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Chapter Text

When the monkey toy first showed up, Vi didn’t recognize it.

She was too busy driving her first into Deckard’s chest. 

If she stopped for even a moment, even the slightest faltering, he would gain enough footing to hit back.

If Vi hit hard enough, she wouldn’t have to worry about dodging or blocking.

The whiny clapping noise behind her was just more buzz she shooed away from her consciousness.

The only sounds Vi cared about were the groans of pain from the monstrous Deckard and the sound of Claggor breaking through the wall.

By the time Vi caught a break, had a second to wonder what’s that doing there? It was already too late.

She reared up, slammed her fist into his jaw, and watched as his body swayed side to side, deciding where her next hit would be most effective now that the purple drooling monster was unsteady.

Then everything was blue.

Deckard’s body fell on top of her, ooze and all, and the world around them combust into blue flames.

Vi was knocked to the floor, Deckard covering her inch to inch, and everything was so hot Vi didn’t shove him off.

Vi screamed as the body started to smoke, and the floor beneath her warmed.

Another spiral of blue and she could hear the wall start to collapse behind her.

Then it was blue.

Blue.

Blue.

When Vi came to Deckard is nothing but a charred human shield.

The smell alone was enough to make Vi heave, let alone the sight. 

She forced herself to take a breath and waited precious seconds for her stomach to settle into something resembling normalcy. 

Vi pried him off of her.

She cried when the skin that was touching him blisters and bubbles bright red. She forced herself to go just a little slower, ignoring the pounding anxiety working her heart into overtime. 

She looked to the room Vander was being held in.

No.

Vi panted, vision blurring at the sight of the collapsed and ruined room.

There were splatters of blood and piles of wall and no sign of life.

No sign of Mylo.

Or Claggor.

Or-

“Vander,” Vi pleaded, sobs coming unbidden. 

Nothing but ominous rumbling and flames crackling in reply.

She sat up for a better look, only to be bitterly disappointed with the grim reality. The impulse to drag her body to the rubble and dig was strong. 

Vi could see herself doing it, walking on her jelly legs and pushing through the pain of her burns and dig through the mess.

Something burning dropped from the ceiling, landing right in front of the opening, and reminded Vi of her own uselessness.

Vi had to get out.

The catwalk they entered remained intact.

Vi wasn’t sure how long it would hold, and the sounds the building made were unpromising. 

However, any sign of the one eyed creep or his goons was gone.

This may be as good of a chance as she would get. 

Vi crawled past the catwalk and found her legs in the nick of time.

She came out the way she came in.

The window was significantly more shattered, but Vi managed to twist her way through slowly. 

She had barely been standing outside of the cannery for three minutes when, with one more mournful groan, the factory collapsed.

Vi watched the rampant flames eat up the remaining building with despair.

They were gone.

They were all gone.

Her eyes stung with smoke and tears as her life went up in flames a second time. 

“Vi, it worked!” Powder’s voice came from behind.

Every cell in Vi’s body froze.

She furrowed her brow.

That can’t be right. 

She told Powder to stay home. 

She was probably curled up in bed right now, waiting for her. 

Vi told her, explained to her that she couldn’t come. 

There was no way.

Vi turned, eager to prove her ears wrong, but saw her sister was no heat induced mirage.

Powder stood, pride rippling off of her, as she announced. “My monkey bomb finally worked! Did you see?”

Vi’s world crumbled.

The sick feeling returned to her stomach and her mind faltered, over and over, trying and failing to put together the puzzle before her. 

Power’s eager eyes dimmed when she saw the look of pain on Vi’s face.

“You did this?” Vi muttered, her eyes shining with tears and her face showing every inch of her anguish.

Powder, shy Powder, withdrew, eyes glancing about.

They finally looked at the ruined building. Powder froze.

Vi stared at her.

The flames crackled, and the sky rumbled.

“They were in there.” Vi said. “They were all in there.”

Powder flinched.

Vi turned away. She was shaking. 

Powder set off the bomb.

It made a sickening amount of sense. 

Powder ignored Vi’s orders. Powder somehow got one of her stupid toys to work. She admitted it herself. 

Vi’s eyes and ears told her all of this, but her heart squeezed painfully when she assembled it as the truth.

“Why?” Vi asked. She looked back at her sister. “Why did you do this?”

Powder stared blankly at the burning building, the way she stared blankly at their mother on the bridge. Powder sniffed.

“I…I didn’t…” Powder shook her head. “I was saving you.”

Powder wouldn’t look at Vi.

Vi’s heart pounded in her chest in an effort to keep up with the roaring blood. 

She could not catch her breath. It came in short, angry spurts.

She wanted Powder to look. She wanted her to see what she had done.

“I only wanted to help.” Powder sobbed. Her eyes wouldn’t raise above the ground and her tears left tracks in her soot stained face. “I only wanted to help, I only wanted to help, I-”

“I told you to stay away.” Vi’s voice cracked. Powder’s eyes continued to flit back and forth, landing on Vi in between, as tears streamed down her face. She mumbled something Vi didn’t understand. Her anger boiled over.

 “I told you to stay AWAY!” Vi yelled.

Her fist, of its own accord, swung, and knocked Powder to the ground.

Powder yelped.

Vi’s muscles locked up. 

She couldn’t reach out, whether to help her up or hit her again, even if she wanted to. 

Powder’s hand cradled her face, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

 “Why did you leave me!” Powder shrieked.

Before Vi could think, she lurched forward and grabbed her sister’s face, squishing her cheeks between her fingers, making her look. 

Vi pulled them till they were nose to nose, Powder’s blue eyes finally back on her.

Everything spilled over. 

Her heart crawled up her throat, and Vi spat out the most hurtful thing she could think of. 

“Because you’re a jinx!” Vi snarled, teeth bared. “Do you hear me?! Mylo was right!”

Powder didn’t raise a hand to stop her.

She just knelt on the ground, limp in Vi’s grip, pleading uselessly in a way Vi couldn’t understand in between sobs.

Her nose trickled blood and mixed with snotty tears.

It stopped Vi cold.

She snatched her hand back.

Powder’s blood mingled with the smears from her bruised knuckles.

Her hand shook at the sight of the stained wrap.

Powder looked so small, sitting on the ground sobbing.

Just like on the bridge.

Vi was messing up.

Powder was her baby.

Had been since she was born.

Powder was all the family she had left.

Vi wasn’t supposed to be the one who made her cry or made her bleed.

Vi tried to take a deep breath. 

She tried to calm down. 

She tried everything her muddled brain could think of, every trick Vander had shown her while they boxed so her opponent couldn’t get into her head. 

Except now her opponent was somewhere much worse. 

Powder was buried deep in the muscle of Vi’s heart.

She had to walk away.

She had to.

Vi forced her body up, limbs screaming. She cradled the arm with more stinging burns.

She needed to breathe. Away from the smoldering heat and the weight of a sister who had been orphaned again.

Rain started to fall, and Powder said something, a plea, that Vi couldn’t understand over the roaring of her own blood.

Vi took a step away. And then another.

Powder called her name, begging for her to come back.

Vi continued her trek. 

Vi would.

Just not yet.

She needed to breathe.

She needed to let the rain cool her blistering skin, wash the ashes and blood, soothe the roaring fire behind her.

She would come back and take Powder by the hand and walk them home.

They’d figure out what to do from there.

However angry Vi was, she could never have more anger than love for Powder.

No matter how badly she fucked up.

Vi stumbled into a nearby alley. 

She slumped up against the wall.

Powder wasn’t within hearing distance anymore, or maybe she was just quieter.

Vi could see her outline sitting in the dirt.

Vi sobbed.

She felt herself coming apart.

She wanted Vander. She wanted Mylo or Claggor.

She wanted her parents.

She didn’t want to be alone.

Vi slid to the ground and allowed herself to cry.

Her body ached from the fight and her burns hurt every time she moved her arms in a certain way. 

Tears mixed with the rain and stung her eyes.

It all just wasn’t fair.

What was Vi going to do?

With no Vander, who knows how long they had a home in the Last Drop?

How would she take care of herself? Of Powder? How would she forgive her?

Vi looked back to where her sister sat, hoping for answers.

Instead, Vi saw a figure standing over her sister.

A familiar one, skinny and threatening.

Vi shot up, pain forgotten.

“Powder,” she whispered in terror. Her entire body lurched forward, scrambling to get back to her.

No, no, no, no-

She couldn’t lose Powder too.

 “Powder!” Vi began to yell, only for someone to grab her from behind and press something into her mouth, muffling her cries. Vi glanced behind her and only could catch sight of an Enforcer uniform.

“Shh,” the man said in a Piltie accent. “He’ll kill you if he hears you.” 

Vi didn’t care.

She had to save Powder.

Vi fought.

With everything she had, she fought to yell, to stay awake, to get to Powder.

Whatever was on the cloth, whatever Vi was breathing in, made the whole world blur and her muscles collapse.

Her last thought as she succumbed to the drug was of Powder’s outline in the dirt, and the man who stood over her.

Vander finished securing a sling on the wincing Mylo.

For someone who must be in excruciating pain, the boy was handling himself well, not making a sound.

Vander would be proud if it wasn’t so awful.

Now that Mylo’s broken and bloody arm was secured, Vander returned his attention to Claggor.

He had stopped blinking so much and his hands laid still instead of rubbing at the nasty head injury. It would have to do for now.

“We have to go back,” Claggor muttered for the eighth time.

Now that his own emergency first aid was finished, Mylo joined. “I can walk Vander,” Mylo promised, “I can help-”

“You both are going back to the Drop, you hear me?” Vander corrected them.

He could still see the flames of the factory from the distance they were at. 

Vander didn’t want to send the boys home alone, but he knew Vi’s chances of survival dropped every second she was alone there. They were in no shape to go back for their sister with Vander, and he was in no shape to defend all three children, as hard as it was for Vander to admit. 

Their best option was to leave without him. 

Judging by the looks on their faces, they wouldn’t go quietly.

“I said, do you hear me?’ Vander insisted.

Mylo let out a frustrated sigh, looking away, and Claggor grunted.

Vander turned his attention from the fire and fully faced both boys. His expression smoothed when he saw in full view the distress in their expressions.

He lay a gentle hand on each of their faces.

“I will find Vi,” He told them gently. “If you want to help, get to safety. I won’t be able to focus on Vi if I’m worrying.”

Both boys looked at him, fear shining in their eyes, but incredible bravery too.

They had been brave the entire night.

As much as Vander wanted to shake sense into each and every one of them, pride made its way through the cracks of Vander’s pain and worry. 

Silco may have given them hell, but those kids gave it right back to him.

“I’m proud of you,” Vander said, in case he couldn’t say it later.

If he had to pick between him or one of his kids, he’d pick them every time.

If Silco made him choose, Vi would be returning home.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.

Vander didn’t allow himself to think of what he would do if he was too late.

He wouldn’t believe it until he saw Vi for himself.

He dropped his hands and prepared to leave.

“What about Ekko?” Claggor pressed, taking a step toward him. “He’s all alone right now.”

Vander frowned.

The poor lad had been last seen at the Last Drop, according to Claggor. Vander kept him talking while he checked his head, relieved to find no slurred speech or drowsiness in his voice.

“We can’t just leave him, Vander.” Claggor said.

Vander sighed.

Damn him.

Sevika was right.

He had gone soft.

“If, and only if, you think you can make it to him.” Vander said reluctantly. “I mean it. If it’s too much, go home. If you can make it to Ekko, get him and don’t stop for anything. You’re not any help to anyone in the shape you’re in, don’t make it worse. Get the first aid and do what you can till I’m back with Vi. If Powder wakes up, don’t tell her anything. She doesn’t need this,” Vander instructed them.

Both boys nodded.

“We’ll see you at home, right?” Mylo anxiously pressed.

Vander managed a tight smile and nodded. “Takes more than this to knock us down, eh?” Vander teased half heartedly.

The worry didn’t drain from Mylo’s face.

“I won’t leave you, Mylo.” Vander promised. “Not if I can help it.”

Mylo rushed forward and threw his arms around Vander. After a moment, Claggor followed suit.

Vander squeezed them both before nudging them towards home.

“Off you go,” Vander said. “Remember: only get Ekko if you’re sure you can make it.”

Mylo looked reluctant to leave, but followed when Claggor nudged him.

Vander watched his boys leave for as long as he could before making his way back to the cannery.

His body ached and his eye was near swollen shut, but he could still fight given the chance.

Vander carefully made his way, eye watching every shadow, twitching at every noise.

Rain started to fall.

It stung the scrapes and bruises on Vander’s face and fell into his one useful eye.

Just as he wiped the rain from his vision, Vander caught sight of something.

Across an alley was an enforcer, dragging a girl.

His girl.

Vi.

Vander felt a long simmered blood lust boil to the surface.

He would kill him.

Vander hid in the next alleyway, blending as much as he could with the shadows.

Getting the jump on the man was important.

He waited, eyes never leaving Vi, for the man to pass.

Poor sod never saw him.

Vander stepped out of the alleyway and lunged.

He grabbed the Enforcer and swung before the man finished crying out.

His fist cracked against the man’s jaw. Vander felt it dislocate and crack.

The Enforcer went limp. Vander let him fall to the ground.

Vi laid at their feet, unconscious but breathing regularly.

Vander prayed to every entity he could think of in thanks.

He took a deep breath and cradled Vi to his chest.

He turned and began for home.

Vi woke up in the bar.

Her eyes felt like they weighed a thousand pounds and her whole body ached in a new, strange way.

Her mouth was dry and filmy, and face felt stiff.

Her fingers twitched.

Underneath her was a familiar felt texture. Felt.

She groggily opened an eye.

She was on the pool table.

They were upstairs, in the bar.

Her bruises and cuts had the familiar sting of disinfectant and there was plaster on her wounds.

Vi turned her head.

A teary-eyed Ekko stared back at her.

Vi blinked.

Behind him, Vander was tending to Mylo.

His arm was in a sling and next to him was a small pile of bloody rags.

Claggor wasn’t far off.

There was a plaster on his head and his goggles were missing, but aside from the bruises he looked ok.

Both of her brothers were sitting up, and Vi could hear their voices.

She blinked, over and over, trying to dispel the last of a dream too good to be true, but the images and sounds of her family alive didn’t disperse. 

A tear rolled down her cheek.

They were ok. They made it out.

Vi had no idea how, but they were ok.

She closed her eyes and thanked Janna they were all safe.

They needed to make a plan, and fast.

Their attacker was going to come back, and when he did, he would hit harder than before.

They had to rally Vander’s allies, get Ekko his things and get him settled, Vi wondered if she should wake Powder-

Vi jolted up.

“Powder!” she croaked, swallowing back her nausea. “Powder!”

Vander rushed over.

He gently nudged Ekko out of the way and put a hand on Vi’s shoulder.

“Slow down there, kiddo,” Vander’s soothing voice fell over her.

It didn’t do its job.

Vi’s hand snapped up, clutching Vander’s wrist.

“I left her,” Vi gasped, tears streaming down her face. “Vander, I left Powder-”

“It was a nightmare, Vi-” Vander assured her, hand coming up to smooth her hair. Vi jerked away.

“No!” Vi insisted. 

“Everyone is ok-”

“Powder was there, Vander!” Vi blurted out. Vander stilled. Vi gulped down a panicked breath and continued. “She was at the cannery, I left her, we have to go back-”

Claggor rose from his seat, alarm on his face.

Ekko looked between Vi and Vander, brow furrowed.

Vander frowned.

“She’s asleep, Vi,” Vander stated. “I checked myself.”

Vi panted. She shook her head, ignoring the pounding in her head the motion caused. She must have put a pillow under. Vi knows she did. It was the same thing Powder did every time she had a nightmare and was too embarrassed to wake Vi or Vander. She would stuff clothes or a pillow under her covers to mimic her body. Vi would always find her cowering under their bunk, pillow Powder failing to do its job and her sobs waking Vi, anyway.

“NO!” Vi shouted. Vi sat forward, hand shooting up to clutch her father. “No Vander, did you check under the blanket?”

Vander went still.

Mylo stood, but Ekko was faster.

He bolted down the stairs.

A minute later, he was back.

Ekko looked at Vander and shook his head, eyes big and worried.

Mylo groaned. He kicked the stool next to him. “Fucking Powder!” he cried. He pulled at his wild hair and Claggor put his head in his hands. 

Vander looked like he had been sucker punched by a Noxian General. 

This can’t be happening, Vi thought. Her stomach churned with anxiety. 

She felt like she had just left one nightmare and walked straight into a new one.

Mylo hobbled over as fast as he could without jostling his arm. “We gotta go get her-”

“No,” Vander snapped, voice tense. He snapped his head away from Vi to glare at Mylo. Seeing him flinch, he softened. “I will go find her.”

Vi tried to stand.

She forced her legs to work, but they betrayed her. 

She wobbled and had to clutch the pool table.

Vander steadied her with a hand on her shoulder.

“Sit. Down.” Vander ordered. 

Vi blinked away tears.

She left Powder.

She had to go back.

Her legs shook and Vi felt vomit curl in her gut. She began to shake her head, denying the pain, because she had to go back and get Powder-

Vander pressed Vi into the pool table until she had her weight up against it.

It was a reflex to sit on the edge and take the weight off of her legs.

Vi ignored the tear dripping off her chin.

Vander looked at all the children, one by one, and fixed them with a steely stare.

“I will go look for Powder,” He said. “Vi, you are going to sleep off the rest of the drugs. You three stay here.”

Mylo’s shoulders dropped. He hobbled back to his seat.

Claggor hung his head for a second before sitting in a booth. He gestured to Ekko and the boy dejectedly followed his example.

Vander gave Vi one more once over.

“I’ll be back.” He promised.

He turned away from her and headed for the door.

Vi’s arms shook when she tried to push herself up again, and she had to lay her head down to prevent herself from vomiting.

Vi cried again and succumbed back into sleep.

“Vi, please let Vander handle this,” Claggor begged.

If the circumstances were different, Vi would have listened.

She felt like ass.

She took the beating of her life and had to wait another two hours for the drugs to wear off enough for her to walk confidently.

They all had begged her to stay.

Even Mylo had pleaded with her. He had physical tears down his cheeks.

Vi didn’t think that was possible before today.

They didn’t understand.

“I left here there,” Vi repeated, hauling on one of Vander’s old jackets.

It was huge on her, but would disguise her enough to hopefully make it back. Ekko had gone to bed roughly 15 minutes before, the exhaustion of the horrible day finally getting to him. 

“I have to go back. You don’t understand.”

“We do understand, Vi.” Claggor groaned. He pinched his nose and winced, whether from the argument or lingering pain, Vi wasn’t sure. “Powder is our little sister, too. We’re all worried.”

“But you didn’t leave here there-”

“Vi,” Mylo exclaimed, flinging out his good hand and brow, skyrocketing in exasperation. “The building blew up. Everything went to shit. It not your fault! Anyone would have tried to walk it off!”

Vi shook her head. Guilt hung over her like a shroud. Her mind raced with the possibilities of what could have happened to Powder, coupled by the certainty of the one eyed man’s intentions. 

“Vander will be back any minute with her,” Mylo said, “and he’s going to be pissed when he sees you trying to leave!”

Vi looked at him. He sounded weird. Fake confident. It irked her. Why didn't he get it?

 “Mylo, you don’t know that,” Vi said. “You didn’t see what I saw. He, he was standing over her, Lo-“ 

“You’re the one who tells me all the time she’s tougher than she looks, Vi,” Mylo snapped. His eyes widened. His mouth screwed and the finger he pointed at her trembled. “She’s fine. She probably ran off and hid and that’s what is taking Vander so long.”

Vi lunged in Mylo’s direction, stopping just short of shoving him. “Stop!” Vi demanded. She bared her teeth and her chest heaved. Vi didn’t know why she was so mad at Mylo. She just was. “Stop it! Don’t lie to me! I fucked everything up, I have to go fix it! She could be-” 

Vi stopped. 

The fight drained out of her. 

Mylo suddenly looked years younger. His eyes had a film of water over them, and he looked at Vi like he just sucker punched him. 

Vi took a step back, body jerking away from Mylo. 

That look on his face was her fault, too. 

It was all her fault. 

Mylo bolted away before Vi could blink. 

She heard him thunder down to the basement and slam the door behind him. 

Vi took shallow breaths, staring after him. 

Claggor sighed. 

When Vi looked at him, he was pinching his nose and squeezing his eyes shut. 

“Claggor-” Vi pleaded, but the tired look on his face stopped her cold. 

“Do whatever you have to do, Vi.” Claggor sighed. “I’ll look after Ekko and Mylo.”

Vi quietly watched Claggor make his way to the stairs. Her heart beat heavily in her throat. 

“Claggor,” she blurted out. 

Her brother paused and looked at her. 

Vi opened her mouth, and the words clawed their way out. 

“I’m sorry.” She said. “I’m gonna make this right.”

Claggor’s face turned unbearably sad. “It’s not your fault, Vi.” He promised. “No one thinks that.”

He finished his trek to the basement when Vi didn’t reply.

The pain meds Vi had taken were doing their job.

She was limping by the time she made it back to the cannery.

She walked through smoldering flames and crumbling buildings, looking for a flash of blue with dread pooled in the stomach. 

The closer she got, the more she heard Vander. 

His voice was a little hoarse and clearly frustrated. 

He had been doing this for a while. 

 When she found him, he was picking up chunks of rubble and tossing them to the side, yelling the same thing.

“Powder!” Vander shouted. He roughly pushed hair out of his face, shoulders tense and mouth in a grimace. He kicked a pile of burning rocks, shooting them away. “Powder!”

Vi stepped closer. She stepped on a dying ember and yelped. 

Vander spun around, snarl on his face, and froze when he saw who it was. 

His eyes narrowed, and he wiped sweat off his brow. 

“What are you doing here?” Vander demanded. 

Vi looked around. 

They weren’t far off from where she left Powder. 

Vander clearly was working from the out word in, in case Powder ran off and hid like Mylo said. Or maybe it was because he didn’t actually know where Vi left her. 

“Answer me, Vi!” Vander bellowed. 

Vi remained silent. She should have heard Vander and came running. Why didn’t she hear him?

Vander yelled and kicked another pile of rocks, pulling at his hair and turning around. 

Vi hadn’t seen him this worked up- ever.

The closest was when someone had robbed Claggor and left him with a broken wrist, cracked nose, two swollen eyes, and a new fear of going out. 

“Why?” Vander asked, “Why-“

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by his own ragged breathing. 

Vi couldn’t move. All her muscles had locked up. 

All she could think about was that Vander hadn’t found Powder yet and it was her fault. 

Vander stood with his back to her for a few more minutes, breathing loudly, fist clenching and unclenching. 

Vi stared for a while. 

And then she started screaming. 

Ragged, angry screams. 

Vander turned. 

Vi let out scream after scream. 

When that wasn’t enough, started picking up anything she could get her hands on and hurling it in the direction she last saw the one eyed prick. 

She screamed, and threw, and kicked. 

At some point Vander came and put his hands on her shoulders. 

Vi clocked him. 

Her fist throbbed when it connected with his jaw.

He took a step back and caught the next punch.

She screamed and he pulled her to his chest. 

