against the door and scrambled to find purchase with his hands. Vander occupied his mouth with Silco’s now exposed collarbone as the robe slid down his shoulders with each thrust. For added leverage, Vander grabbed Silco by the back of the knees and pushed his legs back, practically folding him in half. Silco grasped onto Vander’s shirt as he spasmed at the new angle. The sounds Silco produced at the onslaught of thrusts were completely unintelligible. Vander nipped and kissed up Silco’s neck.

“V-Van!” Silco stuttered as he came between them forcefully.

Vander’s rhythm was thrown off by Silco clenching around him. He thrust a few more times before burying himself deep within Silco. He came inside him, filling him, as he sunk his teeth into the soft skin at the junction of his jaw and right ear. Silco grabbed onto Vander’s hair as a lifeline as he rode out Vander’s orgasm.

Vander released Silco’s legs, letting them wrap around him and his ankles hooking behind his back. Silco held on to Vander as Vander pushed them off the door to stalk towards the bed. Vander kneeled on the bed before lowering Silco onto it. Vander trailed light kisses down Silco’s chest as he pulled out. Silco whined as Vander pulled away from him completely, standing by the edge of the bed.

Vander’s eyes never left Silco as he began stripping off his clothes. Silco looked completely, thoroughly, and utterly debauched. Silco squirmed under the gaze. He stretched one arm up over his head. The other hand he trailed down his chest, fully pushing open the robe, before trailing further downwards. Silco spread his legs as he reached down to push his fingers against his aching hole, feeling the cum drip out of him.

Now as naked as Silco, Vander knelt on the bed, leaning down to nip playfully at Silco’s inner thigh. He smiled at the curt gasps it pulled from his husband.

“Janna, I can’t believe I get to call you my husband.” Vander purred into Silco’s skin.

He slowly crawled up Silco, nipping as he went. He pulled Silco’s hand away from himself and took the soiled fingers in his mouth, cleaning them with his tongue. Once finished, Vander pressed that hand up above Silco, meeting the other Silco had slid up himself.

“Why don’t you stop staring and kiss your husband then?” Silco purred up at him.

Vander surged forward, capturing Silco’s mouth in a heated kiss. Vander took both of Silco’s wrists in one hand and held them in the pillows. His other hand slid down Silco’s side, angling his hips so he could slip into him again. Silco wrapped his legs around him again, pulling him as close as he could go.

As soon as Vander’s hips met his, Vander pulled out again and pulled back. Silco blinked up at him, confused.

“Van- AH!” Silco attempted to question him before Vander flipped him over. His face hit the pillows as Vander sunk back into him from behind. Strong hands held his hips aloft. Silco mewled at the sudden angle change but quickly sunk into the rhythm. One of Vander’s hands braced itself next to Silco’s head as Vander leaned over him. Silco grasped at the sheets below him as Vander pounded into him relentlessly. Silco’s legs trembled before his knees slid out to either side, Vander fucking him into the mattress.

Vander loomed over him, nipping playfully at the bite he gave him earlier. Silco gasped at the sensation. Vander reached down underneath Silco and stroked him in time with his thrusts. For the second time, Silco came onto the sheets. Vander followed shortly after, sinking his teeth, again, into Silco’s neck, this time closer to the shoulder.

Vander collapsed on top of Silco. The two breathed heavily into the quiet room. Silco shifted first.

“You're heavy…” He slurred out, drunk on the pleasure of the evening.

Vander nuzzled the back of his neck. “You love it.”

Silco only hummed in response. Vander finally pulled out of Silco and rolled over onto his back. Silco shifted his legs into a more comfortable position, staying on his stomach. He pulled his pillow into his face and snuggled into in contently.

Vander let his arm fall between them, letting his fingers lazily brush against Silco’s thigh. “Was I as satisfactory as usual after getting hitched?” He joked.

Silco shifted his face so one eye could pop open and stare at him. Golden orange stared at Vander for a moment before Silco responded. “More than usual.” He murmured contently into the pillow.

Silco tried to stretch his whole body out but found he was being restricted by the robe twisting around him. With an annoyed grunt, he shifted onto his knees in order to wiggle free from the restrictive fabric before flopping back down into his pillow. He shifted his thigh over Vander’s hand. As if on cue, Vander gently squeezed the soft flesh that was offered to him. Silco hummed.

Vander let out a grunt as he shifted to stand from the bed. He padded over to the bathroom to get some rags to clean them off. When he returned to the bed, he noticed that the fitted sheet had come loose at one corner, showing another fitted sheet below. He pulled back the sheet to confirm that indeed, there was another sheet fitted to the bed as well as a layer of towels.

Vander let out a boisterous laugh.

Silco shifted at the sound. “What’s so funny?”

“Sevika double made our bed.”

Silco propped himself on an elbow. “She did what?”

Vander pulled back the soiled sheet to show Silco the second sheet beneath it. Silco turned beet red. “That sneaky-”

“Now Silco,” Vander interrupted, rolling the soiled sheets towards the middle of the bed. He knelt on the clean sheets as he reached over and cleaned up Silco’s torso. He effortlessly scooped up Silco, rolled the soiled sheets from beneath him and laid him back down onto the clean sheets.

Silco rolled back onto his stomach, pulling his pillow into his face again. “You know she’s the one who gave me that robe.”

Vander hummed as he pulled the blanket up over them. He nestled into the bed, pulling Silco close. He whispered into his ear, “Who do you think told her about it in the first place?”

Silco shot up, beet red, staring at Vander. “You did WHAT?”

Vander laughed, reaching out to pull Silco back down. “You think I didn’t notice all those times your touch would linger for a second too long when we were looting piltie mansions?”

Silco’s expression turned to shock before he flopped back down onto the bed. “I…I didn’t think that was noticeable…”

Vander leaned in for a kiss. “I always notice everything you do. I always did.”

Silco smiled, resting their foreheads together. “Of course you do.”