Vi howled like an animal and sobbed and sobbed. 

Vander held her tight. He had done this for her when she was a kid.  After her parents died and she was angry all the time. The memory made her sob harder.

When her screams began to falter, he pulled away.

“Vi?” He asked in a gentle voice. He cradled her face with his hand, making eye contact Vi struggled to maintain. It was too much. 

“Kiddo, stay with me.” Vander coaxed. “C’mon, show me where you saw them last.”

Vi violently hiccupped, and lifted an arm to scrub at her face. 

“O-ver t-there, t-they were ov-er,” Vi stuttered, pointing in the direction. She sounded like a baby. It was embarrassing, but Vi couldn't control it.

Vander just nodded and the two of them made their way. 

Vi recognized the collapsed side of the factory. 

She recognized the crumbled walls and the charred building that had hid Powder from view before. 

She didn’t recognize the pool of blood on the ground. 

The screams returned, pouring from Vi’s mouth unbidden. 

There wasn’t anything else to be done. 

The walk home was quiet and mournful. 

Vander murmured small comforts and encouragements along the way, reassuring Vi they were almost back, and she could rest soon. 

When they walked inside Ekko was awake. 

All three boys scrambled towards them, peering around to look for Powder.

The silence was heavy when they couldn’t find her. 

Mylo said something. Vi’s head felt like it was underwater. She didn’t do anything about the tears that made their return on her cheeks. 

Vander replied.

Ekko began to bawl. 

Claggor pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes and Mylo wrapped an arm around Ekko, his own tears spilling. 

Next thing Vi knew, Vander is on his knees, and they’re all piled together in a horrible, needed hug.

They stayed like that for a long, long time.

By the time they separated Vander had a look on his face. Grimly determined. 

“What’s gonna happen now?” Ekko sniffled. He rubbed snot away from his nose and used the same sleeve to wipe away tears. 

It was so normal and so gross it almost made Vi feel a little better. 

Vander’s shoulders dropped. 

“Now,” He said carefully. “I’m gunna do whatever I have to to keep you kids safe. That means get everything important. That you can’t go without.”

Vander stood.

“What? Why?” Mylo started, head snapping towards Vander, following him up. 

Vander looked defeated. 

“Silco’s telling everyone we skipped town.” Vander said. He pulled out his pipe. He lit a match and began to smoke. “So be it.”’

Vi committed that name to memory. 

Silco.

Silco.

“We’re going somewhere he won’t look for us. We’ll leave the doors unlocked and take all the money I got. They’ll assume we were robbed. We’ll do the same at Benzo’s. Hopefully, Silco will think we’re dead.”

“But, but” Mylo stuttered. “How long will we be gone? How will we get out stuff back?”

Vander stared at the wall and puffed his pipe. 

“There is no coming back.” He spoke. 

There were more arguments from Mylo. 

Questions from Claggor.

Ekko just wept. 

Silco.

Silco.

Vi sat with her fist clenched and jaw tight, tears stinging her eyes and leaving her face tacky.

Silco.

Silco.

Hatred flooded her body. 

She was going to kill Silco.

Chapter Text

Mylo was still groggy when it was time to get up. 

He had rolled to his side and spent about five minutes convincing his muscles to work.

He sat up and blinked.

Claggor’s bed was empty on the other side of the room. 

Mylo groaned and lurched out of bed. 

He spent time shuffling around in the dark, picking a shirt up from his side of the room and giving it a sniff test. 

He shrugged, putting it on and digging a pair of pants out from a drawer. 

His jacket was thrown over the bedpost, where he had left it yesterday, and he threw that over his arm. 

He squinted in the light of the hallway and closed his creaking bedroom door behind him. 

The smoky smell of food cooking told him where to find Claggor. 

Mylo poked his head through the doorway. 

Claggor was hunched over the stove, squinting through the smoke of cooking meat and sauerkraut. 

“Mornin’.” Mylo greeted. 

Claggor moved the pan around slowly, shuffling the food with a fork. 

“Hey Mylo.” Claggor replied. 

Mylo itched his throat. He ought to shave before work. He couldn’t make it another day with this overgrown shadow. 

“Vander at the forge yet?” Mylo asked. 

He peered closer to Claggor’s pan. He wondered if there was enough for him in there or if he would have to scrounge through a cupboard for something to take with.

Claggor grunted in confirmation. About Vander, not about the food.

Claggor turned his body to hide the cooking from view, as if he could sense Mylo’s thoughts. 

Mylo sighed and squeezed his way into the kitchen. 

He opened a cupboard and moved around cans of vegetables and closed boxes of what-have-you’s before closing it to try the bread box. 

“Work and back today?” Claggor asked. 

Mylo hummed in confirmation. 

There is still half a loaf of bread left, so Mylo didn’t feel too bad about taking two slices for breakfast. 

He pulled them out and reached for the butter container.

“You still picking up Vi?” Mylo questioned. 

Claggor sighed. 

Deeply. 

Mylo’s lips twitched up. 

“Well, it makes the most sense for me to do it.” Claggor reluctantly confirmed. 

Mylo turned, breakfast in hand, to clasp Claggor on the shoulder. 

Mylo was relieved she was coming home, but he sure as shit was glad he wasn’t the one who had to go and get her. 

He pushed his way past Claggor, pausing to set down his buttered bread and actually put his jacket on his body. 

“Can you see if Little Man needs trolley fair or if he’s walking? There was a huge fire on his normal route.” Claggor said. 

Mylo buttoned his jacket and looked back at his brother, eyebrow raised. 

“Oh shit, what happened?” Mylo asked. 

Claggor shook his head. 

“Some maniac set a pavilion on fire. Killed six enforcers. They shut down the entire block.”

Six isn’t that big of a number, Mylo thought to himself. They never would have shut down a block if a measly six trencher folk died. 

Mylo never did learn to swallow the appalling lack of perspective Pilties had, even after living with them for so long. 

Mylo grabbed his bread from the counter and made his way to the end of the narrow hall where Ekko slept. 

He knocked on the door. 

Mylo could hear shit being dropped, and Ekko scramble about like a stray cat. 

“Y-yea?” Ekko’s muffled voice called. 

“Hey, do you need money or you walking around the shit show?” Mylo asked. 

More thuds. 

Mylo could hear Ekko hiss ‘shit’ and something roll across the floor. 

“Uh,” Ekko stalled. More noise. “I’m walking. Just give me a second!”

Mylo rolled his eyes. 

Ekko’s attempts at privacy were all in vain. 

Mylo absolutely did not care to know what he was doing behind that door. 

He shrugged and took a big bite of bread. 

“I’ll see you after work!” Mylo called around a mouth full of food. 

He popped into the bathroom and spent as little time as possible on a shave.

Mylo grabbed his brag from the hall hook and opened the apartment door. 

“Good luck with Vi!” Mylo called down the hall cheerfully. 

He snickered at Claggor’s grumbling and shut the door. 

Mylo had five locks waiting to be repaired at the shop today, and Stan promised to take him to a home repair if he did a good job. 

Mylo checked to make sure he locked the door and then checked again for good measure. 

He saluted the apartment and made his way to the front entrance. 

Ekko counted himself lucky he got all the way from the house to Professor Heimerdinger’s office without anyone taking notice of the mysterious wrapped package under his arm.

It’s still hard to believe the kind of things an academy uniform will let him get away with.

Ekko opened the door to get a little work done before class started.

His desk is in a weird spot, kind of crammed in the corner of Lueiski’s, Heimerdinger’s Senior Assistant, office, but it has just the right amount of chaos to hide Ekko’s project until after classes. 

He made his way over to the counter to put a pot of coffee on. Lueiski always forgot and ended up spending an obscene amount of money at the shops on campus and complained later.

Ekko listened to the low hum of the coffee machine.

He liked his mornings in the office. They were quiet, doubly so when Lueiski wasn’t in. He had a little time to decompress before having to play the part of humble scholarship student looking to prove himself. It was who everyone expected to see, but it wasn’t really Ekko. Ekko didn’t need to prove anything, not to himself. Privately, in his most arrogant thoughts, Ekko thought he could run laps around Jayce Talis if he had an iota of luck that man did. Talent and intellect were something Ekko never found himself in shortage of, but luck?

Missed him by a mile.

Speaking of luck, Lueiski opened the door to the office, arms full of files, two or three on the verge of slipping from his grasp.

He stumbled out something that might have been a good morning as he clumsily dropped everything in his arms haphazardly onto his desk.

“Oh, peanuts,” the thin youngish man mumbled as a file slid off his desk and onto the floor.

He bent low to pick it up, knees audibly popping.

Ekko winced in sympathy and took a drink of his slightly cooled coffee.

The flavor was rich and bitter and pleasantly prickled Ekko’s brain like electricity.

Lueiski pulled himself back up and sniffed the air with his hawkish nose.

“Did you make coffee?” Lueiski blinked in surprise, a grin creeping onto his face. “That’s fantastic. I was up all night sorting through these proposals.”

Ekko returned to his own desk as Lueiski made his way over to the coffee.

“These shops, they keep driving up the prices,” rambled Lueiski, whose father was the head of a merchant’s guild. “They have a lot of nerve charging an arm and a leg for mediocre coffee-”

Ekko hummed in agreement, searching through his own work to find an essay that was due in two days. It was completed, but Ekko saw no harm in further tweaking, since he was here. Before he could find it, his eyes landed on something else.

It was an old drawing, framed with care and soft and feathery with age.

The picture had a little of everything.

There were giant robots fighting on the ground, lightning from the sky but no clouds, a town with tall buildings on fire, two giant bug monsters looming over everything, screaming in the midst of a bloodthirsty match surrounded by neon scribbles.

In the corner, two names are written in similar colors: Ekko & Pow Pow.

One of the few things Ekko brought with him to Piltover was the drawings they had done together. He had a folder of them at home, carefully preserved for when he needed them. There was something about this particular drawing, though, that always made him think of the scrappy kid he used to be in a kinder way.

“-That’s something I like about you, Ekko,” Lueiski continued. “You’re thoughtful. You don’t act like you’re too good to do a little grunt work.”


Ekko was torn away from thoughts of the past, suddenly aware that he was being spoken to the entire time.

“That was why I never liked the Professor’s previous assistant,” Lueiski slurped a bit of coffee, jumping back and splattering some on the counter when he realized it was still too hot. “It really bothered me. Dunno why.”

Ekko knew. 

It was because the previous assistant, a thin man with an accent common in the east side of the sumps, was from the Undercity. 

Like Ekko. 

A glance at the clock told Ekko it was time to get to class. 

He didn’t think he had the patience to explain unconscious bias to Lueiski anyway. 

“Hey, I’ll catch you later.” Ekko replied, taking one last glance at the picture, indulging in the nostalgic bruise like pain of familiar blue hearts drawn around their signatures. 

Ekko carefully pushed in his chair and subtly checked from different angles he couldn’t see his hidden project. 

“Oh,” Lueiski said, a wadded napkin wiping at the counter. “Sure. Have a good one, Ekko!”

Ekko nodded to him turned away.

He just had to make it through class. 

Then he could focus on what was really important.  

Classes dragged on. 

They always seemed to this time of year. 

Ekko had to shake off his off mood and remember to focus all throughout his day. 

By the end of it, sneaking his project into Heimerdinger’s lab was a welcome change of pace. 

The Professor gave Ekko a key and permission to work on his personal projects in himself when he took Ekko on as a mentee of sorts. 

He had given Ekko a little speech on progress coming from the places we didn’t know we had, like from a Yordle, for instance, and he felt that it was his duty to do his part to pave the way for new minds. He gave Ekko the key and told him that he was brilliant and could accomplish a lot if he was given a chance. 

Ekko agreed. 

He didn’t hesitate to take advantage of the Professor’s offer. 

The Professor had a lot of ongoing projects, but his own and others, lying about the room. 

Ekko had converted a little bench off to the side for his own work, and Heimerdinger respected his privacy enough to not poke around in it. 

Ekko felt comfortable leaving most of his projects in the safe keeping of the lab. 

For instance, Ekko had his water filter right where he left it, ready to be tinkered with on a whim, so Heimerdinger didn’t question what Ekko had really been working on. 

Something in his gut told him the head of the council shouldn’t be privy to Ekko’s less altruistic work.

Ekko carefully put his wrapped project on an empty spot in his bench and undid the bindings. 

He lay the covering behind him, ready for a quick snag if someone came in, and unveiled his newest work: Hoverboard version Three.

Ekko gave himself approximately thirty seconds to admire the nearly finished design before setting the work. 

The goal of Ekko’s new version was strengthening the electromagnetic field.

 In theory, this would make the rider drive upside down for longer periods of time. 

The current version can handle brief spurts flipped, but Ekko wants something more reliable.

It would be game changing for the Firelights. 

Ekko worked on his hoverboard in silence. 

The secrecy was necessary. 

If anyone found out it was him making these for the Firelights, they were as good as dead.

They have only done about three hits against Silco so far, but the Eye wasn’t a forgiving organization.

Hopefully, once Ekko had the Hoverboard updates on lock, he can move onto his idea to protect everyone’s identity. He had a prototype sitting around the lab, but couldn’t focus on it after his breakthrough with the electromagnetic field problem of Hoverboard version two. 

Ekko had more and more people moving into the tree sanctuary every time he made his way down, desperate for a way to escape the Shimmer epidemic any way they could.

He had people who relied on him to have access to fancy Piltie labs and tools. 

He didn’t have the luxury of ego when it came to Firelight projects. 

Ekko had just barely enough time to finish his tweaks when Heimerdinger and his porro, Twibbles, arrived. 

 Despite Ekko being prepared for him to walk in at any point, his heart tugged in panic.

He thought he wouldn’t see the Professor that day, given how busy the fire at the capitol building and with Talis’s recent hextech announcements should make him.

Ekko didn’t think he would have time to be in his lab.

Ekko reached behind him and threw the tarp over the Hoverboard. 

He picked up a tool and started tinkering with the water filter, whose design he had finished weeks ago with minor adjustments needed and he could submit as finished any time now.

A twinge of guilt went through him at the knowledge, knowing there were people who badly needed something like this, but Ekko assured himself he would really finish it now that the Hoverboard was done. 

The Professor entered the room, Twiddles clacking along behind him with little porro pants, Heimerdinger humming cheerfully to a nonsense tune. 

“Good day, my boy!” Heimerdinger greeted cheerfully. “Good to see you at work!”

“Good afternoon, Professor.” Ekko responded. 

Ekko didn’t look up from his filter, appearing for all the world deep in his work. 

Heimerdinger approached his corner of the lab, Twiddles happily following along for the ride. 

“I see you’re back at it with your filter. Tell me, how is it coming along?” Heimerdinger asked, peering at Ekko’s busy hands. 

“The water is safe to drink,” Ekko replied. “But still has a odd chemical taste. I’m still trying to figure out what’s causing it.”

Heimerdinger hummed in response. 

“Progress takes time.” He assured Ekko. 

If Ekko had a penny for every time the Professor opened a pep talk with that line, he could pay Vander’s rent for a year, or feed the Firelights for a month. 

“I had the very same conversation with Jayce Talis, just the other morning. Even the greats need to respect the process of time. You aren’t alone with that.” Heimerdinger continued. 

Ekko sighed, looking away from his filter. 

The Professor was in a chatty mood, and it would be less work to embrace it then try to redirect it to the filter in the long run. 

 “Right.” Ekko agreed. On the topic of the Man of Progress, he changed the subject. “How did the progress day speech go? I heard you gave it to Talis this year.” 

“Didn’t you attend? I gave you the day off to enjoy progress day! What were you doing?” Heimerdinger questioned. 

Ekko rubbed the back of his neck. “Lueiski asked me to do a little work for him.” Ekko admitted. 

Heimerdinger’s eyebrows furrowed, and his face turned stern. 

It was an almost comical expression on the Yordle. 

 “You’re not his assistant.” Heimerdinger scolded. “You’re mine. He has no right to ask that of you.”

“It’s alright, Professor.” Ekko insisted, palms raised in surrender. “He didn’t make me. He paid me out of pocket and everything for the work. It was a good deal.”

Heimerdinger shook his head.

“I’ve seen many bright minds get caught up in the winds of progress and leave no time for anything else. Don’t be one of them, Ekko. You will regret it.” Heimerdinger warned. 

Ekko ducked his head. 

His mind wandered back to the picture framed on his desk and the little hearts drawn by his name. 

A flash of memory, so quick Ekko barely recognized it, flitted through his mind. 

Benzo was in the Last Drop, laughing over a free drink with Vander, while Ekko and Powder crowded together in the alley, watching Vi practice her stances. 

Her friends lounged about, and she spoke casually to Mylo about something. Ekko didn’t remember what. He hadn’t really been listening to Vi. 

He had been too busy watching Powder watch her. 

Ekko remembered the warmth of Powder’s shoulder pressed against his, the smell of grease that lingered on her clothes and the crooked angle of her smile. 

In an instant, the memory was gone. 

Ekko was back in the lab, far away from the feeling of Powder’s warmth.

Vi was coming home today.

The older sister Ekko never had. 

Tough as fucking nails, who glanced at Powder while everyone watched her and smiled at the younger girl. 

When Ekko was young, he thought nobody could take on Vi. 

A part of him still believed it. 

She was going to be home tonight. 

“You know what, you’re right Professor.” Ekko said. “I’ll pack up and come back tomorrow. I have someone I want to see anyway.”

Heimerdinger smiled, his mustache curling up and eyes twinkling. 

Twiddles made a whining sound and scurried around the room, little tail wagging the entire way.

“That’s the spirit, my boy! A friend of yours?” The professor asked. 

Ekko’s lips twitched into something close to a smile. 

“More like family,” Ekko admitted. “They’ve been gone for a while but are coming back tonight.”

Heimerdinger nodded. “You best be on your way, then.” He said. “I hope to see you soon.”

Heimerdinger looked around and spoke in a whisper voice, as though the lab wasn’t secure and they were the only occupants. 

“I may be occupied for the next few days. There hasn’t been an announcement yet, but the council just finished voting on something very important.” 

Ekko’s face twitched. 

He scanned his mentor for any sign of what the vote could be about and found nothing. 

With a shrug, Ekko bid him goodbye.

He would take the night off, see Vi, and go back for his hoverboard later.

He had a prototype of a mask that had a voice modulator built in. He had put it on the back burner in favor of the hoverboard, right alongside his water filter. Maybe he could spend time fine tuning it tomorrow. 

Tonight, he will worry about Vi.

Caitlyn stood on a short stool, hovering above her map as she called it, chin on fist and eyes focused like a hawk. 

She absentmindedly twirled a pistol around her fingers with her free hand. 

Maddie stood to her left and Steb stood to her right. 

Maddie’s face was open curiosity, bright and honest, like her. 

Steb was barely concealing the fact he felt Caitlyn had gone insane. 

Caitlyn was confident he would understand. Eventually. 

“I need to get down there.” Caitlyn said, flicking the twirling gun to a standstill with a flick of the wrist. “I should be conducting my interview, not lying useless here.”

Steb glanced at Maddie from the side, eyebrow raised slightly. 

“I can see that,” Caitlyn said. 

Steb’s face twitched a degree, which was as good as a flinch for him. 

“You were trapped in a burning building. I think you have bigger concerns than interviewing prison inmates.” Steb replied.  

Caitlyn grunted. She lowered her head and squinted her eyes, focusing on the Map. 

She could feel Maddie and Steb exchange a glance behind her back. 

Annoyance pooled in her gut and crept ever closer to overflowing. 

Jayce’s visit and insulting job offer did little to help with the situation. 

Caitlyn closed her eyes, breathed in, and when she opened them it was like transforming.

She no longer felt Maddie and Steb beside her. 

She no longer felt the stress of the fire, the embarrassment of her parents meddling, or the pain her healing bruises left. 

All she could see, hear, and feel was the image the Map was trying to show her. The puzzle she had almost solved. 

“Whoever made this symbol is responsible. I can feel it,” Caitlyn said, locking eyes with the image of the mocking monkey. “I just need to question the witness.”

Steb sighed. 

“You don’t have the clearance, Caitlyn. How exactly are you planning on interviewing a Stillwater inmate without it again?” Steb asked.

Caitlyn ignored him. 

Whoever did this left that man terrified. So afraid he wasn’t willing to give up the person who had opened fire on their own crew. 

“Maybe you’re looking at this the wrong way,” Maddie’s warm and bright voice cut in. “Maybe your time off isn’t such a bad thing. You have more time to focus on your theory than ever.”

The signs all pointed to their being one individual masterminding all the violence that takes place in the Undercity.

Steb let out a quiet groan. “Don’t get her started.” He murmured to Maddie, like Caitlyn wasn’t right next to him. “She doesn’t need more encouragement.”

The monkey stood out amongst all the other pieces of evidence. 

It was different. 

Something had changed. 

Something made them overstep. 

Something unpredictable and chaotic, something that encouraged practices such as tagging the crime scene or shooting at their own men.

Caitlyn could feel it. 

All she needed was a way in.

“Talking Caitlyn out of a bad idea suddenly above your pay grade?” Maddie teased. 

Pay grade.

Caitlyn’s eyes widened. She flung her pistol to the ground, startling Maddie and Steb into silence, and snapped her head to look at Steb. 

“You have clearance.” Caitlyn stated, deadly serious. 

Steb looked at her, brow furrowed, before understanding dawned in his eyes. 

His jaw went tense, and he was shaking his head before he answered. 

“Caitlyn,” Steb warned, pushback clear in his voice. 

“You can get me the answers I need.” Caitlyn cut him off. She turned back to her map, face stony. “It will be a start, but not enough to finish. Maddie is right. The time off will give me a chance to solve this.”

“Er, that’s not exactly what I meant by that- “Maddie began, eyes big and mouth screwed in worry. 

Caitlyn raised a palm, effectively cutting her off. 

“I will go to the Undercity.” Caitlyn declared. “I will see what I can find down there myself, and we can reconvene and compare notes.”

“By yourself?” Steb shot back. “Try again, Kiramman.”

Caitlyn nodded. That had been a long shot.

“Maddie and I will go to the Undercity.” Caitlyn corrected, ignoring Maddie’s choking. “We will see what we can find down there together and reconvene and compare notes.”

Steb sighed and rubbed his face. 

“Caitlyn,” Steb said, sounding exhausted, “I feel as though it is my duty as your friend to tell you that you should ask a doctor to re-examine your head. Have you recently discovered universe hopping or is there any scenario out there where you and Maddie alone will successfully subterfuge your way through the Undercity and miraculously uncover a master criminal while you’re at it?”

It wasn't a bad point. Caitlyn would need a third party. Someone who knew their way around.

An idea sparked. Her heart thudded as she pictured the only Undercity resident she knew. She shoved the image away to focus

“We won’t be alone.” Caitlyn insisted. “I happen to know someone who can give us a tour.”

Maddie blinked. “Wait,” she said. “Really?”

She and Steb exchanged a look Caitlyn didn’t care to read. 

Caitlyn allowed them to have their silent exchange, weighing the pros and cons before eventually agreeing with her. 

Caitlyn knew they came to that conclusion by the way Maddie looked vaguely guilty and Steb once again sighed, shoulders dropping in defeat. 

“If I do this,” Steb began reluctantly, “I need you to promise me you will consider taking the Talis job.”

Caitlyn was so surprised she looked up. 

She hadn’t thought they heard that part.

She supposed they had been right outside the door waiting for Jayce to make his exit. 

Nothing stopped them from eavesdropping.

Jayce is lucky Caitlyn has good, sensible friends, who won’t go spreading the gossip of his becoming Counselor before an official declaration is made.

“You don’t know what you’re asking me.” Caitlyn said. 

She turned and held Steb’s eyes, defiance tilting her chin up.

Steb met the challenge face on. 

“You’re too talented to waste your career chasing your tail,” Steb stated, never blinking. “Talis is offering what no one else will: a job that will use your skills.”

Caitlyn frowned. 

Maddie, ever the peacekeeper, added, “Maybe you’ll be able to make an impact!”

Caitlyn scoffed, and Maddie deflated, just a smidge. 

Caitlyn was regretful but she couldn’t afford to leave the impression failure was an option for her. 

“Make an impact how?” Caitlyn demanded. 

Steb frowned. 

“If anyone can figure it out, it would be you.” Steb asserted. 

The silver clock that hung on Caitlyn’s walls articulated what Caitlyn couldn’t. 

Tik.

Tok.

Tik.

Tok.

Time running out. 

“Fine.” Caitlyn groused. "I promise. If you help me with this, I will think about it.”

“Seriously consider.” Steb bargained. 

Caitlyn rolled her eyes.

“Seriously consider.” She corrected, disdain flooding her tone. 

Steb and Maddie exchanged another look. 

Caitlyn wanted to tell them to get a room but was too well bred. 

Steb stuck his hand out. 

Caitlyn watched it for a moment before stepping off his stool to stand next to him as an equal. 

She shook his hand, and the deal was struck. 

The next time Caitlyn stood in this room with both of these people, she intended to have a name behind the monkey face.

There is nothing like the heat of the forge to burn off anxiety. 

The heat of the fire, the mind numbing repetition, the white noise of metal hitting metal. 

He hammered and hammered and hammered.

Jayce put his back into it, hoping the sweat would carry away his worries about the large responsibility that had just landed in his lap. 

Talis forge was a place of refuge in that way. 

When the forge worked its magic, Jayce came out a new man, forged in the same fires as Talis Tools. 

Today, however, his stress would not leave him. 

Jayce abandoned his work with a frustrated huff.

He pushed his sweat soaked hair back, looking around for his discarded shirt. 

Before he could find it, a noise distracted him. 

Jayce was by far not the only person working today, thank god. 

The business would tank in half an hour if it was just Jayce manning the work. 

A bit of ways away from him, a familiar face is working hard. 

The normality of seeing the man working the same shift he had been working for nearly seven years was jarring in comparison to the wild ride the rest of the week had been. 

Jayce could use a little normality.

 He made way over.

Ahead of Jayce loomed the largest man Jayce knew personally.

He was bent over his work, focused on his task, and didn’t turn to look at Jayce until opened his mouth to speak. 

“Vander!” Jayce called. 

Vander turned, serious look on his face softened to something more neutral at the sight of him. 

Vander put down his hammer and turned to face Jayce. 

“Slacking off, are you?” The man quipped. 

Jayce grinned. 

“No more than usual,” Jayce shot back. “You look busy.” 

Vander shrugged. “I am busy,” Vander replied. “And you?”

“Oh, you know. Contributing more to recycling than to science lately. What about you, working hard or hardly working?”

Vander sighed. “I’m too old for this,” He said, rolling his shoulders back and stretching his back. 

He answered the same way every time Jayce asked that question. 

Jayce smiled. 

“How’s your mother?” Vander asked. 

Jayce crossed his arms and leaned against the arch of the doorframe. 

“She’s good! I’ll tell her you asked!” Jayce replied. 

Vander had no way of knowing, but he just made Jayce’s night. 

One day after bringing investors on a tour of the forge together, Ximena Talis made the mistake of admitting to Jayce she found Vander mildly attractive. 

Jayce has not let her forget it since, relishing in being able to return her teasing about Viktor with ribbing of his own. It has earned him endless complaining from his mother, but has never failed to make him laugh. 

“How’s the kids?” Jayce asked. 

Vander grunted. 

Jayce laughed. 

Jayce had never met Vander’s family, never heard hide nor hair of them outside of work chat, and all he could say definitely is Vander would be driven to an early grave by them and he was extremely proud. 

“I heard about your speech.” Vander commented. “Must have felt good.”

Jayce sighed and ran a hand down his face. 

The memory of Mel and her assistant leaving flickered beneath his eyelids. 

“I couldn’t enjoy it until I got home.” Jayce admitted. “They asked me the day of.”

Vander whistled. 

“The problems you’re burdened with.” Vander remarked. 

If Jayce didn’t know any better, he would have thought the man was serious. 

Jayce laughed, because he did understand fundamentally that complaining about an opportunity like that was obnoxious.

But Jayce didn’t feel judged. 

Vander had perfected a way of speaking that was no bullshit, but not hostile. Jayce enjoyed it. 

After a moment of contemplation, Jayce decided to take the plunge.

Well. 

Less of a plunge and more of a soft launch. 

“Speaking of burdens.” Jayce said. “They actually voted to put me on the council. Today.”

Vander raised a brow. 

“Well.” He replied. 

Jayce flushed. 

He wondered for a moment if that was maybe too personal. 

Vander looked him up and down for replying, “Not as though the city doesn’t already expect you to lead them. Now you get a fancy chair too.” 

Huh.

“I suppose,” Jayce agreed, shoulders feeling just a smidge lighter at the comment. “I guess I just don’t know anything about politics.” 

Vander nodded. 

“Then why give you the chair?” He asked. 

Jayce shrugged. “Hextech? I guess?”

“Anyone else qualified to do it?” Vander asked. 

Jayce paused. 

Pale skin with moles dotting a face, a low and pleasant accent, brilliant mind that matched Jayce beat for beat. 

“Viktor. My partner.” Jayce replied. 

Jayce imagined Viktor sitting on the council, scowling and failing to refrain from hitting people with his cane when they were particularly obtuse. Jayce’s lips twitched in humor. “He isn’t much of a people person. People think Hextech is all me when, in reality, I just can’t get him out of the lab.” 

Vander nodded seriously. “My youngest is a bit like that.”

“The academy student?” Jayce recalled. 

Vander smiled. 

“Good memory.” He complimented. “Good for a councilor.”

Jayce finally feels the last of his stress melt off. 

Normalcy had done the trick. 

“I won’t keep you any longer.” Jayce said. “Thanks for the talk, Vander.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Vander sighed, turning back around. “See you, kid.”

 Jayce left, the sounds of pounding steel being left in his wake. 

Claggor’s shift at the Hextech docs ended without any drama. 

With what was ahead Claggor wished it was longer.

But the damn foreman liked Claggor, and let him leave early when he told him he was picking up his sister. 

What Claggor neglected to mention was he was picking her up from jail. 

He now sat, on a rickety gondola, waiting to arrive to the island so he can go through security a second time, meet his sister, go through security again, get back on the shitty gondola, and go through security one last time before finally going home. 

It was going to take forever and being this close to the water was windy and cold. 

The gondola finally arrives at its destination, and Claggor and the three other occupants depart for security. 

The whole time Claggor is getting patted down and having his bag searched, he is thinking of the Vi Job Problem. 

The Vi Job Problem consists of Vi’s inability to hold down any sort of job that didn’t require mindless fighting. 

She had tried cafes, janitorial services, Hexdocs, regular docs, bars, you name it, Vi has tried something in the field. 

Nothing ever lasts more than three months. 

Just like her jail sentences. 

Vi couldn’t be held longer than three months for misdemeanor assault, which was what they chose to charge her with despite the mutual combat. 

Claggor survived security and put thoughts of criminal charges for participating in an illegal boxing match behind him. 

He focused on the present, which consisted of freezing his ass off while Vi was processed.

He had plenty of time to mull while he waited. 

He knew it would be hard for her. 

She getting out just in time for the anniversary of Powder’s death. 

 Vi always got into the worst kind of trouble this time of year, such as getting arrested or breaking up with her upper class girlfriend for the sixteenth time or just being a pill to be around. 

She was being released two weeks early due to capacity levels and Claggor knew just from what she didn’t say in her short and to the point letters home she was disappointed she couldn’t spend the day languishing in prison. 

Janna forbid she mourn with her family like a normal person. 

The doors opened, and four people exited. 

The first three were strangers, matching up with the other strangers Claggor had ridden to the island with. 

The last was Vi. 

Her hair had been cut, the longer portion of her hair sticking out away from her face and her undercut freshly shorn. 

She had on a ragged white tank and shitty thin prison pajamas instead of whatever she had arrived in. 

She looked ok, a bit thinner, but ok. 

She walked toward him with the swagger she couldn’t quite kill, the walk of a woman who knows she shouldn’t be fucked with. 

Claggor would respect the message. 

He took a step towards her and met her eyes, hands in pocket and expression neutral.

“Hey, Vi.” He greeted. He couldn’t think of anything better to say. 

Vi gave a small smile.

“Hey yourself. Keep out of trouble while I was gone?” Vi teased, hands resting at her sides and shoulders down. 

She could try, but she couldn’t hide the tightness around her eyes.

“That’s me. The troubled one.” Claggor shot back.

The smile fell off Vi’s face.

She ducked her head down and began to walk back towards security. 

Claggor swallowed his regret and followed. 

They made it through without any small talk. 

Claggor’s attempts on the walk to the gondola were met with one-word answers and evasive looks away. 

He asked how she was doing. 

Fine. 

He told her everyone missed her. 

Silence. 

He mentioned it was nice to have her back. 

A hum in reply. 

He tried his luck in prodding for information on any plans now that she was out and was met with a grunt. 

Whatever strength it took for Vi to leave Stillwater melted away the farther they got off the island. 

Claggor decided not to hold it against her. 

Give her a night or two in her own bed, time to handle her shit in peace, and she will adjust. 

He sat next to her on the gondola ride back in silence, watching her stare out the window in the wrong direction. 

Only after they returned to Stillwater docs and waited for the next trolley did they finally speak. 

“How’s Vander?” She asked, because of course she did. 

Claggor peered up the road, looking for any sign of the trolley that was five minutes behind.

“Same old, same old.” Claggor replied. “Working.”

Vi looked off in the direction of the gondola.

Claggor watched the road for another minute or two before giving up, and deciding to ignore the late trolley until it got there. 

“It will be better now that you’re home.” Claggor added. “You know how Vander worries.”

Vi’s jaw clenched and her body tensed up, like she was preparing to run or to fight. 

Everything about her screamed stressed and tired. 

Claggor’s resentment melted at the sight. 

She’s been through a lot, Claggor reminded himself. Cut her a little slack.

On impulse, Claggor reached out to hug her. 

He was met with a sound slap upside the head. 

“What the fuck was that!” Vi shouted, her eyes startled and body angled away from him. 

“It was a FUCKING hug!” Claggor yelled, clutching his head. 

Of course, he would be fucking punished for trying to comfort his sister. 

Silly him. 

“Well, why the fuck did you do that?” Vi scolded. She put her hand on her chest and breathed. “Fucking terrifying.” 

Claggor no longer was feeling empathetic. 

He was back to being annoyed. 

Vi took a large breath, dropping her hand and letting it rest on her hip. 

They sat in tense silence before Vi broke it. 

“I’m back.” She said, “There is no reason to worry anymore.”

The trolley finally made its way down the street, fifteen minutes late. 

Vi boarded without issue. 

As they sat together, Claggor thought about how much he disagreed. 

Vi always gave him a reason to worry. 

She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, promptly falling asleep. 

He would never tell her.

Chapter Text

Kiramman confidence was not something Caitlyn was born with, contrary to popular opinion.

It was something that was cultivated.

With all the long and arduous hours perfecting her shot until she achieved excellence, with her drive to not only succeed in Enforcer Academy Training but excel without the help of her name, with every night she stayed up late painstakingly combing through files and compiling evidence to lead up to this mission. 

Caitlyn’s confidence in herself was as unwavering as her shot.

Unfortunately, even the most steadfast confidence has trouble breaking through barriers at certain points.

Caitlyn’s current barrier was named Steb.

He liked chess, seafood, and was fond of dance halls, but would never be the one to suggest an outing.

He was frank, to the point, and honest.

He cared little for his name and even less for Caitlyn’s.

He was a realist to the point of semi-pessimism, something often balanced by Maddie’s deliberate choice to remain optimistic in her field of work and her personal life.

Steb was the right person to send to Stillwater. His no nonsense attitude, plus the forged request bearing both her mother and Jayce’s signature, would surely see him into Stillwater and interviewing their suspect in record time.

Caitlyn had confidence he would do his task and do it diligently.

Steb was not confident about Caitlyn and Maddie.

“The monkey symbol is of the utmost importance,” Caitlyn reminded Steb, trying poorly to distract him from the somehow both worried and resigned looks he was shooting at her back.

“Its important for me.” Steb said, “You, however, I don’t think should be flashing it around.”

Caitlyn blinked.

Of all the ways Steb had tried to persuade her of another path, she didn’t suspect direct sabotage.

She turned herself away from her mirror, stopping last minute examinations of her undercover clothes, to face Steb fully.

“Our goal is to find meaning behind the monkey in order to find the person,” Caitlyn stated. “How am I to do that if I don’t ask?”

Steb straightened his back and spoke clearly, like a lieutenant giving a report. “If word gets around that two strangers, or worse, two enforcers, are trying to discover information about the monkey symbol, whoever is behind it is more likely to hide.”

Caitlyn paused.

She had misjudged Steb.

He spoke, not out of intention to halt Caitlyn, but to help. 

Caitlyn took a breath through her nose. 

The pressure to succeed was intense. 

If she did fail, she would have no job, little future, and the risk of being manhandled by her parents into a ‘more appropriate’ career path was high. 

“You’re right.” Caitlyn said. “We’ll keep what we know close to our chests. At least until we have solid leads.”

Steb nodded in understanding.

“We can use it to confirm we’re in the right direction.” Maddie added, stepping out of Caitlyn’s closet in her plainest clothes. 

She still looked lovely. 

Caitlyn indulged in a short once over before moving on. 

She ignored the pretty blush on Maddie’s face. 

“You’ll be careful.” Caitlyn told Steb. 

Steb’s cheek twitched with what Caitlyn knew to be effort to not roll his eyes. 

“I should be the one saying that,” he replied. “Just so you’re aware, if I don’t hear from you, I’m telling your parents.”

“Of course.”

“And Talis.” Steb stressed. 

Caitlyn smiled. 

“He wouldn’t take your meeting,” Caitlyn teased. 

“He would if you were mentioned.”

“Ha ha.” Caitlyn mocked. She collected the forgeries from their neat pile on her desk. 

“These are for you. When you go to Stillwater tomorrow, show these. They will get you where you need to be.”

Sten accepted the papers, thumbing through them with an eyebrow raised. 

“And what happens when your mother finds out?” Steb asked. 

“She won’t.” Caitlyn said firmly. “Good luck Steb.”

She gathers her things and made to leave the room.

Steb grabbed her arm just before she exited. 

“The day after tomorrow, we meet. No matter what.” He reminded her. 

Caitlyn softened. “The day after tomorrow.” She confirmed. 

Steb nodded and let her go. 

Maddie made to follow, but Steb gestured for her to stay a moment. 

Caitlyn turned. 

She wouldn’t eavesdrop. 

She had to focus. 

Prepare. 

Apply that well earned Kiramman confidence. 

The very thought of her planned tour guide drove Caitlyn’s heart into her throat. 

She needed to be ready to speak to the real deal. 

Maddie shuffled from foot to door, looking to the floor, ceiling, all the get well flowers that still flooded Caitlyn’s room, including her own bouquet.

Steb stared Maddie down, chipping away at her confidence until she looked at him. 

It reminded Maddie of getting caught red-handed by the teacher. 

“I know it’s complicated for you.” Steb broke the silence. “But you cannot let your feelings for Caitlyn get in the way of making a judgement call.”

This was worse than getting caught by the teacher. 

This was being reprimanded in the headmaster’s office. 

“My feelings-? For-? What are you- what - Steb, I don’t know- how could you even-” Maddie stuttered. 

Steb raised a hand, cutting her off. 

“I am not blind, nor am I deaf,” Steb stated. “I know you still have feelings for Caitlyn.”

Maddie’s stomach churned. 

She had tried to hide it. 

She had. 

She pretended her admiration for Caitlyn was purely platonic, that she didn’t find her attractive, that she didn’t daydream of holding her hand like a silly schoolgirl. 

If Caitlyn didn’t even notice, how could Steb?

“It’s not like that,” Maddie insisted. “We were never serious. Even when we were… you know.”

It was something Maddie had come to accept. 

Caitlyn was her friend and came to her for comfort after another trial and tribulation with a rodeo bull of an ex Maddie never had the displeasure of meeting. 

Apparently, the girl had commitment issues a mile long and refused to enforce positive change, even if it meant losing Caitlyn. 

Privately, Steb told Maddie he didn’t think it was all black and white, not entirely Caitlyn’s or the exes fault. Steb told Maddie the girl was from a nobody family with a dark and mysterious history that Caitlyn dropped the ball on understanding several times. 

Maddie didn’t know if Steb was being entirely fair to their friend to say that, but he was the one who met the mysterious woman, not Maddie. 

“It was serious for you.” Steb replied, in a causally devastating way that might have knocked the wind out of Maddie if she was a touch more sensitive. 

As it was, it drove her to silence. 

“Caitlyn is out for blood. She has everything to prove and thinks proving it will put her back on the path she’s been fighting for.” Steb emphasized. His face softened a degree. “Trust her instincts, but don’t forget your own. If something seems off, you need to pull your weight and call off the trip. It will be down to you about when it’s time to head back.”

The weight of his words laid on her back like a lead blanket. 

“No pressure then.” Maddie joked weakly.

She looked back down at her clothing and away from Steb’s prying eyes. 

She picked at a small piece of lint, dropping it onto Caitlyn’s luxurious carpet. 

“I’m serious Maddie.” Steb said. “Caitlyn needs you. It will be hard for her to let go, you’ll need to take the rose-colored glasses off and make her cut it if you have to.”

Maddie understood exactly what he meant. 

Caitlyn was a fighter. 

She didn’t take anything lying down and would push for victory with everything she had. 

It would be Maddie’s job to make sure she didn’t quite give it everything. 

“I understand.” Maddie replied. 

Steb nodded. 

The two looked at each other with mutual understanding.

Caitlyn poked her head back in. 

“Maddie, we have to get going.” She said. 

“Be right there!” Maddie chirped with false cheer. 

She took a deep breath in and out. 

She was ready. 

“Good luck, Steb.” Maddie said. 

Steb sighed. “I suppose I should prepare for my trip to Stillwater bleeding prison.” Steb muttered. 

He shook his head, and the two walked out of Caitlyn’s room. 

The sun had started to set. 

The view would have been gorgeous had they not been on drop street.  

Drop street was possibly the sketchiest part of Piltover proper, not including any part of the Undercity.

It was dirty, full of seedy bars, and the closest you can get to the bridge without being on it.

“Who is it exactly that we’re looking for?” Maddie asked, stepping closer to Caitlyn as a man leered at them from across the street.

“An old friend.” Caitlyn replied.

They passed a store with boarded-up windows and anatomically incorrect spray painted certain male part.

“An old friend,” Maddie asked skeptically, “from drop street?”

“Yes.” Caitlyn said, voice growing terse.

Maddie blew her bangs from her face, the hood of her cape pushing them into a weird position.

“What is this old friend doing here, on drop street, this close to sundown?” Maddie pressed.

Caitlyn sighed.

“She’s probably working, if she’s here at all.” Caitlyn admitted. 

Maddie stared at her back incredulously.

“Working,” she said, kicking broken booze bottles out of her way. She watched one roll off the curb and shatter into the street. “On drop street.”

Caitlyn craned her head back to glare at Maddie.

“You’ll have to be a little less openly judgemental if you want to go to the Undercity.” Caitlyn snapped. “You’re acting like it’s a crime to find work here.”

Maddie stepped back in surprise.

With a huff, Caitlyn continued forward, woman on a mission she was. 

“Right. Sorry.” Maddie apologized.

They quickened their pace, only slowing when they arrived at a grungy-looking bar.

Garbage piled in the alleyway, noise leaked from the walls, and a drunken man was unceremoniously tossed out onto the street.

He turned, red in the face, appearing to have pissed his pants, and swung at the bouncer.

Poorly.

The bouncer swung back, landing the man flat on his ass.

He didn’t get back up.

Caitlyn stopped.

She looked the place up and down before nodding.

Maddie looked at the drunkard and then looked back at Caitlyn.

She nodded in response, eyebrow raised, praying she understood her friend wrong.

Caitlyn nodded again, firmly, and headed towards the door.

They stepped over the drunkard, who was passed out, and stood in a short line.

“How did you meet this friend?” Maddie asked, pointedly looking away from a mess of vomit on the ground.

Caitlyn blushed.

Alarm bells go off in Maddie’s head.

“We…actually met while I was training.” Caitlyn admitted. Her blush deepened. “I had to give her a ticket.”

Alarm bells went from ringing to blaring.

Maddie had heard this story before.

She was sure of it.

Not from Caitlyn, from someone else- Steb.

Steb had told her this story.

Why can’t she remember-?

With a gasp, Maddie recalls.

She took a step back and ogled Caitlyn like she was mad.

Caitlyn turned, confusion on her face, and someone behind them yelled they were holding up the line.

“Your ex girlfriend?!” Maddie squawked. “Violet?!”

“Vi.” Caitlyn quickly corrected.

Another yell to hurry the fuck up and a shove from behind inspired Maddie to move.

Caitlyn’s cheeks retained their rosy hue as they were hustled inside by the bouncer.

Maddie glared at Caitlyn.

Caitlyn glanced at Maddie, guilt flashing over her face, and then looked away.

“Really, Caitlyn?!” Maddie groused as they were shoved into the main bar.

It was noisy, dirty, and packed.

Maddie could spot a staircase going down that looked absolutely hazardous.

So of course Caitlyn began to walk towards it.

Maddie grabbed onto Caitlyn’s arm and held on for dear life.

“Why!?” Maddie demanded.

Caitlyn spluttered. 

“I- well, she-” Caitlyn stumbled. Maddie watched Caitlyn, composed and confident Caitlyn, stumble like a fool. Maddie was flabbergasted. “She’s from the Undercity!” was what Caitlyn spit out.

She turned away from Maddie and began descending the stairs.

Maddie watched for a moment in pure horrified shock before realizing her friend was getting away.

“Caitlyn!”

The house was empty with the exception of Mylo, when Ekko returned home. 

He was sitting at the table, eating a bowl of soggy cereal, reading a book in the low light. 

Ekko knocked on the door frame. 

Mylo looked up, face smoothing at the sight of him. 

“Hey man. How was your day?” Mylo asked. 

Ekko shrugged. “It was alright. Where is everyone?”

The question of where is Vi? went unsaid, but was heard all the same.

Mylo frowned. He lowered his spoon to the bowl and focused his attention on Ekko.

“Claggor, work. Vander, working late. Vi? Great question.”

Ekko sighed. 

Disappointment settled in. 

He was hoping she would at least stick around to see everyone before she went off to be stupid. 

“You know Vi,” Mylo said sympathetically. “She’s gonna do what she’s gonna do.”

Ekko nodded. He tilted his head towards Mylo’s bowl. 

“Anymore of that?” Ekko asked. 

The two ate in compatible silence.

Eventually, Ekko decided that he may as well engage in some kind of conversation with the only person home to spend time with. 

“How is it going with the girl from the shop?” Ekko asked. 

Mylo had definitely mentioned her name, but Ekko wasn’t confident he would remember. 

He would have to try to remember when Mylo inevitably said it. 

Mylo shrugged and took another bite. 

“Glacial progress.” He said, swallowing. “It’s never going to happen, but a man can dream.”

Mylo reached over and nudged Ekko, a playful smile creeping onto his face. 

“You have a better shot, Mr. Assistant to the head of the academy.” Mylo joked, wiggling his eyebrows. 

Ekko forced a laughed and shoved him off. 

That was so not something Ekko wanted to be worrying about right now. 

Between the Firelights, classes, and working part time as a junior assistant to Heimerdinger, Ekko didn’t have time for something like a date. 

He barely had time for the friends and family he already had. There was no way he was about to make it harder on himself. 

“I’m serious, Ekko.” Mylo continued, shrugging his shoulders and returning to his cereal. “You’re underestimating yourself.”

“I got time for that.” Ekko argued. He pointed at Mylo with his spoon. “You, on the other hand-”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mylo groaned. “How could I forget about your super secret club?”

Ekko fell silent.

He took another bite and looked away from Mylo.

The thought of telling his family about the Firelights is something that crosses his mind every day. 

He knows they would be proud and would see the vision of an Undercity without the stain Silco has forced onto it, a version of the city that was better even before they left. 

Every time he imagined telling them, explaining them, he imagined the betrayed look on Vander’s face and would talk himself out of it. 

Even Vi didn’t dare break Vander’s harsh banning of returning home. 

When they had first left, they pressed the subject frequently, and were treated to a long discussion about how dangerous it would be if Silco ever found out any of them were alive and what that would do to everybody if they were hurt or killed. 

Over the years, they all quietly asked less and less about going home, instead talking about The Lanes in the realm of a fond memory rather than a tangible place.  

Vander would be right to feel betrayed.

Going behind their backs was bad. 

It made Ekko a liar and a bad friend.

He couldn’t stop.

All the good he did, all the impact he had made for the people suffering at the hands of Silco, the thought of stopping seemed worse than starting in the first place. 

Ekko’s leg bounced beneath the table, mind racing as he pictured the Firelights and what they could become, what they were on their way to becoming right now.

Well, Ekko reasoned. If Vi isn’t home, there is no reason to stick around.

“Speaking of,” Ekko broke the silence. “A few of us talked about meeting up tonight. Nothing major, but if we don’t have plans, I might take them up on it. Don’t wait up.”

Mylo put his spoon in his empty bowl and stood. He put a hand out and took Ekko’s bowl, too. 

Ekko nodded in thanks.

“Ok.” Mylo replied, sighing. “Be safe, Little Man.”

He turned and headed towards the sink. 

Ekko took that as his cue. 

He headed towards the door.

He had a stop to make first. 

The surrounding crowd was nothing less than bloodthirsty.

They screamed when someone lost, screamed when they won, rattled the cheap-looking fence that was put up around the arena the matches took place in. 

Because this was an illegal fight ring. 

That is where Caitlyn had taken Maddie. 

Maddie winced as another person thudded to the floor, put cold by a nasty right hook. 

She couldn’t see very well from her seat, but knew it must have been something else from the way the crowd screamed. 

This was the third match they had seen so far, and Cait’s mystery woman had yet to show up.

Maddie looked at Caitlyn every time someone stepped out to see if it was Violet, the mysterious ex, but Caitlyn shook her head every time. 

They dragged the loser’s unconscious body from the ring. 

The winner left too. 

After a brief respite, a new boxer entered. 

It was a large man with tattoos that covered his body, thick curly hair and a beard, and nipple piercings. 

Ugh.

Maddie wrinkled her nose at the sight. 

Now, if that was a woman who entered the ring with all those attributes… 

Well, least of all to say, Maddie would be of a different opinion. 

The man bellowed at the crowd, thumping his broad chest, flexing his arm muscles and making a spectacle of the whole thing. 

Some people cheered, some people heckled. 

Maddie was tempted to join them, but Caitlyn’s cool expression was enough to discourage her.

The air felt different when the next boxer appeared. 

Maddie could see the door open but didn’t manage to spot who entered. 

The man had his back to his opponent, still hyping up the crowd, unaware someone behind him was getting into stance. 

The bell rang.

The man turned directly into his opponent’s fist, a spray of blood and spit following. 

The man wobbled before sailing to the ground with a heavy thud. 

He went down like a stone. 

The winner stood stoically, without reacting to her win at all. 

The crowd cheered, satisfied with the brutality. 

None of that was important to Maddie. 

What was worth focusing on was how hot the winner was. 

A woman of mid height, with broad shoulders and rippling muscles shown openly as she was only wearing chest bindings for modesty.

 She had tattoos going down her forearms that Maddie could see go up into a back piece when she turned. Tattoos weren’t as uncommon as they used to be in Piltover, but it was still a rare treat to see a woman heavily tatted. 

Her back. 

Her back.

Maddie seared the image into her brain for when she needed a pick me up. 

The woman’s hair was pink, and it was cut close to an undercut on one side, leaving the other to a disheveled mess. Maddie was not immune to the way her ass looked, either. Or her back. Did she forget to mention the woman’s back muscles all out on display with dark coloring of tattoo ink? 

Another person stepped into the ring, and Maddie watched her work. 

The woman went two more rounds, knocking both opponents out in a similar way to the first, both of the other fights lasting a little longer. 

Maddie was so busy drooling she didn’t even look at Caitlyn. 

The woman left the ring after her three fights were finished. 

Maddie would miss her. 

A nudge from the side snapped Maddie out of her delusions about the illegal boxer. 

Caitlyn jerked her head and stood. 

Maddie followed. 

As they waded through the crowd, unease filled Maddie’s belly. 

There was only one reason they needed to leave after Hot Woman left the ring, and that reason was devastating. 

“Her?” Maddie asked, begging for it to not be true. 

“Her name is Vi.” Caitlyn repeated in an annoyed tone. She shoulder checked someone who stood too close and stared them down with an icy stare when they called her a cunt. They continued through the crowd. 

“Her?” Maddie repeated, mind mush at the thought of Caitlyn and Hot Woman, Vi, having been together-

“I knew she was getting out of Stillwater soon. I assumed correctly this would be the best place to find her.”

Someone stepped on Maddie’s foot. She barely felt it. 

“Stillwater? Her?” Maddie said dumbly. 

Caitlyn shrugged. 

“Aggravated assault.” Caitlyn replied. 

Maddie snorted. That, of all things, managed to dispel the last of Maddie’s brain fog. 

“I’m shocked.” She snarked. 

Caitlyn’s smirk lasted for a half a second, but still felt like a victory. 

They neared the bar, grimy and crowded, where sure enough, Vi sat. 

The stools on either side of her sat empty, saying more than enough about what kind of company she was.

She also unfortunately had a jacket on now.

“Let me talk to her.” Caitlyn murmured in Maddie’s ear. 

She pulled away and strode towards the bar with her shoulders back and head forward. 

“Yes, of course,” Maddie muttered to herself. “You talk to your ex who just left prison for assault. What a clever plan this is turning out to be.”

The feeling of riding a hoverboard was incomparable. 

He soared over the Lanes, swooping and rolling as he pleased. 

The feeling of freedom was contrasted by the sorry sight of his former home. 

Strung out addicts lined alley ways, violent encounters bursting in the street, and gang members hung around like tumors. 

It turned Ekko’s stomach. 

Ekko flew into the tunnel, bending his knees and clutching the bag.

The only person who had been at the lab was the old security guard, who only waved Ekko in. He was able to take what supplies he needed and his mask prototype without any scrutiny.

Ekko entered the firelight lair and breathed a sigh of relief. 

The tree stood tall and proud, a beacon of hope, as corny as it sounded. 

There were half finished permanent structures on one side and the camp they had made up on the other. 

A few of the finished living spaces had lights flickering inside. Most were in bed by now, but off somewhere, a group of people were laughing as their conversation carried through the night. 

Scar had his back turned to Ekko when he came riding forward.

Ekko slowed to a stop and waited.

“Fucking show off.” Scar said without turning around.

Ekko smiled.

“Not showing off if I’m just that good,” Ekko replied.

Scar turned to face Ekko.

Ekko pulled up and flew until he was hanging upside down.

Scar watched him with an intrigued look on his face.

Ekko grinned. “This is showing off.”

Scar snorted.

Ekko dangled his bag in front of Scar.

“Brought stuff.” He said.

Scar held out his hands, and Ekko dropped the bag in them.

He flipped right side up, hopped off the hoverboard, and kicked it up. The machine slowed to a stop.

Scar looked through the parts Ekko had brought with a furrowed brow.

“It will take a while,” Ekko began. “But we can finally start the upgrades on everyone’s board. I have enough here tonight to begin.”

“No one’s expecting you?” Scar asked, closing the bag and looking up.

Ekko shrugged. “Told Mylo I was meeting friends. No one’s expecting me till tomorrow.”

Scar nodded.

“It will change everything to have them. We can finally make our move.” He said.

Ekko’s gut twisted.

He frowned.

“You mean you can,” Ekko corrected softly.

Scar sighed. His green eyes searched Ekko, and his brow twitched with concern.

“I thought you agreed that you should stay out of it for now.” Scar replied seriously.

Ekko huffs.

Ultimately, Scar is right.

If they were going to make a move against Silco, strategically it would make sense for Ekko to stay back.

Ekko had been bringing in high-quality gear for a while now, and if something happens to Ekko, they don’t have another way to get it.

Ekko knows they’re tough, being from the Undercity forced them to be, and every Firelight Ekko has met so far has been a wealth of ingenuity and perseverance that left Ekko in awe. 

Nobody could make something out of nothing like a trencher.

The trick was that Silco’s gang had access to Piltie gear, too.

The more they could even the playing field, the better.

So Ekko agreed to stay out of it.

“The tip we got has an expiration date.” Ekko said after a long pause. “Shimmer moves fast and if we don’t act soon, there will be no stopping the shipment. We need all hands on deck, and I think I have something that can help.”

Ekko nodded to his bag’s front pocket.

Scar gave him a puzzled look before opening it.

He pulled out Ekko’s prototype: an owl-like mask.

“It has a voice modulator built in.” Ekko explained while Scar examined the piece. “If we all get fitted with these, we’ll be harder to track. The less chance they have at picking us out in a crowd, the safer we all will be.”

Scar didn’t look convinced.

“Scar, c’mon.” Ekko pleaded.

Scar frowned. His eyes didn’t leave the mask. 

“I know how personal it is for you, Ekko.” Scar said. “And I don’t want to shut you down, man. But-”

Ekko sighed.

He was about to have sense talked into him and he didn’t like it.

Scar paused.

He handed Ekko the mask.

“When that thing is finished,” he said. “And I mean, Ekko finished, not what is happening right now. I say we do it. Get us all fitted, bring you in. All hands on deck.”

Ekko nodded, looking at the mask

Relief washed over him.

It was hard to sit on the sidelines and watch others risk their asses to go up against a ghoul like Silco.

Ekko would join them soon.

He just needed a little more time.

“We’re not going to let that shimmer rat control the city for much longer. This is the beginning.” Ekko promised.

Scar nodded in agreement.

They sat in comfortable silence.

Ekko looked around, noticing how empty the surrounding space was.

Even at this time of night, Ekko could usually spot one or two of his other friends.

“Where is Eve and all them?” Ekko asked. “I didn’t see her on the way in.”

Scar frowned.

He looked worried.

“She went out with a few others a few days ago,” Scar replied. “I am starting to get worried.”

Ekko frowned.

“Where have we looked?” Ekko asked.

He leaned against the railing and focused on Scar’s words.

He took his mind off his previous worries and started to pile on his new ones.

They approached Vi.

Caitlyn, with nerves of steel, sat on her left.

Maddie took the seat to her right.

Vi didn’t look at either of them.

She had an amber colored drink in her hand that Maddie swore she could smell from her seat.

“Any reason Piltover’s finest wants to drink with me?” Vi asked.

Fuck.

Her voice was also sexy. Smokey and low.

Maddie squeezed her eyes shut and clenched and unclenched her hands.

Pull yourself together, Maddie cursed herself. You look ridiculous. 

“I need your help,” Caitlyn answered, cutting to the chase.

Her jaw was tight and, like Violet, she stared ahead.

Maddie tried to guess what was going on in her head.

Was she disgusted at the circumstances she found Vi in? Was she relieved she was ok? Did she miss Vi?

Vi huffed a laugh. “You never mince words, do you, cupcake?”

Caitlyn’s face flushed.

Maddie leaned toward the tattooed woman.

“Vi, was it?” Maddie asked. She stuck her hand out. “Junior Officer Nolan. Maddie.” she introduced herself.

Vi’s steel colored eyes looked her up and down before lifting her scarred brow. 

“How do you know my name?” Vi asked, frowning. 

Maddie blinked. “Caitlyn told me,” she replied. “And,” she hesitated. “It’s tattooed on your face?”

Right on her sharp cheekbone was a small tattoo of the roman numerals for six. Of course, it spelled VI. 

Vi arched a brow before shrugging and looking away.

Caitlyn was looking at Maddie. Her eyes were intense and face taught. 

The message was clear enough to Maddie: don’t fuck this up. 

Maddie nodded to her and began to speak. 

“We are pursuing information on a case. We would be grateful for your help.”

Vi knocked back the rest of her drink in one go. 

She didn’t even wince. 

Vi gestured for the bartender to send her another. 

“How exactly am I meant to be helping you?” Vi asked. She received her new drink and immediately downed half. 

Maddie felt nauseated watching. 

Caitlyn tapped her fingers against the bar, softly, almost going unnoticed if not for Maddie. Her scowl didn’t lift up, and she had shifted her gaze from Maddie to Vi, who still had not looked her way.

“We are investigating in the Undercity,” Maddie continued. “Caitlyn said you grew up there-”

“No.” Vi replied. 

Maddie cocked her head. “You weren’t born there?” Maddie asked, surprised. “Your accent-”

“I mean, no, I can’t help you.” Vi corrected. 

Maddie swallowed. 

A glance at the grim expression on Caitlyn’s face told her this news was unwelcome but not unexpected. 

“We wouldn’t need you to put yourself in danger,” Maddie assured Vi. “It’s a lot of ground to cover, however, and having a local-”

Vi turned on her stool and faced Maddie fully for the first time. 

Her blue-grey eyes had such an intensity to them. 

Maddie was drawn to silence after meeting them. 

“Listen, Shortcake,” Vi began in an irritated tone. “I can’t help you. I’m not welcome down there anymore and happen to like my skin where it is, thank you.”

“You can, but you won’t,” Caitlyn cut in. 

Vi tensed. 

She stared resolutely ahead as if refusing to look at Caitlyn. 

Maddie looked at Caitlyn from over Vi’s broad shoulder. 

She was staring holes into the woman’s back. 

“Sure, Cait.” Vi replied, voice gruff. “If that’s what you want to think.”

Caitlyn’s arm shot out. 

Before Maddie could flinch, Caitlyn grabbed Vi’s hands and pulled her around to face her. 

Caitlyn’s face softened, and her eyes turned pleading. 

“Vi,” she said quietly. “Please.”

Maddie no longer could see Vi’s face, but she could see the way her shoulders dropped and the way she rubbed her thumbs over Caitlyn’s knuckles, slowly. 

She had softened somehow. 

“This is important to me,” Caitlyn entreated. “I need you.”

Vi sighed in resignation. 

Maddie felt her hopes inch up, before dropping back down when she pulled her hand away from Caitlyn’s. 

“I can’t, Cupcake.” Vi replied softly. “I have other people who need me, too.”

Vi left her half finished drink on the counter and stood. 

Caitlyn didn’t move to stop her.

Maddie stopped to really look at her friend. 

Defeated. 

That was the expression. 

Vi was already a few feet away when Maddie scrambled to follow. 

She practically assaulted Vi when she grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

Maddie thanked her lucky stars the hostile look from the ring melted away when she saw it was just Maddie. 

Maddie pulls a piece of paper from her bag and a pencil. 

She poorly scrawls down the address of the train they were taking tomorrow and the time. 

She handed it to a confused-looking Vi. 

“In case you change your mind,” Maddie told her. “We’ll be there till noon. We can make it worth your time and the risk.”

Vi searched her face, dark makeup emphasizing her eyes.

“You trying to bribe me?” Vi asked. 

Maddie pursed her lips. 

She did not want to pull this card. 

But Caitlyn needed her. 

“I’m trying to make it so you don’t have to pick. Between people who need you.” Maddie said. 

She sent a meaningful glance over her shoulder at Caitlyn. 

Vi’s eyes followed her and her eyes softened. 

Maddie did not want to encourage the woman's feelings towards Caitlyn, but if it meant Caitlyn would get what she needed Maddie would just have to swallow her pride. 

Vi snatched the paper from her hand and began to walk out of the bar. 

“Nice meeting you, shortcake.” Vi called over her shoulder lazily. 

Maddie’s face flushed and she let out the breath that had been stuck in her chest. 

So that was Vi.

Huh.

Her mild drunkenness did little to keep Vi from sneaking back into the apartment without trouble. 

She had definitely made it back in worse shape.

Seeing Cait again had thrown her for a loop, and she immediately popped into another bar to take the edge off. 

The other woman was still as stunning as when Vi last saw her, six months ago, when they got i to a fight about Caitlyn’s lack of respect for her and Vi’s lack of respect for herself and they called it off. 

Again. 

Vi couldn’t remember who said ‘we’re done’ first this time, but she remembered it stung just as bad as the others. 

She fumbled with her keys and slowly opened the front door. 

She quietly crept in, closing the door behind her in a near silent fashion. 

She would never hear the end of it if she woke someone up when they had work tomorrow. 

She crept down the hall only to freeze when the kitchen suddenly flooded with dim light. 

Vander stood, arms crossed, near the switch. 

Vi felt ten years old again, sneaking into the kitchen with Powder to try to find the sugar she was not allowed to touch, only for Vander to catch them before they could check a second cabinet. 

“The day you get out?” Vander asked. 

Vi refused to flinch. 

Instead, she pulled her winning from the fight out of her pocket and threw them at Vander. 

He caught them but didn’t stop to look. 

His stare remained fixed on Vi, stern and unforgiving.

It made Vi’s skin itch. 

“Take it,” she insisted. “It will help make up for time gone.”

Vander frowned. 

“Too late for that.” He replied. 

Vi looked away from him. 

She couldn’t stand the disappointment. 

She turned, ready to do the walk of shame, back to her room, when Vander spoke again. 

“If you want to make up for it,” He said. “You can start by trying to keep yourself out of a jail cell.”

Vi whirled to face him. 

“The fight was not that big,” Vi defended. 

It wasn’t. 

It was a piece of cake for Vi. 

She had planned on returning for at least a few more nights to generate a little money until she could figure out what to do. 

Vander sighed and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, Vi could see his patience thin. 

“It doesn’t matter how big it was,” Vander said, voice raising just above talking level. “Its what got you locked up last time!”

Vi scoffed. She stepped into the kitchen, glaring at him. 

“You did fights like that all the time at my age!” Vi argued, gesticulating to make her point. 

“I did. In Zaun. With no other options.” Vander corrected, eyes narrowing. 

“Well, I would do it in Zaun if you would just-”

“No.”

“Vander-”

“You know why you can’t,” Vander insisted. 

Vi roughly pushed back her hair. She could feel her temper spark and she had no way of pulling it back. “No one would recognize me!”

“Are you willing to take that risk, Vi? Because I’m not.” Vander asserted. “It would put your family in danger.”

Vi snapped. 

“Well, what am I good for if not getting your family killed, right?” Vi spat. 

Vander winced. “Stop.” he said, his voice hard as stone. 

Vi couldn’t.

She let it all out. 

“Why?” Vi pushed, “It’s what you’re thinking. It’s what you’ve been thinking this whole time, that I’m a risk and you have to stay up late watching me in case I fuck our lives over again-”

“Don’t, Vi.” Vander said harshly, taking a step towards her so they were face to face. “You don’t get to decide that for me.”

Vi stopped. 

She panted and watched her father’s face. 

He pointed at her. 

“You don’t get to do that.” He continued, voice low. “That belongs to me. The only person I blame, Vi, is Silco, and you know that. You don’t get to decide otherwise because you are hurting.”

Vi struggled to breathe. 

It all flooded her, again, the familiar and old pain of regret. 

“I left her. Not Silco.” Vi stated. 

Her throat tightened, and her eyes stung. 

The alcohol that provided a warm buffer earlier was biting her in the ass. 

Vander sighed. 

“We have gone over this,” Vander replied. “So many times, Vi.”

He no longer sounded frustrated. Just sad. 

“If you need closure, Vi, we can hold a funeral-” Vander offered. 

The idea, the picture, of them trying to host a proper goodbye for her sister was so revolting Vi had to reject it before she threw up in the kitchen. 

“No, Vander,” Vi exclaimed, shaking her head and taking a step back. “That’s not what I-”

“Alright then.” Vander went on. “If you need forgiveness, then, as Powder’s father, I forgive you.”

Vi covered her mouth. Shaking, she turned from him. 

Vi felt a hand drop to her shoulder. 

“You can’t punish yourself forever for a horrible thing that happened when you were fifteen. It’s Silco’s fault your sister isn’t here. End of discussion. You wouldn’t have saved her even if you were there.” Vander said. 

His voice was weary. 

Vi knew the conversation must be exhausting at this point, given how many times they had had it.

She couldn’t do as he asked. 

She couldn’t just blame Silco entirely and let herself get off Scot-free. 

“I’ll get closure when Silco is dead.” Vi answered. 

“No.” Vander said, quick as a reflex. 

Vi looked up at him, heart thudding, mind working fast. 

Caitlyn’s offer brushed through her mind and before she knew it, Vi was saying, “We could go down together, take him down, and I swear we would never go back.”

Vander shook his head, eyes tightening and scoring. 

“You won’t just get yourself killed if you go back to the lanes, Vi.” Vander said. “We all lost Powder. We all mourned. Could you do that to us again? Make me mourn another daughter? Mylo Claggor and Ekko, their friend, their sister?”

Vi clenched her jaw shut to keep herself from saying something stupid. 

There’s a pause. 

Vi stewed in her anger. 

It isn’t right, she thought. 

No one else was coming to make Silco pay. 

It was only her. 

It isn’t right. 

“Will you promise me you’ll look for a real job tomorrow?” Vander asked softly. 

The paper Maddie had given her weighed heavily in her pocket. 

“I think I might have a lead on something, actually.” Vi replied, looking away from him. 

Vander nodded. 

“Good.” He replied. He pulled Vi in for a quick hug. 

Vi let him.

He moved around her to leave. 

Before he could leave, Vi called his name. 

He looked back at her, question clearly on his face. 

Vi swallowed. 

“If you could,” Vi said. “Would you? Get back at Silco?”

Vander looked at Vi with a world-weary gaze. 

Underneath his exhaustion, Vi recognized an emotion she saw in her own gaze. 

Anger shimmering underneath the surface. 

He didn’t need to answer. Vi knew. 

“He shouldn’t get to hurt any more little girls.” Vi pressed. 

Vander didn’t reply. 

“Get some rest,” he said instead. “You’ve had a hard day.”

He went off to bed, leaving Vi alone in the kitchen. 

She sat in the dark before making a decision.

Someone had to make him pay. 

Chapter Text

The view from the train station was marvelous if you looked over, not down.

Maddie put a hand up to shade her eyes and really enjoyed the view.

She could see nearly all of Piltover from where she stood.

Caitlyn returned from the booth, muttering under her breath as she examined the train tickets.

“Looks like we’re in luck.” Maddie joked. “They had seats, after all.”

The train going into the Undercity was never full. Maddie didn’t need experience riding it to tell her that. It didn’t stop Caitlyn from creating a contingency plan for if the seats were full.

Caitlyn didn’t smile back. In fact, she didn’t look up.

She had been serious all morning, from carefully choosing civilian clothes, strapping their rifles to their backs and ensuring they were hidden by their cloaks, even pecking her father goodbye as he finished his coffee, her face held a lingering grimness that Maddie couldn’t chase away.

“We need to stay on task.” Caitlyn said in a low voice. She reached over and took Maddie’s hand, gripping it. “We stick together, alright?”

Maddie’s eyes flitted towards their hands and flushed.

She couldn’t speak, god forbid Caitlyn hear the squeak in her voice, so she just nodded.

“Excuse me, is this where they’re holding auditions for the peanut patrol?” a familiar voice asked.

Caitlyn’s head snapped, dropping Maddie’s hand and whipping to face them.

Maddie turned to follow her gaze and instantly recognized the pink-haired woman. 

“Vi!” Caitlyn startled, unconsciously taking a step toward the woman. 

Vi stood within a few feet of both women, eyeing them up and down. She looked much more relaxed than she did at the bar. More settled. Less dramatic black makeup hiding her beautiful face.

She raised a brow, the one with the scar. 

“You’re going to the Undercity wearing that?” Vi asked. 

Maddie looked down at her clothes. 

She thought they were just the right, worn and neutral toned, for their mission. Long-sleeved, offering her arms protection, form fitted to prevent hindrance, nothing bright or flashy to signal ‘pay attention to me’.

Vi, on the other hand, stood with her arms crossed in a white sleeveless hooded shirt and baggy pants that would be more appropriate for the bin. 

“You came.” Caitlyn said, taking half a step toward her before correcting. Her voice was just a touch breathless. A casual listener wouldn’t have picked up on it. Maddie did. 

Vi rolled her shoulder and neck, strolling closer to them with a casual air. 

“I had a gap in my schedule.” Vi remarked. “Figured I could tag along. If you still want me to.”

Vi angled her face towards Maddie and winked. 

Maddie jolted, snapping her head towards Caitlyn, but the other woman hadn’t noticed. She was too busy watching Vi. 

“Yes!” Caitlyn blurted. She flushed, cleared her throat, and drained the excitement from her voice. “I bought seats on the train. It would be no trouble to get another-“

“Too risky,” Vi cut her off. Approaching the railing towards the drop, she flipped her hood up. She spared a glance back at the women before moving.

She jumped. 

She jumped off the train station grounds and into the city below.

Maddie choked. She blinked, as if expecting Vi to pop back up. 

Caitlyn wasn’t much better. Her usual control over her expression had gone out the window, eyes wide and lips parted. 

Maddie braved a look over the railing, peering down at rusted rooftops, where Vi was hopping and sliding down. 

Just looking at the drop made Maddie dizzy. 

Maddie could feel Caitlyn stand next to her. 

With a sigh, Caitlyn tossed the tickets to the side, went past the railing, and lowered herself down. 

Maddie gasped. 

She hurried to snag the tickets before they blew away in the wind. 

“Caitlyn!” Maddie hissed. She glanced desperately between the train and the girls playing parkour. Her stomach turned queasily. “Caitlyn!”

Caitlyn didn’t reply, too busy fumbling her way down along with a gone from view Vi.

Maddie swallowed. 

She had two options. 

Follow her friend or take the coward’s way out. 

Maddie peered over the edge. She looked at the poorly constructed roofs, sharp metal pieces jutting out, the uncertain ledges that they were rolling the dice on. 

She took a deep breath in, closing her eyes, and breathed out. 

She opened her eyes, tensed, and-

Ding.

The train doors opened. 

Maddie followed the crowd out the door, slightly ashamed but mostly relieved she hadn’t tried jumping down. 

She looked at her surroundings. 

Dirty and unstable buildings, low grey light, trash wafting about and people passing her with their eyes turned down. 

Maddie was carefully moving down the street, keeping her eyes peeled for any sign of Caitlyn or Vi. 

Not a block over, Maddie noticed a woman hazardly drop from a building roof and onto the ground, panting for breath and unsteady on her feet. 

Caitlyn. 

She noticed Maddie almost immediately, her shoulders dropped. 

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Maddie asked, barely keeping a straight face. 

Caitlyn scowled and pushed past her, bumping her shoulder as she did. 

Maddie bit back a smile. 

By the time they stepped out of the alley, Vi was waiting, wearing a new red jacket. 

She threw a coat at Caitlyn and smiled. 

“Welcome to the Lanes.” Vi said, a cocksure swagger emerging as she stepped towards them. 

Maddie stayed silent. ‘The Lanes’ was an unfamiliar term, truly signaling Vi as a local, if the sudden apparent confidence boost didn’t. 

“You could have gotten me killed.” Caitlyn scolded. There was no heat in her tone and she put on the coat with no further argument. 

Vi scoffed. She rolled her eyes. “My little sister could do that when she was seven. All us fissure folk can. Maddie didn’t mind, right Maddie?”

Caitlyn’s head snapped towards Maddie, frown on her face, just as Vi began to walk. 

Maddie opened her mouth, and closed it. She hadn’t minded because she took the train. Admitting that to Vi was as unappealing to Maddie as the dumpsters behind them.

“You do blend in.” Maddie instead said weakly. 

Caitlyn grunted, adjusting her coat, and following after Vi. 

Maddie sighed and did the same. 

It was only slightly less cold on the inside of Stillwater than the outside.

Steb stood in front of the desk while the man manning it read through his forged documents.

The guard in the front looked from the papers to Steb several times. The man was huge, towering over the desk and Steb, with a casual confidence that came from being the biggest in the room.

Steb stayed silent.

He stood with his back straight and played the game of patience.

“Inmate 2135…” the guard muttered. “Don’t expect much outta him. The inmates here aren’t very talkative.”

Steb politely asked him the direction of the elevator. 

The guard sighed and rolled his eyes before acquiescing. 

He rode higher and higher towards the inmate Caitlyn spoke of. From what she said, the man had every reason to talk, but you could never tell with that sort. 

Steb forced himself to keep still. 

Any signs of nerves and his credibility was shot. 

He arrived at the correct floor with a jolt. 

The elevator doors opened to a dimly lit corridor. 

Steb took a slow breath in and exited. 

He walked down the hall and stared straight ahead. He paid no mind to any sounds or calls from the other cells. He wasn’t there for them. 

Before long, he arrived at inmate 2135’s cell. 

Steb stood on the other side of a red safety line. He assessed the man. The inmate was tall, clearly in possession of a sunlight deficiency, and heavily pierced and tattooed. He carried tension in his shoulders that Steb thought might be default rather than situational. 

He waited until the man noticed Steb. It was better to let him make the first move. 

The inmate turned, scowling at the sight of him.

“What?” the man growled. 

Steb maintained eye contact, tilting his head up slightly to do it. Hostile but little heat behind it. His bad mood felt more tired than angry Steb notes. 

“My name is Officer Steb Guthrie.” Steb informed him. “I am here to follow up with you about an incident that occurred at the Hexgates.”

The man spat on the floor. 

He lumbered over to his cot, sitting, looking away from Steb. Interesting. Creating space could mean feeling caged in or pressed into a corner. He could lash out, or Steb could get lucky. 

“A colleague of mine spoke to you. Officer Kiramman.” Steb continued forward. 

The man glanced at him. 

“The blue-haired chick?” The inmate asked. His cheek twitched. Discomfort bled through his tone. This line of questioning made him nervous. 

“That was her, yes,” Steb answered carefully. “She said you had information about who shot at you. 

The man returned to looking at the floor. He tensed further, and the air seemed to grow thick with his internal struggle. He flexed his hands absentmindedly, the repetitive motion either being a means for control or a technique used to prevent him from making a fist. He took a breath and his body and face went blank. Nothing else to pick up on. A breathing statue. 

“I can’t.” The inmate said finally. His voice was heavy. Not firm. Heavy. 

Steb stepped closer. He did not cross over the red line, but the small action gave away his interest. 

“You don’t owe them loyalty.” Steb said, keeping his voice neutral. “Friendly fire is not something one easily forgets or forgives.”

Silence. 

Steb reassessed the man. 

The inmate clearly had practice at hiding his emotions. His expression gave nothing away. He had stopped flexing his hands, instead keeping them still at his knees. 

Steb looked closer. 

There. 

His hands trembled, just barely. 

He was quiet out of fear rather than loyalty. Steb knew how to proceed. 

“We can protect you.” Steb went on. He kept his tone firm and confident. 

The inmate scoffed. 

He looked up at Steb and cocked an eyebrow in disbelief. 

“From her? No way.” He said, confident for the first time since speaking. “The eye is always watching. I’d be killed before I gave you the first letter.”

There was a lot that gave Steb a pause there.

The inmate said a lot, either unintentionally or as a workaround. 

“What eye?” Steb asked. 

The inmate looked at him as if he was slow. 

“The eye.” The inmate answered. “Of Zaun.”

The phrase loomed over Steb. 

The eye of Zaun.

This was much bigger than he anticipated. 

Caitlyn’s conspiracy mood board suddenly seemed much less paranoid. 

She was onto something. 

From her? No way.

“You said her.” Steb said. 

The inmate froze. 

His eyes widened, and his face dropped. 

Fear. 

There was fear in his expression. 

“Who is she?” Steb asked cautiously.

Before he finished the sentence, the inmate was shaking his head. 

“I can’t.” He said. “I can’t.”

Steb wanted to press but knew he couldn’t. 

He swallowed back a disappointed sigh and stepped back. 

“I understand.” Steb said. “If you change your mind, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time.” 

The inmate didn’t reply. 

He sat on his cot, facing the wall, looking as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. 

Steb turned and made his way back towards the elevators. 

He had to speak to Caitlyn. 

“This is a poor use of our time,” Viktor stated, irritated. 

Jayce read over the logs and then reread them.

He knew he was playing roulette with the conversation and it was only a matter of time before he had to make amends. 

The instinct to defend himself was too strong to ignore, however. 

“I’m a counselor now, Viktor. It’s my responsibility to make sure the Hexgates are safe and protected.” Jayce replied, looking up from his paper. 

“What of our pledge to improve lives? For those in need? For the Undercity?” Viktor asked. There was an edge in his voice that cued Jayce it was time for an apology. 

He sighed and turned to look at Viktor’s back. 

“Look, I’m sorry I did not announce our other projects in my speech.” Jayce said. “Soon, we can do everything-“

“Soon?” Viktor asked, turning to face Jayce. He was frowning, and his brows were furrowed in frustration. “There are people who need our help now, Jayce!” Viktor exclaimed.

Jayce frowned. He had to explain himself and had no idea how. Viktor was right, but how could Jayce explain to him the weight of his new title?

“Counselor?” a voice interrupted from behind. 

It was Sheriff Marcus, standing awkwardly at the entrance. 

Jayce cleared his throat. He tried not to be too relieved at the interruption.

“Sheriff. I wasn’t expecting you until later.” Jayce said.

Viktor sighed and turned back to his task. 

Jayce struggled not to wince. 

He would make things right. 

Soon. 

“I’m here now.” Marcus replied. “What can I help you with, Counselor?”

Jayce thumbed through the logs, shaking his head. 

“I called you here to look through these.”

Marcus eyed the stack in Jayce’s hands with trepidation. “All of them, sir?”

Jayce nodded grimly. 

“We need to look at everything.”

Marcus paused.

“That is a lot of work.” He finally replied. 

Jayce quirked a brow at him. “We are sitting on years’ worth of discrepancies, Sheriff.” Jayce retorted. “We need to find these people and protect the Hexgates. this is how I will do it.”

Marcus seemed to hesitate. Ultimately, he took the logs from Jayce’s hands. 

“Any other updates?” Jayce pressed. 

Marcus frowned. “I’m investigating a lead on a Undercity gang called the Firelights. They’re evasive and seem to target civilians. They’ve recently changed their MO.” Marcus said. 

“Why haven’t I heard of them?” Jayce demanded. 

“This is their first major stunt. Before they’ve been accused of theft and assault, but nothing of this scale. I think they’re gaining confidence.”

A gang, Jayce thought, rubbing his hand over his face. 

Jayce remembered what Caitlyn said about one person being responsible for the crime epidemic in the Undercity.

Was Caitlyn right? Jayce thought. 

He made a mental note to bring her his pictures of the Hexgem crime scene. He would actually look through evidence with her, not barely keep up out of obligation. 

Viktor suddenly leaned towards the Hexgate, a faraway look in his eyes and blood smearing down his nose. Jayce’s heart leapt to his throat at the sight. 

Jayce quickly stepped forward, putting a hand on his back. 

“Hey,” Jayce asked softly, looking at Viktor’s plaid face with concern. “Are you ok?”

Viktor seemed to snap out of it. 

“Just a headache.” Viktor pushed Jayce’s hand away. He grabbed his crutch and stood. “I need to get back to the lab.”

Jayce watched him leave, worry overtaking his features. 

When he met Marcus’s gaze, he schooled his expression into something more neutral. 

“Look over those logs.” Jayce snapped. “I want answers as soon as possible.”

Ekko had been deep in upgrades when word of Jax’s return got out. 

He and a few others had been missing for a few days and everyone had been worried.

He and Scar made their way to the makeshift infirmary they had put up a year or so ago, grimacing when they got a good look at him. 

Ekko noted he was alone.

Bullet to the shoulder, Ekko noted, scrapes and bruises. Possible broken nose. 

“What happened?” Ekko asked, cutting to the chase. 

Jax winced, guilt flooding his face. 

Scar went over, examining his bandaged shoulder. They were old, soaked with blood. He must have gotten looked at when it first happened. 

Ekko waited.

Eventually, Jax spoke. 

“We did a hit against Silco.” Jax admitted. He looked away from Scar and Ekko, eyes misting. “They ambushed us. Some girl showed up and started blowing everyone to the sky. Eve is dead. So is Mirk and Bea.” 

Ekko closed his eyes. 

Grief and anger filled his ribcage like a balloon. 

He struggled to breathe. 

He forced himself to regulate. Snapping at Jax would do nobody any good. 

“That wasn’t the plan.” Ekko forced out. 

“I’m sorry,” Jax said, voice thick with grief. “We, we got intel and thought we could handle it.”

Ekko breathed in and out.

Eve. Mirk. Bea.

They were gone.

Ekko would never stay up another night, bouncing ideas off of Eve. Never crack up at another one of Mirk’s shitty jokes. Never help Bea brighten up the place, because she believed that the shimmer refugees they took deserved somewhere nice, not just habitable.

He counted to ten, then fifteen. He needed to be composed.

It was a mistake, but not Jax’s alone. He was just unlucky enough to be the only survivor. That was punishment enough.

However, even that came with a price.

“You’ll put them up on the mural. That’s on you.” Ekko finally spoke.

Jax flinched, but nodded his head.

The mural was dedicated to everyone they had lost. 

Whether it was to sickness, shimmer, or violence, if someone loved was lost, they had a place there.

It was good to have a place to remember.

There were no graves in Zaun.

Jax had a hard task ahead of him, but he was best suited to it.

Scar finished changing his bandages, gently touching his good shoulder in sympathy.

Scar looked at him to confirm he was going to be alright.

Ekko watched.

Jax nodded to both men, and Scar stood to leave.

Upon exiting, Scar huffed.

“Shit,” He said, voice shaking. “What are we going to do now?”

Away from Jax, Ekko let his anger bubble.

“Now?” Ekko said. “We make Silco pay.”

Scar tilted his head in Ekko’s direction, side eye in full view.

“You’re not thinking of going out there, are you?” Scar asked.

Ekko stared ahead.

“Ekko.” Scar pressed, putting a hand on his arm.

Ekko shrugged him off and began to walk towards his work area.

Scar followed.

“Ekko, I know this is fucked up, but you can’t afford to do something stupid.” Scar exclaimed.

Ekko turned to face him.

“We can’t let them get away with this,” Ekko argued. He scowled. “With the voice modulator and the mask-”

“Maybe that will disguise you, but what happens if you get hurt-”

“I can’t just sit here, Scar!” Ekko yelled. He threw his hands up in frustration.

He kicked a loose rock, watching it skitter away.

He struggled to control his short breaths.

Ekko sat in the dirt.

Behind him, Ekko heard Scar follow suit.

The two settled for a while.

Ekko let his thoughts race.

Scar had a point. 

They’re really vulnerable.

Venturing out again after losing three friends was a risk that was hard to take. 

Ekko closed his eyes, deep in thought.

What if they didn’t have to leave?

His eyes snapped open.

It was like lightning struck. 

“What if we brought them here?” Ekko said.

He heard Scar shift.

“What?” His friend asked.

“What if we bring one of them here?” Ekko repeated.

He turned to face Scar.

His friend’s face was serious and he nodded slowly.

They locked eyes.

“Lets talk.” Scar said.

Vi ate while making a lot of noise, using her hands and carelessly flecking drips of sauce onto the counter. 

Maddie was scared to breathe, lest she inhale the scent of the suspicious look of fish. 

Vi swallowed another bite, moaning, her shoulders dropping with pleasure. 

“Oh, Jericho,” Vi said. She picked up what was maybe a tentacle and waved it. “Have I missed these!”

Maddie looked at Caitlyn, horror on her face. 

Caitlyn was too busy scanning the stall to notice. 

“Why are we here?” Maddie whispered to her. 

Caitlyn waved her off. “Just trust me,” Caitlyn replied distractedly. 

Maddie frowned. 

She narrowed her eyes and watched Caitlyn. 

“You don’t know, do you?” Maddie hissed. 

“Trust, Maddie.” Caitlyn retorted. “It’s a process.”

Maddie scoffed. 

“The process is busy eating questionable sea food right now,” Maddie retorted. 

“Do you want to try some?” Vi cut in. 

Maddie jolted, whipping to face her, only to jump again. 

Vi held a fish part, dripping in greasy sauce, much too close to Maddie for her liking. 

She pushed herself back, away from the offending meal. 

Caitlyn only frowned. 

“I’m alright, thank you.” Caitlyn declined. 

How she kept her straight face, Maddie would never guess. 

The grease dripped down Vi’s fingers and crawled to her wrist before splattering on the counter. 

Vi waved the fish again. 

“Where’s your sense of adventure, cupcake?” Vi taunted. 

Caitlyn blushed. “My sense of adventure was coming here.” Caitlyn shot back. 

Maddie was under the strong impression they were flirting. 

Badly. 

Her stomach clenched, and she uneasily watched the exchange. 

“C’mon, try a bite.” Vi wheedled. 

To Maddie’s never ending disgust and disappointment, Caitlyn leaned forward and allowed Vi to feed her the bite. 

Maddie turned away from the sight and slumped in her chair. It was ridiculous. Insane even. She had never seen Caitlyn act like this. Not with anyone. 

Not with her. 

The fishlike butcher let out a frightening laugh and cut off the head of another sea dwelling being. 

Maddie could relate. 

“Why did we come here, exactly?” Maddie grumbled. 

Vi shrugged. 

“A girls’ got to eat,” Vi replied, chewing. 

Suddenly, a hand came from over Maddie’s shoulder and held a bite of fish under her nose. 

“Want a bite?” Vi asked. 

Maddie jumped from her chair and whirled around. 

Vi stayed put, hand over reaching Caitlyn, who was still chewing with a surprised look on her face. 

“Did you eat that?” Maddie asked, aghast. 

Caitlyn swallowed. Her brow furrowed slightly, and she frowned. 

“It’s fairly good, if you’ll ignore the look of it.” Caitlyn defended herself. 

Vi sat back and popped the piece of fish into her mouth. 

Unbelievable. 

The fish butcher thundered over and handed Vi a slip of paper. 

Vi slyly read it, tucking it into her shirt before raising her eyebrows at the girls and getting up. 

Caitlyn shot Maddie a look that screamed ‘I told you so’. 

She stood confidently and trailed after Vi. 

Maddie groaned, cursing herself, before following. 

Vander unlocked the door to the apartment. 

He stretched his back and groaned, tired from the long day. 

He noticed both Mylo and Claggor’s things hanging and heard talking down the hall. 

He followed the voices. 

It was a rare occasion more people were home than not, and he intended to take advantage. 

“Mylo, Claggor.” He greeted the two boys, sitting in the living room chatting. Both looked up and smiled at the man. “Either of you seen Vi?”

“No-pe.” Mylo replied, popping the ‘P’.

Claggor shook his head. “Not since this morning,” he answered. “She said she had a job lead.”

Vander raised his brows. 

He hadn’t thought she was serious about that. 

It was good, he decided. She needed something steady to keep her occupied. 

“Good.” He said. “Any sign of Ekko?”

Mylo shrugged, slouching comfortably in his spot. “Doing some group project.” He replied. 

Vander sighed. “Right.” He said. 

He had been hoping he would get really lucky and have all of them home before they left. 

Today was a meaningful day for them all. 

It was the seventh anniversary of leaving the Lanes. Of losing Powder. 

Traditionally, they went to the bridge to light the names of things they missed on fire. 

It was a good tradition. 

They would talk about old times, grieve productively, head home to enjoy each other’s company. 

Granted, they didn’t go as a group every year, but Vander preferred when they did. 

“Should we go tonight without them?” Claggor asked, brow furrowing. 

Vander schooled his face. 

“Give ‘em a few hours.” He said. “They might turn up.”

Claggor nodded. 

Mylo changed the subject back to a story that happened at work, something about a coworker getting something stuck in a lock they shouldn’t have. 

Vander settled down in a free chair to listen. 

He would ignore the gut feeling something was off in the meantime. 

Give them a few hours. 

The Last Drop stood exactly where Vi left it. 

It was surrounded by patrons, all lined up for entry, something Vander never did. 

There was a huge purple neon sign in the shape of an eye that hung over it. It made Vi nauseous to look at. 

It was so similar to Vi’s warm memories of home, but completely different. Like a shapeshifter’s interpretation. 

“That place looks like it has bodies buried.” Cait commented from the side of Vi. 

Vi scowled. 

The throw away comment stung. 

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. When Vi thought of going home, she always pictured the bar as she left it, as illogical as that was. She understood that it would change and someone would come along and run a business there. She never imagined Silco would be the one to do it. The giant eye left no other interpretation. He didn’t even have the courtesy of renaming the place. He let the memory of bar rot and fester into some kind of fucked up imitation, spitting on the place Vander toiled to create. 

“You don’t know anything,” Vi snapped. 

She tore her eyes away from The Drop. 

A heavy feeling sat in her chest. 

It wasn’t enough Silco had to try his hardest to kill everyone in VI’s family, he had to piss on their legacy too. 

Cait approached Vi. 

“I’m…sorry.” Cait said. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Vi sighed. 

She turned to face Cait. 

Underneath the stone mask she insisted on displaying, Vi could see regret and confusion. 

She took a deep breath and spoke. “I know. It’s ok. This just sucks.”

Vi restrained herself from glancing at The Drop. 

“Did this place mean something to you?” Caitlyn asked cautiously.

Vi swallowed and nodded. 

“It was home. Before.” She replied. 

Caitlyn nodded in understanding. 

She may have not been Vi’s first choice for who she would take with her on her return to the Lanes, but she was glad Cait was here. Caitlyn, for all her faults, had always tried to understand Vi. She never quite got it, but that was as much of Vi’s fault as it was Caitlyn’s, and Vi knew that. 

“It must have been hard to leave.” Caitlyn said. 

Vi frowned. “Yeah. Now look at it. Has Silco’s winning eyeball over it.” 

Vi shook her head. 

There was nothing else to say. 

Maddie, who had been lagging behind, caught up. 

“Silco?” she asked, voice slightly breathless from the uphill walk. She blinked at Vi. “The industrialist?”

Vi narrowed her eyes. 

From the look on Cait’s face, she was equally taken aback at the name drop. 

“Yeah,” Vi snapped. She crossed her arms and faced Maddie, pulling a face. “Know him?”

Maddie raised her hands in surrender. “He’s known in Piltover, but no, I don’t personally know him. Do you?” 

Vi scoffed. “He’s a murderous piece of shit, everyone knows that, how can you not know that?”

Maddie and Cait exchanged a glance.

Vi watched their silent conversation with a glare.

The likelihood of two enforcers of all people siding with Vi was slim to none.

But.

Deep in her chest, Vi wanted Caitlyn to prove her wrong.

That hope was dangerous, painful, and Vi needed to hide it.

“Can we prove it?” Cait asked, cautiously.

Vi met her eyes, putting the hope to the side where it belonged.

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?” she said. “I would bet my ass that Silco had something to do with whatever you’re investigating if you’re looking for answers in the Lanes.” 

Cait cocked her head, studying her.

Vi watched as her blue eyes traced her face, the way her hair fell in her face, the slight twitch in her lips when she saw something of note.

Maddie put a hand on Cait’s arm, pulling her towards her.

They began to mutter.

Vi snapped out of it.

While they had their little conference, she began to go off in the direction of Babette’s.

She needed to worry less about Caitlyn and focus on why she was really here.

Steb stood at attention.

The Sheriff sat behind his desk, doing paperwork, uninterested by the man who stood before him. 

It wasn’t unlike him to make people wait. 

Steb thought it was an intimidation tactic. 

Make people nervous before speaking to him. Make them reconsider if the matter really needed his attention. 

After a pause, the sheriff deigned to speak. 

“How can I help you, Officer Guthrie?” The Sheriff asked. 

Steb steeled his nerves and began. 

“I followed up on a lead in Stillwater. “Steb said. “I have reason to believe I have information about the attack.”

Marcus stilled. 

His brow twitched slightly before he schooled his face. 

The reaction intrigued Steb. The information meant something to the Sheriff, and he wanted to hide that. Before Steb could ponder, he spoke. 

“Go on.” The Sheriff said. 

Steb continued. 

“My source was hit with friendly fire. He was reluctant to name his attacker due to something or someone called The Eye Of Zaun. I have reasons to believe it is a network and they know the attacker’s identity and are concealing it.”

The Sheriff did not move. 

Steb could hardly see him breathe.  

It was a puzzling reaction. Steb would have thought the Sheriff might be relieved, or curious, but his expression betrayed nothing. 

“Where did you hear that name?” The Sheriff asked. 

“An anonymous source who fears for their life.” Steb replied. 

The Sheriff swallowed. 

He seemed to collect his thoughts. Steb was careful not to appear too eager. 

“I have heard of this eye.” The Sheriff spoke. “He has been linked to a gang called the Firelights.”

“Firelights?” Steb repeated. 

He had never heard of them. 

Granted, it was uncommon for the Enforcers to be assigned anything in The Undercity, given the hostile environment and more hostile population. They were known for their disrespect and uncooperative attitudes, even the victims of the crime. 

“The investigation is very delicate.” The Sheriff said. Finally he looked up, near black eyes locked on Steb. “I am due to meet Talis about it soon. I would greatly appreciate you discretion, as well as anything else you turn up. I will hold you personally responsible if they catch wind of our investigation.”

Steb nodded. 

He understood the threat and his tense reaction to Steb’s news. He had stumbled upon something the Sheriff didn’t want others to know yet. 

Steb nodded and stepped away, dismissed. 

He closed the door behind him and let out a breath. 

The exchange was strange. 

Not what he expected. 

Neither was his meeting with the Stillwater inmate. 

He needed to speak to Caitlyn. If the Sheriff was trying to play it cool, her investigation would send more ripples than she imagined. 

Steb looked up to the ceiling and prayed to Janna that she made it to their meeting tomorrow. 

A brothel. 

Vi had brought them to a brothel. 

Maddie had never been inside a brothel before, but she knew enough about what one should look like to know that’s where they were. 

There were open rooms, people leisurely strutting about in almost nothing or, even odder, covered head to toe in tight leathers, strangers wearing masks smoking an odd purple substance and so many cushions and couches occupied by handsy couples. 

Even Caitlyn, with her stone like mask, had widened eyes at the sight of the man and whatever-that-was in the bath. 

Vi made her way through the halls, unbothered by the imagery. 

After several increasingly uncomfortable glances Maddie shot to Caitlyn, the woman finally spoke up. 

“How exactly are you planning on going about this?” She asked. 

Yes, Maddie thought. Finally, a plan. 

A Yordle with a ball tied to its mouth passed them, humming. 

Maddie barely stopped herself from staring after him. 

Vi paused her stride and looked over her shoulder at them. 

She really was stunning. 

She had her hands stuffed in her pockets and hip turned slightly towards them. 

Maddie absolutely did not look at her ass. 

She didn’t. 

“Let them think you work here.” Vi said. 

Like cold water, Maddie was doused with reality. 

“Excuse me?”

“I beg your biggest pardon?”

Both women’s jaws drop. 

Maddie felt the red creep over her face in scalding heat. 

She remembered the image of the couple on the couch, one blowing smoke into each other’s mouth. 

She pictured herself and Caitlyn-

The redness intensified. 

“I am not doing that!” Maddie squawked. 

Vi quirked a brow. She turned. 

“You think you’re too good?” Vi asked, a trace of playfulness that the situation did not warrant coloring her tone. 

Maddie scowled. “It isn’t safe!” She argued. 

“Cait will be with you.” Vi shot back. 

Unbidden, the image of her and Caitlyn of the couch returned. 

Maddie violently shoved it away. 

“It will never work.” Caitlyn said, her voice hard. 

Vi took a step towards her. 

“You know what your problem is?” She said, locking eyes with Caitlyn. 

Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “Oh, please tell me.” She answered sardonically.

“You expect everyone to give you what you want,” Vi said. She started circling Caitlyn slowly. “If you really want people to talk to you, you have to make them think you have what they want.”

Caitlyn turned towards Vi, a beat too slow. “And what do you think I have, Vi?” Caitlyn asked, crossing her arms and scowling at the woman. 

In one smooth motion, Vi was face to face with Caitlyn. She took a step back, stumbled, and hit the wall. Vi slammed a hand up, caging Caitlyn between her and the wall. “You’re hot, cupcake.” She said. Vi glanced over at a dumbstruck Maddie and winked. She looked back at Caitlyn. “Shortcake isn’t so bad, either. You’ll be fine.”

Maddie wondered if she had inhaled some of the iffy looking drugs earlier. 

That was the only explanation for what she was seeing being reality. 

Vi snagged a passerby. 

“Uh, hi.” The masked man, maybe boy judging by his voice. “I’m Pym.”

“Matilda.” Vi answered. She reached forward and snagged Maddie’s arm, pulling her forward. “And this is Helga. They’re a two for one deal, if you can handle it.”

Vi pulled away. 

She began down the hall. 

Maddie stared at her in disbelief. 

“Uh, yes,” Caitlyn began to lie in a bad accent. “My parents named me Matilda, er-“

“Vi!” Maddie hissed at her retreating back. 

Vi disappeared from view. 

Maddie had two options: follow and leave Caitlyn, or stay with her friend. 

She glanced at Caitlyn, who was maintaining the poor accent and poorer cover story. 

Maddie huffed. 

She would stay. 

However, Vi would hear all about it when she got back.

Ekko was right on time.

When he arrived back at the apartment, Vander, Mylo and Claggor were about to leave.

They accepted his excuse of getting caught up with friends with ease.

“Have you seen Vi?” Vander asked, eyes tightening.

Disappointment curled in his gut.

He had hoped she was somewhere behind them, still getting ready or something. 

“Not since she’s been back.” Ekko answered, looking away. 

Mylo whistled, jingling his keys as he slipped on a jacket. “What a shithead.” He replied. 

Vander eyed Mylo with a stern glare. 

Mylo raised his palms in surrender, opening the door. 

Claggor frowned, pushing his hair back. “I forgot to say anything to her yesterday. She probably didn’t realize the date.” He mumbled regretfully. 

Vander shook his head. “She’s a grown woman. We’ll see her later.”

Mylo sighed. “Classic Vi.”

Claggor poked his side. Mylo yelped, jumping out of the doorframe and into the hall. 

They all followed. 

Once the group was herded outside, they began their walk. 

The air was crisp but not cold at that time of night, and the sky was a dusky sort of blue that would fade into pink. There weren’t many people out, particularly not in the direction they were all going. 

Vander started it off with his usual set of stories: the first time he met Benzo, the story of everyone poking fun at Vi’s mom for loving the name Powder, stories of Benzo and Vander losing so much time catching up at the drop Ekko would fall asleep and they’d all stay over. 

They passed the halfway mark when he was finished. 

Mylo picked up with his own story of the first time he met Vi and Powder. Claggor spoke about Vi failing to teach Powder to tie her shoes and Powder being too embarrassed to ask anyone else, so she didn’t learn until she was past seven. 

They were a little past Drop Street when it was Ekko’s turn to chime in. 

“A little after her eighth birthday, Powder and I stole a motorbike.” Ekko began. “It was one of those huge round ones, some chump left it unchained. We were going to put it back. We just took it for a joyride. It was some of the most fun we ever had. I felt invincible and Powder talked about it for weeks. You and Benzo never found out,” Ekko told Vander. He smiled sadly. “Not until now.”

Vander smiled back. “Not quite true.” He replied. “You two passed by Benzo’s shop at least twice. Nothin’ we could do but watch.”

Ekko laughed. 

It had been one of the most freeing memories Ekko had. 

They turned corners sharply, barely avoiding a crash, going as fast as they could. 

Ekko steered while Powder perched on the back of the seat, laughing the whole way. 

Ekko nearly tipped them over trying to flip off Enforcers. 

They had gone home and immediately began drawing plans for their own motorbike they would make one day. Ekko had lied on Powder’s bunk for hours talking about the kind of customization they’d make to their bike and how they’d build it special so they both could drive.

 It was a good memory. Like most good memories, pain accompanied. 

Before Ekko knew it they were at The Bridge. 

They all stood together, deep in thought, watching the sun on the water. 

After a minute, Claggor opened his bag. He pulled out slips of paper and a pen. He handed out the paper and began to write. When he was done, the pen was passed around, everyone writing the name of someone or something they missed. 

Ekko wrote the same thing he always did on his turn each year. 

Benzo & Powder.

Vander got out a matchbox. He lit one, held his paper over the flame till it caught. 

The match was passed to Claggor as he did the same and Vander dropped his burning paper into the river. 

Ekko watched everyone take their turn. 

The silence wasn’t uncomfortable. They had all spoken their piece and were content to finish the ritual in silence. 

They passed Ekko the match. 

He observed the flames as he pictured Benzo’s kind face and Powder’s crooked smile. 

He could almost hear the infectious laugh that accompanied all his best childhood memories. 

Ekko felt frozen. 

It hadn’t gotten easier to let them go as the years went by. 

Thinking about Powder inevitably leads to what could have beens’ and ideas about the young woman she might have turned into. Everytime Ekko tried to imagine her his age, her face would become blurred and he couldn’t picture a voice that matched. She would have been smart, though. Maybe an academy student, like Ekko, or under an apprenticeship like Mylo. Maybe she would be less shy, maybe they’d have the same friends, maybe they’d still be as close as they were when they were little kids. 

Ekko closed his eyes. 

The images he had of Powder melted away. 

Instead, he remembered the last morning he had with Benzo. He had been grim and serious but tried to hide it from Ekko the same way he always did: by throwing work at him. 

Ekko remembers watching him fix a watch anxiously before telling him to get on to his room. Benzo had let the worry and anxiety melt away when he turned to speak to him, ruffling his hair and promising him more time to tinker later on. 

Later never came and never would. 

Ekko lit the paper. 

Taking a breath, he let go. 

It floated down into the Pilt, ashes and all, taking Ekko’s memories with it. 

Chapter Text

Vi had never been into Babette’s office before. 

The woman was friendly with Vander and had been a customer at the Drop, but none of the children were allowed to linger near the brothels. 

Vander had always been deadly serious about it. He once tore Mylo apart with a lecture after he took a shortcut through Babette’s alleyway with Powder. Powder, of course, didn’t know any better and didn’t think anything of it when she told Vander. Mylo was mad at her for weeks. 

The office was exactly what Vi expected. 

Red velvet on the couches, tacky panels on the wall of maroon and gold, lots of drapery and a desk that was too short for Vi but perfect for Babette’s Yordle body. 

“Sweetheart, I was real sad to hear about Vander and the kids.” Babette sighed. She inhaled a puff of her long cigarette and blew a ring out. “Just terrible.”

Vi sat forward on the couch, eyeing the woman. 

Babette had always been kind to her, good to Vander. A friend. If anyone would help her, it would probably be Babette. Still. 

“By the looks of it, nobody down here lifted a finger to stop Silco.” Vi said. Her fist tightened, and she kept her gaze steady on Babette. 

The woman met Vi’s gaze unflinchingly. 

“A few tried.” She said. She moved her cigarette around as she spoke. “But Silco’s got the muscle. And the money. He took over the Last Drop.”

Vi sighed. She sat forward. “I saw.” She admitted, downcast. 

“Things have changed without Vander looking out for us,” Babette said. 

Guilt wiggled its way into her heart. 

There was no way she could reveal Vander was alive. There was no way anyone could understand. No way to explain how badly Silco had hurt them all. 

Vander had left, and the Lanes suffered, all for his kids. For her. 

Vi had to see this out. For Powder. For everyone still stuck under Silco’s thumb. 

“I need to get to him.” Vi told her. 

Babette took another drag of her cigarette and shook her head. 

“Sweetheart, it’s suicide.” Babette replied. “Nobody has been able to touch Silco for years. Not with the money and not with his number two.” 

“I don’t care,” Vi pushed. “He killed my family. He killed Powder.”

Babette flinched. She sighed again and looked down at her lap. 

Anyone who knew Vander had known Powder as the baby. Between Vi’s guard dog protectiveness and Vander’s persistent gentleness with her, Vi knew a lot of his friends joked about how coddled she was. Vander always shrugged and quipped that Powder never gave him a reason not to spoil her, as much as any parent can spoil a child in the Undercity. Powder had been vulnerable, emotional and needy and she hadn’t just been Vi’s baby, but Vander’s too. And Silco had killed her. 

“If you can’t give me anything on Silco, then what about his number two?” Vi pressed, staring into Babette’s regretful eyes. 

Babette blew out a ring of smoke. “Sevika is a regular,” Babette admitted. “Miguel can tell you how to find her. He’s doing the door today.” 

Vi ground her teeth. Sevika. The traitor. From the sounds of it, she moved up in the world. Vi forced herself to swallow down the bitterness. 

She pushed herself up and walked towards the exit. 

“I owe you.” Vi stated. 

Babette looked down, away from Vi. “It’s nothing.” She replied. 

Vi left her there. 

She strode down the hall, eager to find Miguel. 

She glanced into the rooms she went passed, watching for a glimpse of Caitlyn. 

She was rewarded close to the exit. 

Caitlyn lounged on a couch with a beautiful girl in a mask and lingerie next to her, giggling. 

Caitlyn was using a hand to prop up her head and her body was reclined back, listening to the girl’s soft voices murmurings. 

On the other side of the girl was Maddie. 

She looked pissed. 

Her little button nose was scrunched and her eyes furrowed, arms crossed across her chest and shoulders hunched. 

She was pissed. 

Her eyes flittered towards the door and widened at the sight of Vi. 

Their eyes met. 

 Vi winked. 

She heard Maddie’s angry gasp and made her way down the hall, smirking.                                                                      

When she’s done with Silco, she’ll find Cait and apologize. 

She may even feel generous enough to throw Maddie a bone. 

Maybe. 

The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only thing keeping Jayce from breaking down.

The emotional whiplash was intense.

An hour ago, he had been wrapped in cosmic bliss.

He had been with Mel.

Mel, who was so intelligent in such an unfamiliar way it left Jayce gasping.

Mel, who was so cunning, charismatic, Jayce could never be a tenth of the Counselor she was.

Mel, who leaked warmth from every pore of her body, leaving Jayce to bask in it. 

She was the sun to his rising star, the same way Viktor was his moon.

The idea of choosing between the two was unfathomable, as it was unlikely.

Jayce didn’t know who he pissed off to be given such a high to ride as spending to night with Mel, only to be delt the pit low blow of being woken with his pants off to the news Viktor was hospitalized. Jayce had been listed as his only emergency contact and he was needed urgently.

He had scrambled to find anything to leave a note on while getting dressed, went back and forth between the idea of waking Mel, before the lack of time to weigh options hit him and he left.

He was too rushed, too unprepared, to think straight.

He knows he will have to apologize later. Hopefully, Mel would understand.

He had sat through the longest conversation of his life to understand Viktor’s prognosis.

Viktor laid unconscious in bed, Jayce watching him through the hospital window, while the doctor spoke.

It’s common in the part of the undercity he is listed as being born in, the doctor explained, the gasses there are known for causing long-term damage.

But he hasn’t lived there in years, Jayce argued. What can we do now?

The doctor had sighed.

Truthfully, Mr. Talis, the doctor said, keep him comfortable. The scar tissue in his lungs is the root of the problem. It never healed properly and caused his condition today. There isn’t anything we can do now to correct it. 

That can’t be right, Jayce insisted. You’re telling me there isn’t any medication, any surgical option? What kind of hospital is this?

An honest one. The doctor replied. If Mr. Viktor wants to pursue medicinal or surgical means for his lungs, we can certainly discuss the risks. It may get him an extra year or two.

Jayce’s world collapsed.

No treatment.

As it was, he had two, maybe three, years left.

He may or may not be able to survive surgeries that could give him an extra few years. If he did, he ran the risk of infections that would be deadly.

All because of the air he breathed as a child.

Jayce now sat beside his bed, nothing to do but wait for him to wake up.

He deserved to hear the news from someone who cared.

Helplessness struck Jayce to his core.

He sat hunched over in the chair, head in hands, the weight of the pressure too much to bear.

Jayce was completely helpless

The council.

The attack.

Mel.

Viktor.

Jayce hung his head.

The heart monitor continued its steady beat as Jayce adjusted to idea that it would one day soon stop.

Sevika’s luck had run out.

She had just enough time to lay down her winning hand before Vi kneed her in the face.

Her cigarette was knocked out of her mouth, money flew, the table flipped and knocked the other players away.

They stood, took one look at Vi baring her teeth, scrambled to pick up what coin they could and bolt.

Sevika sat up and rubbed her jaw.

She was exactly the same as Vi remembered her.

Tall, broad, tough as shit.

She looked confused for one minute before recognition hit.

“Vi?” Sevika asked, eyes narrowing and brows furrowing.

Vi advanced.

Sevika stood and didn’t hesitate to throw a punch.

Vi kept her eyes locked on the taller woman.

She dodged with little effort, socked her in her jaw, and grabbed her by her ponytail.

She pulled Sevika back with the majority of her body weight, compensation for the size difference.

She slammed her face against the brick wall.

Vi pinned Sevika’s arm behind her back. “You filthy fucking traitor!” Vi growled.

Sevika had spit sliding down her chin. She met Vi’s eyes the best she could from the awkward angle.

“Vander had his chance.” Sevika replied, not an ounce of remorse in her voice.

Vi ground her teeth.

Before she replied, a mechanical whirring invaded Vi’s hearing.

The arm that was pinned underneath Sevika’s body came jutting out, knocking Vi back.

Sevika turned and spin-kicked her out of the way.

Vi fell onto her back.

She hurried to orientate herself as Sevika confidently strode forth.

She tossed her ugly poncho off.

Vi made it to her hands and knees.

Her eyes widened at what she saw.

A large mechanical arm attached to Sevika, a vial of purple substance sinking into it and lighting Sevika’s veins purple.

Vi pushed herself onto her knees.

Sevika lifted the metal arm and made a ‘come get me’ gesture.

Challenge accepted, bitch. Vi thought.

Vi pushed her jacket off and stood.

She stepped forward and readied a punch.

Sevika brought her hands up to block.

Vi landed two punches to both arms, flesh and machine, before Sevika intercepted the next and pushed Vi’s arm to the side.

Before Vi could correct, Sevika swept both arms into a lock, holding them in the crook of her metal arm, pinning Vi.

“I see you never learned patience.” Sevika said.

Vi made a mistake.

She took her eyes off Sevika, looking down instead for a way out.

Sevika rewarded her with two thorough headbutts.

Vi was flung back as Sevika let go.

Sevika landed a hit on her stomach.

Lesson learned.

Vi was flung to the wall and hurried to put her eyes back on Sevika.

She dogged another hit.

Sparks flew as metal scrapped the wall.

Vi jabbed Sevika’s ribs.

She landed a hit on her cheek.

Sevika swung and missed, hitting the wall.

Vi hit her face again, and Sevika threw her fist out. Vi swung up around her arm and clocked Sevika right on the chin.

Sevika stumbled back before lunging again.

Vi side stepped her, hitting her twice in the ribs and once in the face.

Adrenaline raced through Vi. Every hit she landed pushed her to go further. 

Sevika stumbled back.

Vi pounced.

She jumped up and slammed her fist into Sevika’s face, spraying spit and knocking the woman to the floor.

The vial of purple liquid plunged into Sevika’s arm again. Her eyes were a bright purple when she turned to snarl at Vi.

She picked up a garbage can and punched it at Vi.

Vi raced sideways, the can just barely missing her, before Sevika slammed her body into the wall.

Sevika grabbed Vi by the neck, expression feral.

She lifted her up, spun her around, and choke slammed Vi to the ground.

She dragged Vi across the floor, hauling her up a wall, and pinned her face with her whirling purple arm.

Vi wasn’t going to let her win.

Not with everything on the line.

So Vi kneed her in the pussy.

Sevika doubled over in pain.

Vi slammed both fists into the top of her spine.

She wrapped both arms around her, holding tight under her pits, and picked her up.

With everything she had, Vi hauled Sevika up and slammed her against the wall sideways.

Sevika pushed herself onto her hands and knees, panting.

Vi wasn’t feeling too rosy herself.

She leaned against a nearby pillar.

When Sevika made eye contact, Vi mimicked her gesture from earlier. Come get me.

Sevika grunted and stood. Vi pushed herself off the wall and got into stance.

Sevika swung, missed.

Vi jabbed, uppercut Sevika’s jaw.

She grabbed Sevika by the head and slammed it against the wall.

Sevika looked dizzy.

She swayed on her feet, eyes dazed.

Vi grabbed her again and slammed the other side into the wall, too.

Vi punched her abs.

One, two, three, four, five times.

Vi reared back and kicked her ankle. Sevika fell into a kneeling position.

Vi grabbed her head with both hands and kneed her in the face.

Hard.

Sevika flew and landed on her back.

Blood dripped from Vi’s nose into her mouth. She spit and put her hands up.

Sevika rolled back to her front. 

She began to stand.

Vi ambushed her. She ran forward and kicked Sevika through the wall.

Vi followed her through the dust.

Sevika spat out a glob of blood and rolled onto her back.

Vi stepped onto Sevika’s arm, the metal one, and pinned her down.

Vi grabbed her by the throat and asked what she had been dying to ask.

“Where is Silco?!” Vi demanded. “Where is he hiding?”

Sevika’s eyes gained focus. “You came back to settle the score?” Sevika asked, surprised. “You never had a lick of fucking sense, did you?”

Vi snarled. She slammed Sevika down and got in her face, nose to nose.

“I will not let him hurt anyone else,” Vi snarled. “Where is he?”

Sevika scoffed, which turned into a laugh.

“Look around you, Vi,” Sevika said in a low voice. “You can’t get to him, even if you are stupid enough to try.”

Vi scowled.

She reared back, raising a fist, before she heard-

“Vi!” Maddie’s voice called from the darkness.

Vi looked over her shoulder.

There she was, the Shortcake Wonder, big eyes looking worried and afraid.

Before Vi could snap at her to fuck off, Sevika bucked up.

Vi was thrown back and landed on her ass.

With a flick, Sevika’s arm lost its fist and was replaced with a large blade.

A menacing glint returned to Sevika’s eyes and her body tensed, ready to pounce.

Just as Sevika jumped forward, a bullet shot out, hitting her replacement shoulder and jerking her away from Vi.

Vi turned. Behind the approaching Maddie, who was scampering forth like a lost deer, was Caitlyn, rifle aimed and face deathly serious.

Maddie aimed her rifle right at Sevika’s head. She approached until her gun was an inch away from the woman’s face, aim readied.

“You left us!” Caitlyn shouted. 

Vi frowned. She was pissed. 

Vi knew she would be pissed, but she had hoped to have gotten what she wanted by the time she had to explain herself to Caitlyn.

Now that Maddie had ensured Sevika wouldn’t be going anywhere, Vi figured there was no time like the present.

Turning to Caitlyn, she said, “This was my only chance to make him pay, Cait!”

Caitlyn scoffed. She strode forward until she was just steps away from Vi.

“So that makes it alright? You abandoning us?” Caitlyn shot back.

“Who is this?” Maddie asked.

Vi stepped back.

Maddie had her gun aimed towards Sevika, whose nose flared while she caught her breath and menacing gaze, never leaving Maddie.

Vi sighed.

“She works for Silco,” Vi explained, waving dismissively. “If she doesn’t want her ass kicked, she’ll tell me where he is!”

Caitlyn frowned.

She and Maddie exchanged a heavy look. It wasn’t encouraging.

Vi scowled.

“Look, she will have whatever answer you need and more,” Vi snapped. “Just let me figure this out!”

Sevika scoffed from her place in the dirt.

“You have no idea what had been going on since you left,” Sevika said.

Mechanical whirring started.

Caitlyn and Maddie’s face crumpled in confusion.

Vi opened her mouth to speak, but was too late.

Lightning fast, Sevika smacked Maddie’s rifle from her hand and to the side.

Maddie yelped and lunged for it, only to be kicked away by Sevika.

Caitlyn readied her rifle as Vi snatched Maddie from the ground, hauling her up, standing in front of her in a fighting stance.

The purple crawled up Sevika’s veins, giving her a burst of energy. She flashed a wicked smile and got into a fighting stance.

A bullet flew.

From behind.

Cait’s rifle was shot from her hand, flying away.

She jumps away and whips her head around, searching for the culprit.

From the darkness, a swarm of hoverboards descend on them.

People, dressed head to toe with masks over their faces, fly around them.

Rays of green streak the air. It would be beautiful if it wasn’t alarming.

Suddenly, everything was flooded with black smoke. 

Vi couldn’t see anything.

She blindly swung out, hitting nothing.

Something pinched her neck.

She swayed on her feet before collapsing into darkness.

It was a rare opportunity.

Vander gathered his things from his room, carefully avoiding the creaking boards in the hall. He glanced into the living room. Mylo sat on the floor while Claggor laid on the couch, both with a pair of cards in their hands, half playing and half talking before Claggor had to get back to work. 

Vander moved out of sight before they noticed him. 

He paused before Ekko’s door and listened. 

Silence. 

He had said he had plans with friends earlier. He wasn’t back yet. Vander was glad. The kid worked hard. He deserved time to enjoy his youth. Vander was relieved Ekko had figured out how to. 

Vander moved away from the door and walked towards the bathroom. 

He didn’t need to check on Vi. He knew she wasn’t home. 

He opened the bathroom door and locked it behind him. 

A quick shower before he headed back to work would do the trick. 

He let himself indulge in hotter than normal water and hopped in. 

His back had an ache in it from the lengthy shift he pulled yesterday. Falling asleep on the couch waiting up for Vi did nothing to help. The hot water was doing the best it could, but Vander still couldn’t relax. 

Vander sighed, tilting his head back, and washed his hair. 

He went through the motions. 

Trying to force a blank mind always invited locked away thoughts. 

He hadn’t seen Vi since their talk. She supposedly had gone after a lead on a legitimate job, but the longer she was gone, the less he believed it. 

Missing the bridge trip was unlike her. It was always hard, but Vander had always done his best to support her through the anniversary. That’s why they started going down to the bridge. To get through it together.

Maybe the pressure was too much. Maybe Vander had done that. 

He sighed, resting his head against the wall, letting the water fall over him.

He didn’t think he was asking too much of Vi.

Make friends, make money, find something. If not all of those things, he could settle for one. Build something for herself.

Every time he thought she was getting there, she would pull back, fall into the same bad habits, like something comfortable to wear.

Was he doing enough for her? Was there anything else to be done?

Vander breathed the steam in.

What the hell was he going to do with that kid?

If only he could make her see that none of it was her fault. It was his.

Vander didn’t know if he regretted not finishing what he started with Silco, or starting it at all.

Didn’t know if he regretted that day in the river or if he regretted Silco walking out of there alive.

Either way, the blame fell on him.

It was an old pain, one he didn’t care to indulge.

The kids didn’t need to see that.

Didn’t need to know how much it still hurt him.

Vander opened his eyes.

He looked down at his forearm. He brought his hand to brush up on the ink there. The tattoo was a stylized powder monkey. He and Vi had gotten matching ones a few months back. Powder had always been an artist, and it seemed a fitting way to remember her. He knows Vi had gone through a lot of Powder’s old drawings before bringing up the idea of the monkey. 

She had a cup. He remembers her sitting at the bar with him when the older kids had gone off, and her drawing all over it, marking it as her own. She talked and talked while he went through his upkeep of every picture she had added, the colors she had picked and why, pausing every so often until he stopped to properly look and offer his admiration. 

He had left the cup behind. 

Vander shut the water off. 

He rubbed his face and shook off his remaining grief. 

By the time he was dressed and out, Vander had properly boxed his grief to take back out another night. 

When Vi comes to, she is in a dark room. 

The lights were low, and her vision was blurred. 

She noticed a masked person talking in a low voice with a Chirean man. 

They seemed to notice she was awake at the same time, voices dropping. 

With a nod, the Chirean man ducked out of the room. 

The owl masked man tilted his head, observing her. 

“You shy, or just ugly?” Vi shot out. 

She didn’t know who these people were or why they came after them. She was reasonably sure they weren’t with Silco. If they were, she’d be dead. Nobody else in the lanes had any stake in her being there. 

Vi narrowed her eyes. 

He said nothing. 

Just reached behind his head, unlatched the mask-

“Ekko?” Vi asked, eyes widening in shock. 

What the hell was Ekko doing here? Vi thought. 

He looked different. Big brown coat, white paint on his face. Like he never left the lanes. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together what the hell it could mean that Ekko was standing in front of her. 

“Hey Vi,” Ekko said. He looked her up and down. “You look good for a convict.”

That was it. 

“What the hell do you think you’re doing down here?” Vi seethed. 

Ekko scowled. “Same as you, looks like. What were you doing with Sevika?”

“Same as you,” Vi mocked. She looked at him, really looked at him. He seemed ok. Unhurt. That was what she cared about the most. She let herself relax, just an inch. Ekko was ok. Vi shook her head. “What did you do with Cait?”

Ekko tilted his head. “Caitlyn. Your ex, Caitlyn? That’s the Piltie you’re giving a tour of the lanes? That Caitlyn?” He pressed. 

Ekko moved forward with a key, as if to uncuff Vi. 

As if she would stay cuffed that long. She let her cuffs drop and held her hands up to show him. 

“How long have those been off?” Ekko demanded. 

“How long have you been whining?” Vi shot back. 

They watched each other before Vi pulled Ekko into a hug. 

“I missed you, little man.” She said, squeezing him tight. 

After a brief moment, Ekko hugged her back. 

She hadn’t seen him since she had gotten out. 

That was a mistake. 

She lingered for as long as she suspected Ekko’s pride would allow before pulling away. 

“So?” He asked. 

Vi hesitated. She swallowed before answering. “Caitlyn is going after Silco. I wanted in.”

Ekko scoffed. “You seriously need to drop the whole Caitlyn thing,” he said. “You two always end things miserable and then you nope around-“

“I’m serious, Ekko!” Vi snapped. “She has proof against him and wanted someone from the Undercity to watch her back. I was the obvious choice.”

Ekko looked her up and down, face disapproving. “So you came down here with her with the intention of getting back at Silco?”

Vi shrugged. “Yeah.” She said. “That’s the plan.”

Ekko glared. “And what exactly was your plan to do that?”

Vi scoffed. “Easy. Kill him.”

“With what?”

“With my fist, if I’m lucky.” Vi replied. She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “What the hell were you doing here? Pretty sure Vander banned all of us from coming back.”

Ekko paused. He tilted his head one way, then the other, clearly weighing his options. His eyes snapped back to Vi’s.

“Vander hears none of this,” Ekko emphasized. 

“Of course not,” Vi snapped. “Are you going to tel him I was here?”

“Not if you don’t tell!” Ekko barked back. 

“Fuck no!” Vi agreed. “Now tell me what the fuck those board things you were on are, and where the hell are we?”

Ekko sighed and began to explain. All of it. 

The Firelights. Shimmer. Silco’s control over the undercity. Him starting sneaking out when he easy: 14, maybe 15. Finding the tree. Founding a secret hideaway for everyone trying to escape Silco’s claws. 

He took her out of the room and showed her around. Vi felt warm sunlight on her face. The tree stood tall and offered shade and a sense of awe. In the air, people flew on hoverboards, a little disjointed, clearly practicing. 

Ekko brought her up to a deck, halfway up the giant plant, and they sat, talking. 

“We have had full time, fully liveable spaces for like a year now.” Ekko finished, pride clear in his voice. “Our goal is anyone who needs a place can have one.”

Vi smiled. Looking at Ekko, she didn’t see the little kid she used to hose down at the junk heap when he got covered in grease. He looked grown. She was caught between pride and disorientation.

“Why did you never tell me?” Vi asked softly. 

Ekko looked away from her. 

He wrung his wrist. “It’s dangerous.” He said finally. “More for you than me. Silco doesn’t know who I am, and he doesn’t care. You? He’d remember you.”

Vi frowned. She shook her head. “Ekko, it doesn’t matter.” Vi said. She grabbed his wrist. He looked towards her. “None of that will matter once he’s gone. We’re in this together. Let me help.” She met his eyes, imploring him to understand. 

Ekko had grown up and become someone who could understand. The rot went deep, at its root was shimmer and Silco. It wasn’t enough to have Piltover’s kicking them down, they had to contend with Silco’s boot keeping them pinned. After everything he had put her through, Vi had every reason to rip him to shreds. If she wasn’t alone, if she had Ekko and the firelights, she had a shot. A real one, one she would fight till she was bloody to make herself if she had to. With them, there wouldn’t have to be a bloody fight Vi carried alone. They could get her close. 

“You want to help?” Ekko said after a long pause. “Tell me what Sevika said.”

It had taken fifteen minutes of sitting back to back for Caitlyn to finally pick Maddie’s lock. It had taken Maddie an additional ten to pick Caitlyn’s once she was free. 

After rubbing her wrist, Caitlyn patted down her clothes. 

Underneath her shirt, she could still feel her evidence hidden away until she needed it. 

“Do you have any film left?” Caitlyn asked. 

Maddie had been in charge of discreetly photographing anything important while they were in the city. Anything they could look back on later and had the chance to be helpful. 

Maddie frowned. “I don’t think I had any,” Maddie admitted. “I used quite a bit getting shots of the Last Drop.” 

Caitlyn grunted. She has been the one to tell Maddie to make sure to get those pictures. She had gotten distracted talking with Vi, never specifying how many she wanted. She would take some of the responsibility there.

“Do you want to hold on to them?” Maddie asked, voice guilty. Her eyes were big and pinned on Caitlyn, anxiously searching her face. 

Caitlyn shook her head and smoothed her expression. 

“You hold on to the evidence while I think.” Caitlyn replied. 

She scanned the room. It was dusty, dark, with tall walls and high ceilings. They had been tied to a tall pillar, one of several in the room. 

Caitlyn squinted. Against another pillar, tied up and missing an arm, was the dark-skinned woman Vi had fought. 

She had a bag over her head, but judging from her breathing, Caitlyn surmised she was awake. 

“-if the coast is clear, we can get out of here.” Maddie finished. 

“Too risky,” Caitlyn said, projecting confidence despite knowing she had not heard a word of her plan, “We need more information.”

Caitlyn stood and dusted her pants. 

She tilted her head towards the tied woman. 

Maddie’s eyes widened, and she nodded in understanding. 

They moved toward the tied woman. 

Caitlyn had two goals: interrogate the woman, find Vi. 

Once Caitlyn knew she was safe, they could take off. 

Caitlyn snatched the bag off her head. 

The woman blinked in the low light before looking the women up and down. 

She made a sound that was half scoff, half snort. 

Caitlyn squared her shoulders and began. 

“Who are you?” Caitlyn asked. “And what’s your affiliation with Silco?”

The woman stayed silent. She rolled her eyes and angled her body away from Caitlyn, ignoring her. 

“Does he have any involvement with the robbery of the hexgem?” Caitlyn pressed. 

The women didn’t reply. Her lips twitched into a smirk before her expression fell back into a frown. 

Caitlyn’s expression hardened. She wasn’t going to get anywhere. She needed an extra push. 

Carefully, Caitlyn considered her options. 

Drop it, find Vi, come up with another way to provide proof. 

Or. 

Take a risk. 

Caitlyn recalled Jayce’s pitying look as he explained he was just worried about her. 

Caitlyn pulled her book of evidence out. 

She opened the crime scene photos. 

She held it up to the woman. She pointed at the monkey. 

“Does this mean anything to you?” Caitlyn asked. 

The woman’s eyes flit to the picture. 

She began to laugh. 

A low chuckle escaped and grew louder when Caitlyn’s brow furrowed. 

She and Maddie exchanged a confused glance. 

“Has Vi seen this?” The woman laughed. Scornful delight colored her low voice. 

Vi? Caitlyn thought. What would Vi know about the monkey graffiti?

Caitlyn snapped the book closed. “I will be asking the questions.” She informed the woman closely. “What does it mean?”

“She hasn’t told you?” The woman said, ignoring Caitlyn’s question. 

Caitlyn fought to keep her face neutral. She was being baited. Caitlyn knew she was. The woman was using her connection to Vi to gain control of the conversation. The question was whether to let her and see where it goes or whether to remain on topic and hope she gets her answers. 

Caitlyn closed her eyes. She gathered her thoughts and took a breath. When she opened her eyes again, her eyes focused. She was ready. 

“What are you talking about?” Caitlyn replied cautiously. 

 The woman scoffed again. “She has history with Silco,” the woman said incredulously. “It’s a whole fucking family affair. Do you have any idea who her old man is?” The woman laughed mockingly. “And you’re asking me about a fucking paint job?” 

The door behind Caitlyn opened. 

Caitlyn was on her feet in a flash. 

Maddie and Caitlyn whirled to face the door, stances ready for trouble. 

At the door was a dark-skinned young man with bone white hair and face paint. 

He looked familiar somehow. 

Caitlyn couldn’t place it. 

His eyes were serious, and he had a slight frown on his face. 

Maddie glanced between the man and Caitlyn, clearly looking for her cue. 

Caitlyn held a hand up to Maddie, signaling her to wait. 

“What have you done with Vi?” Caitlyn demanded. 

The man didn’t reply. He just looked at her, scowl in place. 

Caitlyn fought against the rush of anxiety flooding her stomach. She was responsible. She had to ensure Maddie and VI’s safety, if nothing else. She was not going to play games with this man. 

“Listen,” Caitlyn said. “She isn’t involved in this. I brought her here. It’s me you want.”

Someone chuckled. 

Behind the man, around the corner, came Vi.

Safe, smiling, bathed in warm light. 

“My hero.” Vi quipped, her smart ass joke lighting a fire under Caitlyn’s ass. 

Maddie had let out a gasp. “You- but, we thought- “Maddie spluttered. 

“We thought they were hurting you,” Caitlyn yelled. She gestured to the man. “Who the hell is this?”

Confusion flooded Vi’s face. “You don’t remember?” She asked. She let out a laugh. “I know it’s been a while, but I figured you’d recognize Ekko. You know. My Ekko.” Vi said, gesturing to the man. He looked up at Vi and rolled his eyes. 

“Unforgettable, am I?” Ekko said sarcastically. Clearly, some kind of inside joke, because Vi laughed. 

Ekko. Ekko. 

Caitlyn blinked. “Little man?” Caitlyn asked, incredulous. 

Vi’s younger surrogate brother. They took him in after a family friend died. The last time Caitlyn had seen him, he had been a fresh admittance to the academy, scrawny with heaps of Vi adjacent attitude. Caitlyn had only met him a handful of times and all briefly, but Vi spoke of him often and with love. 

He was half grown now. Caitlyn mistook him as closer to her age than not. If her math wasn’t mistaken, he wasn’t quite out of his teens yet. 

“Who’s little man?” Maddie asked. 

Ekko groaned, and Vi laughed. 

Jayce didn’t need an appointment at the Kiramman house. 

He entered with no resistance and went straight to his destination. 

Caitlyn was not in her room when Jayce entered. He had knocked, he wasn’t an animal, but when no Caitlyn appeared he let himself in. 

She couldn’t be far. He would wait for her there. 

He looked around the room. Her mound of flowers were wilting, and she had clothes dropped onto her floor. Unlike her. Cait wasn’t a person who left messes. 

Her conspiracy board was also lying on the floor. 

Jayce took a step forward, hands behind his back, and peered at it. 

Lots of red string, pictures, a map of the city. 

What caught his eye was pictures of graffiti from the fire. It looked as though someone had drawn a monkey out of lighter fluid and burned the image into the wall. A glance at the docs showed a similar monkey at a robbery gone wrong at the docs. 

Jayce unpinned the docks monkey and held it up, squinting. 

He dug around his own coat pocket to compare his photos of the lab after the robbery. 

Eerily similar. Whoever had done this had been at these other locations too and, for some reason, left a calling card. 

Jayce sighed. 

What could they mean by this? Were they trying to get someone’s attention? The council? Jayce’s? It was impossible to tell. 

Jayce could see the connection, but not the whole picture. Not without Cait there. 

The door opened behind Jayce. 

Surprised, he turned to look. 

It was one of Caitlyn’s work friends. A vastaya man whose name Jayce couldn’t place. 

“Excuse me,” the man said. “I’m looking for Caitlyn?”

Jayce looked around and chuckled. “Well, that makes two of us.” He reached a hand out. “Jayce Talis. I think we’ve met before, but-“

“Steb Guthrie.” The man replied, taking Jayce’s hand and shaking it. “And we have. Briefly.”

Jayce nodded. “Were you supposed to see Caitlyn today?”

Steb hesitated a moment before replying. “We have plans to go over some research of hers.”

Jayce nodded. “That’s why I’m here, too. Well,” Jayce gestured to the conspiracy board. “This is why I’m here. I wanted to hear more about her findings.”

Steb followed Jayce’s gaze to Caitlyn’s collage of crime. “Seems we are of one mind, sir:” Steb responded politely. 

Jayce caught sight of the clock on the wall and sighed. “Well, I’ve been here a half an hour, and she hadn’t shown yet. Might have to just come back later.” 

Steb’s brows furrowed. “You haven’t heard from her at all?”

Jayce shook his head. “Last I spoke to her had been about two days ago, I think? Anyway, I won’t keep you.”

Jayce turned to leave, but stopped when Steb moved towards him. 

There was something about Steb’s face that made Jayce pause. 

Uncomfortable. He looked uncomfortable. 

Jayce tilted his head. “Is everything alright, Steb?”

Steb was quite a moment before digging. “I told you, Caitlyn…” he muttered. He took a deep breath through his nose and stood straight. “Mr. Talis, there’s something you should know.”

Jayce blinked. “Ok.” He replied, unease curling into his gut. 

“Caitlyn and I had met two days ago and spoke about retrieving evidence for her case,” Steb explained. “She had made plans to investigate in the undercity directly. She had told me she would report back today on her findings and, as you can see, she is not here.”

Choking. That’s what the information felt like. Choking. 

“The undercity?! To gather- what?!” Jayce spluttered. He began to pace, running his hands through his hair and gesticulating. “Does she have any idea how dangerous that is? She doesn’t even have the protection of her badge right now, what was she thinking? How could you let her do that?!”

“She had taken our mutual friend and colleague, officer Maddie Nolan with her,” Steb continued, serious expression unchanged by Jayce’s outburst. “It is entirely possible they’re late meeting me for innocuous reasons, but I had come to an understanding with Caitlyn that if she was late, I would tell anyone able to help of her intentions and whereabouts, in the case that her absence is not innocuous.” Steb’s eyes tightened ever so slightly as he met Jayce’s gaze. “Also. She is a grown woman and I have no control over any of her actions, nor would I want to. Sir.”

Jayce groaned. His chest felt tight. Panic was setting in. He fought against it, breathing in and slowly out, without any success. 

“This is bad,” Jayce muttered to himself. Of course, Caitlyn decided to frolic off to the one place they had the most tensions with right now. There was a potential gang at large and the fact they knew to target Jayce’s lab spoke to their knowledge of the going ons in Piltover proper. It wasn’t unreasonable to assume someone could recognize Caitlyn not as an officer of the law, but a counselor’s daughter, and decide to use her as leverage. 

Jayce clenched his jaw. He forced himself to drop his tense shoulders and sigh. It was also entirely possible she had everything under control and would be back any minute, annoyed Steb told Jayce anything, criticizing Jayce for not believing in her skills. 

If there was one person Jayce could see seizing the undercity by its throat and squeezing, it would be Sprout.

The roads were split. 

To do something or to wait. 

Jayce closed his eyes and squeezed his hands into a fist. He knew his answer. He turned his gaze to Steb. 

“Don’t say anything yet,” Jayce answered. “Give her a few hours. I’ll alert the sheriff and see if he has heard anything. If she’s not back by nightfall, we know something is wrong.”

Steb nodded. He turned to leave. 

“And Steb?” He said. Steb turned. “If you see her, tell me immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” Steb replied softly. He left. 

Jayce’s shoulders dropped. His chest was tight, and he felt a headache coming on. 

He sat on Cait’s bed and put his head in his hands. 

Worry ate at every cell in his body. 

Worry for Viktor. 

Worry for Caitlyn. 

Worry for Piltover. 

Chapter Text

The Last Drop was empty. 

A record was on, playing light music as Theiram cleaned up. 

He methodically cleaned, relatively relaxed, when the door squeaked open. 

Theiram’s head snapped. 

The door swung open and was held open by the wind. 

After watching for a good minute, Theiram forced himself to return to washing. 

He let himself relax. He bobbed along to the music. Washed his glasses. Cleaned his-

“Chuck!” a voice from the left scared Theiram so bad he jumped and dropped his glass. 

He turned. 

There was the terror of the lanes. The loose cannon. The apple of Zaun’s eye. 

Jinx sat slumped against the counter, rolling the hexgem back and forth like a marble. She had her large blue eyes trained on the glowing device, head resting on her arm, and a bored expression on her face. 

“Theiram…Uh, my name’s Theiram.” He nervously replied. 

A sly smile spread on her face. 

She lifted her head and sat to face him. 

“Nice try, Chuck,” she scolded with playful sweetness. She giggled and blew her bangs out of her face. 

Theiram couldn’t show fear. There was protocol for Jinx at the bar. And that protocol was a fizzy juice in her cup with a bendy straw. Theiram got right on it. 

“What’s all the hubbub? Where’d everyone go?” She asked. 

Theiram poured the juice. “Uh,the boss sent everyone out.”

Jinx sat forward and spun the gem on her finger. “Everyone? Isn’t Sevika cleaning up?”

She dropped the gem from her finger and caught it with her hand. Theiram placed her drink in front of her. 

“Er, no. Sevika isn’t cleaning anything.” Theiram replied. He stuck a cork back into the fizzy juice. 

“Whatter they doin’?” Jinx asked, putting her head back against her arm. Her baby blues watched Theiram like a hungry cat stalking a mouse. 

Theiram dropped the bendy straw into her cup. 

“Uh, boss man said they lost somethin’.” Theiram replied. His face twitched and his hands had a slight shake to them. Theiram held them together to make them stop. 

“Focus,” Jinx scolded, smirk curling up into her face. “What are they looking for? Why wasn’t I invited? Where’s Sevika?”

Theiram pressed his lips together, avoiding eye contact. 

Jinx played with the gem, rolling it around the rim of the cup before dropping it in. 

“I-I don’t know,” Theiram replied. “I’m not supposed to say.”

Jinx sucked down some juice, perking up at Theiram’s admission. The gem was suctioned to the end of her straw for a good second before she let it fall. Jinx turned to him, morphing from playful cat to hungry shark. She leaned up against the counter, knees on the stool and hands on the bar. “Which is it? You don’t know, or you’re not supposed to say?” Jinx pressed, smirk widening into a smile. 

Theiram fumbled and spluttered. He looked anywhere but her, admission of guilt loud and clear. 

Jinx’s eyes sparked when she figured it out. 

Jinx giggled, a sound that made Theiram tense. She sat back down. She leaned on her arms and sucked more juice. “I guess Sevika really isn’t cleaning up then,” Jinx snickered. “What happened to Sevika?”

Theiram wrung his hands. “I’m not supposed to talk about it.”

“Says who?” Jinx pressed. 

“… Silco.” Theiram admitted. 

Something dark came over Jinx’s face, only lasting a split second, before a manic grin flashed. 

“Silly?” Jinx exclaimed. “Lucky me, he tells me everything.”

Jinx jumped up, long braids flying back. She threw her arms around the bartender. 

“You’re doing great, Chuck!” Jinx patted his back. She let go. “Here, for your troubles.”

Jinx scooped up her drink and made off. 

Theiram heard the horrible, horrible noise of a wind-up toy. 

Attached to his back was a bomb. 

He yelled in terror, uselessly swiping at his back, before it exploded in a cloud of blue and pink. 

With shaking hands, he began to clean it up. 

The warm breeze ghosted Caitlyn’s face. Butter yellow light filtered through the leaves of the large tree, bathing Caitlyn in gold. 

Maddie’s neck remained craned up, looking around. Her face was in awe. 

Caitlyn couldn’t have conceived such a beautiful place existing down here. It was shameful and humbling to admit. Caitlyn had thought she was above biases after being in l-

Caitlyn shook her head. 

After being around Vi for so long. 

Around the corner, not quite hidden by some structures, was a face. Painted on the wall. Further inspection showed it was not alone. 

Curious, Caitlyn moved to look closer. 

She felt more Maddie and Vi follow. 

Ekko didn’t move to stop her. Caitlyn assumed she was in the clear. 

Approaching, Caitlyn realized it wasn’t one or two faces but a whole mural. 

Some small, some painted big, most with different styles and in different angles. 

A young man was currently painting up a pink-haired girl with a hood. 

What really caught Caitlyn’s eye was Vi. 

Not her Vi. This one was younger, with no tattoo, no piercings, and a slight smile on her face. Caitlyn guessed she was maybe between fourteen and sixteen when this was painted. She looked happy in a way Caitlyn didn’t know she had ever seen before. Next to her was one boy with goggles, blocky shoulders, and curly hair marking him as the older one of Vi’s brothers. Looking over his shoulder with a goofy grin and spiky hair was the younger one. Caitlyn had only met them perhaps once or twice. Vi was cagey and protective of her family. Caitlyn had understood. She never introduced Vi to either of her parents or Jayce for that reason. Above her, slightly, was a blue-haired girl and a handsome, bearded man. Caitlyn could recognize Vi’s father. The blue-haired little girl, however, only recognized Caitlyn by her nose and mouth, which were the same as Vi’s. Caitlyn knew in her gut this had to be Powder. Vi had rarely ever spoken about her. Caitlyn knew she was dead, and only recently came to understand that Vi blamed Silco. Previously, Vi had said Powder had died in an accident. Perhaps that was a less painful way to describe it. The girl had blue eyes, freckles across her same-as-Vi nose, a crooked smile and sweet round race. She couldn’t have been older than eleven, not younger than nine. She was smack dab in the middle of the family portrait, Vi beneath her, their father to one side and an unfamiliar man with mutton chops and a kind smile to the other side, her brothers scattered around. All the portraits were drawn with obvious love and care. 

Caitlyn heard a sharp gasp. 

She tore her eyes away from the mural to look at Vi. Her eyes were unexpectedly wounded, mouth slightly open as she caught her breath. She stared at the image of Powder. 

“You were all supposed to be dead, so I put you up too.” Ekko explained, looking at Vi, watching her reaction. 

Vi swallowed. “It looks just like her.” 

Ekko turned his gaze to the picture of the girl. 

They sat in silence, drinking the image in. 

“It’s beautiful.” Caitlyn finally said. 

Maddie nodded in agreement. She held her hands respectfully in front of her, a step behind everyone else, sensing this was deeply personal. 

Caitlyn always admired that about Maddie. She had a nose for sensitivity. 

Ekko scowled. 

He turned to Caitlyn and Maddie, arms crossed, and said, “If Piltover had its way, it would be rubble and ash.”

Maddie frowned. She adjusted her stance, body going rigid, and crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t you live in Piltover as much as her?” Maddie said. Accusation bled in her tone over her light voice. 

Ekko scoffed. 

“Not even regular Pilties live like her,” Ekko jibed. “Let alone us.”

Vi reached over and put a hand on his shoulder. “Take it easy, Ekko.” She said. “We just got here.”

Ekko sighed. He rubbed a hand over his face and his shoulders dropped. 

“Sorry.” He said tensely, not sounding sorry at all. “It’s been a long night.”

Maddie nodded reluctantly. She seemed ready to move on-

Caitlyn froze. 

Long night. 

Long night. 

Long-

“Night?” Caitlyn interrupted, back shooting ramrod straight. She whipped to face Ekko. “Did you say night?”

Without waiting for a response, Caitlyn turned on her heel to face Maddie. 

She was a pale color, eyes flirting back and forth as she did the same math as Caitlyn. 

Caitlyn turned back to Ekko. “How long were we out?” Caitlyn demanded. 

Ekko scowled. “Like I said,” he repeated. “All night.”

Caitlyn’s stomach dropped. It was so sudden and physical, she pressed a hand to her abdomen. 

Her mind raced. She peered back up at the Sun, this time not in awe, but in horror. 

“We were supposed to meet Steb.” Caitlyn announced stupidly. 

Vi and Ekko exchanged a look. 

“Ok.” Vi said, brow raised. “So?”

“We need to get back,” Maddie replied. She turned on her heel and began to walk off. She must have realized she had no idea where she was going, because she turned back and looked at Ekko. “We need to get back. Where’s the exit?”

Vi stepped forward. Her brows were furrowed and expression guarded. “Where are you rushin’ off to?” She asked. 

Caitlyn stepped forward and put a hand on VI’s arm. Vi looked up at her, grey eyes searching Caitlyn’s blue. 

“My friend, Steb.” Caitlyn explained. She sighed. “We promised we would meet him today. He said if we weren’t back, he would alert someone where’d we’d gone.”

Ekko scoffed and muttered something to himself. Vi’s eyes twitched. “Didn’t trust me, cupcake?” She joked weakly. 

Caitlyn shook her head. “I didn’t even know if you’d come,” she confessed. She rubbed a thumb down Vi’s arm. To her relief, she didn’t pull away. “It’s important we let him know we’re alright before we continue.”

Vi looked at Ekko. 

Ekko looked at Vi. 

They seemed to have a silent conversation based on eyebrow twitches and frowns. 

Caitlyn wondered if it was that off-putting when she and Maddie did it. 

Ekko grunted. He shook his head and stepped towards Caitlyn. “Safe passage to the bridge. That’s it.” He promised. 

Caitlyn’s shoulders slumped. “Thank you.” She grabbed Vi’s wrist and tugged her toward her. “Maddi, Vi and I can take it from there.”  

Vi pulled away. 

Her head tilted down. After a brief moment, her eyes met Caitlyn’s. She tucked her hands in her pocket and rolled her shoulders back. “Actually, cupcake,” she said softly. “I’m staying back.”

Caitlyn’s lips parted. Her heart thudded in her chest. 

“I think little man and me got shit to figure out.” Vi continued. She offered Caitlyn a lopsided smile. “You’ll barely miss me.”

“But- “Caitlyn stuttered. She blinked rapidly. “I thought-“

Caitlyn felt heat crawl up her throat and onto her cheeks. 

What was she thinking? That because Vi had helped her, they were back to old patterns? That Vi would stick around and throw herself into Caitlyn’s case like they were partners? 

Vi didn’t want to be partners when they actually were partners. Caitlyn could tell Vi anything, and she would listen closely and speak softly, but never return the favor. Anything Caitlyn got out of Vi, her feelings, her history, was pried with a crowbar, pushing her further and further away every time. It felt like pouring herself into a cracked glass. 

Caitlyn knew she wasn’t a saint either. Her expectations were always high. Even now, she had assumed Vi would leave her friend, her family, to tag along unnecessarily to meet with a friend of Caitlyn’s. 

Vi’s interest in Caitlyn’s case had been Silco. Without anything new, there was no reason for her to return. 

Except. 

Caitlyn swallowed. 

Except that she wanted her there. 

“Alright.” Caitlyn agreed in a soft voice. “Sounds like a plan, then.”

Vi’s eyes softened. They looked like a cloudy morning sky. Caitlyn loved her eyes. 

“I’ll walk you guys back.” Vi agreed. 

He stared at the grenade. 

He had been catching up on paperwork when Marcus strode in. 

The man dropped the weapon next to him and stood with his hands behind his back. 

“I found this on one of the firelights.” Marcus said. 

Jayce turned to look at Marcus sharply. 

“It matches fragments we found outside your lab and at one of the hexgates.” He continued. 

Jayce snatched the grenade. 

He slowly turned it in his hand, examining it. 

It was the oddest contraption he had seen in a long time. 

The body was of a normal size, covered in neon pink and blue scribbles that were familiar to Jayce at this point. It seemed to have a mouth, two jagged jaws that hinged together, and a speaker on the inside. 

Whoever made this was responsible. Jayce could feel it. 

“I have reason to believe they’re planning more attacks.” Marcus finished.

Jayce’s face contorted with frustration. 

Jayce turned to look at him. “You said they’re a new gang.” Jayce replied. “But this tells me they’ve been a threat for longer. These resources don’t come from thin air. How have they gone unnoticed for so long?”

Marcus hesitated. “With the building of the hexgates, the fissures haven’t been a priority-“ 

“Oh, we’ll settle that later.” Jayce promised heatedly. “For now, your job is to find out how they’re making these and who is responsible.” 

Marcus sighed, but nodded. 

He took a step to leave, but Jayce stopped him. “I have a favor to ask.”

Marcus stilled. 

Jayce cleared his throat. “Officer’s Nolan and Kiramman. They left for the Undercity yesterday and haven’t returned.”

Marcus’s brow furrowed. “Does this have anything to do with Officer Guthrie interviewing a prisoner on your order?”

Jayce froze. 

Caitlyn.

If she turned up fine and whole, he was going to get her.

“Something like that.” Jayce reluctantly answered. “I want you to find assurance of their safety. It’s important.”

Marcus nodded. “I will look into it.” He replied. 

He left the room, the sound of heavy boots retreating. 

Jayce ran his hand down his face. 

She better be ok, he thought. Please let her be alright.

He picked up the grenade.

He looked it over again. If he didn’t know what it was, he might mistake it for a child’s toy. 

What kind of person would build something like this?

Jayce closed his hand around it. 

He didn’t know, but he knew who to ask. 

The walk to the bridge was slow. 

The light was disappearing as afternoon shifted into evening. 

The walk back had nearly been silent. 

Caitlyn stared ahead when possible, avoiding eye contact with any of her party members. 

She knew Maddie was concerned. She kept throwing Caitlyn glances, as though she wouldn’t notice. 

What was she supposed to tell her? That Caitlyn got her feelings hurt because her ex girlfriend didn’t want to drop everything to walk her all the way home?

No. She wouldn’t. It wasn’t true. 

Caitlyn wasn’t hurt. She understood Vi. Ekko was her family, and he needed her. 

She didn’t want to look at Vi, either. Didn’t want to think about what she would say when they got there. 

Once they were close, Caitlyn abruptly changed her mind. She had wished she planned what to say. 

Standing there, facing Vi, her head drained of all reasonable thought, rendering her speechless. 

Thankfully, Vi had it covered. 

She pulled Caitlyn into a hug. “It’s been real, cupcake.” She murmured into her shoulder. 

After a moment, Caitlyn hugged back. 

She relaxed into Vi’s arms like a warm bath. 

Vi gave the best hugs. 

Warm, strong, the perfect amount of pressure to reassure Caitlyn without making her feel suffocated. 

“Thank you.” Caitlyn said. She sighed, muscles easing. “I missed this.”

Caitlyn froze at her own words. 

That was stupid, Caitlyn panicked. That was so stupid, why did I say that?”

Vi let go. 

Caitlyn’s breath caught in her throat. She moved to step away, to make an excuse, before she caught Vi’s smile. 

“Yeah.” Vi admitted. “It was like old times. Plus a third wheel.” She tilted her head towards Maddie, grin taking a playful edge. 

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and returned the smile. “She has her heart in the right place.” Caitlyn replied. 

Vi stilled. The playfulness was gone. 

Caitlyn opened her mouth to ask if she was alright when Vi said-

“With you?”

Caitlyn blinked. Her heart caught up with Vi’s words before she did, thudding strongly in her heart. 

“What?” Caitlyn asked faintly, blood rushing to her ears, hope swelling in her chest. 

Was Vi… interested? Still?

Caitlyn stared, analyzing every little move Vi made. If Vi was interested in her… well. Wasn’t she a little interested, too?

Vi shook her head. “Nothing.” She said hastily. “It was stupid.”

Caitlyn snatched her wrist. Vi met her eyes. 

“It wasn’t stupid.” Caitlyn replied softly. 

Ahead of them, Ekko and Maddie paused. Ekko crossed his arms, eyebrow raised, clearly waiting for the girls to catch up. Maddie shifted from foot to foot, wringing her hands, anxious to get back to Steb. 

Caitlyn let out a huff. 

“Vi,” she said. “Can we talk? After? When you’re done… helping?”

Vi hesitated. 

“Please,” Caitlyn pleaded. 

After a tense moment, Vi’s shoulder relaxed. A small smile flitted back onto her face. “Yeah.” She agreed. “We’ll talk cupcake.”

Both women paused. 

There was a moment where Caitlyn felt if she leaned forward to kiss Vi goodbye, she would let her. 

“Caitlyn!” Maddie yelled. “We have to get on!”

The moment passed. 

Vi reached up, thumbed her cheek, and turned around. 

Caitlyn watched her a moment before following Maddie. 

Thank you.” She called to Ekko as he passed. 

Ekko gave her a short salute. 

Caitlyn nodded at him.

The walk over the bridge is uneventful. 

The sounds of the water were soothing, and the wind was just on the right side of cool. 

Maddie and Caitlyn finished their trek in companionable silence. 

They had made it a fourth of the way to Caitlyn’s house before they were arrested. 

Caitlyn Kiramman sat in an interrogation room. 

Marcus watched her through the glass. 

The trouble that spoiled upstart caused…

Marcus sighed. 

He took a breath in before he entered the room. He would need his composure. 

He opened the door and walked through. 

Immediately, Kiramman’s eyes were on him. Sharp. Calculating. She was the type to think she was the smartest in the room, no matter who stood beside her. 

Marcus wouldn’t waste time playing games. 

“Jayce Talis reported you missing.” Marcus told her. He crossed his arms and leveled her with a glare. 

Kiramman met his gaze easily. “I already told the arresting officers,” Kiramman said in a steely tone. “I was visiting a friend. The visit ran late. Jayce had no reason to worry.”

Marcus took a step forward. He looked over at the sitting woman. “And what friend was that?” He asked. 

Kiramman narrowed her eyes. 

“Am I being charged with anything, sir?” She asked. 

Marcus swallowed. “No, miss Kiramman.” He replied. Kiramman winced. “I want to know why you are investigating when you’ve been relieved of duty?”

To her credit, Kiramman didn’t further deny it. Instead, she straightens her back and met his eye. 

“My friend,” Caitlyn said. “Had information regarding the attacks. There is a man, Silco, who is a known drug lord. There isn’t anything that goes on without his knowing about it. His lieutenant attacked us. She recognized the graffiti from the crime scene. I believe he is connected, sir.”

Marcus froze. 

Silco. 

She knew about Silco. 

Ice wormed its way into his veins, turning his blood into a slurry. His fingers went numb. 

Silco would not tolerate this, and Marcus had too much to lose. 

He thought of his daughter at home. 

He could not fuck this up.

Marcus swallowed. 

“Do you have any proof?” Marcus asked. 

Kiramman fell silent. He could practically hear the gears in her head turning. 

“I don’t have all day.” Marcus snapped. He turned toward the door and threw it open. “If you have more boogeyman tales, keep them to yourself!” He yelled angrily. 

“Sir-!”

Marcus slammed the door. 

He hurried to where Officer Nolan sat in a similar room. 

She didn’t have the icy determination of Officer Kiramman. Nolan was of a much warmer disposition. It made her approachable on the street and well liked back at the station. 

He yanked the door open. 

Nolan twitched, but didn’t jump. 

“What kind of games are you playing?” Marcus demanded. 

Nolan yapped. 

The same story as Kiramman with slightly more detail. 

The lieutenant was a woman. She attacked the friend. She confirmed directly that she worked for Silco. 

Marcus clenched his jaw. 

When would it end? Between the blue-haired little maniac Silco let tramp around with no leash and this absolute mess Silco created and expected Marcus to clean up, how much more could he be expected to take?

There was no way out. Marcus had to find some way out. 

“Do you have proof?” Marcus demanded. 

To his surprise, Officer Nolan pulled out pictures. 

Most were unremarkable. 

Marcus flipped through them disinterestedly until he saw something that made him stop cold. 

It was Caitlyn and a woman, looking at the Last Drop, seemingly in conversation. 

Marcus recognized her. 

She was a young woman now, no longer a skinny, bad mouthed kid. 

Vander’s eldest. 

The girl Marcus swore to Silco that he disposed of himself. 

He told Silco he found her dead two days after Vander was killed. Threw her body in the Pilt, Marcus promised. Silco nodded, his little sumpsnipe asleep on the couch next to him, making Marcus’s skin crawl at the idea of any child in their vicinity, and gave him coin. For his troubles. 

Marcus pointed to the pink-haired woman. 

“Who is that?” Marcus asked in a low voice. 

Officer Nolan’s eyes followed him. Her expression became confused. 

“That’s Vi.” Officer Nolan answered. “She’s a friend of Caitlyn’s. She helped us.”

Vi. 

Fuck. 

Marcus gathered all the photos. 

“I’m taking this into evidence.” He snapped. “You’ll be free to go.”

Officer Nolan perked up. 

Marcus pointed at her. “If you hear anything else, notify me discreetly.” He emphasized. “No one else will hear of this, or both your heads will be on the line.”

Officer Nolan nodded. “Of course, sir.”

Marcus stared her down before turning and leaving. 

He had to get to Silco before he found out. 

He tightened his arm around the photos. 

He would get to Silco, and somehow find a way out of this mess. 

The forge was exactly where Jayce needed to be. 

The heat, the noise, the familiarity. 

It was heaven. 

Jayce wanted everything to roll off his shoulders. The hexgates, Viktor’s health, Mel’s politics, the robbery. 

Stress was stubborn though. 

His usual fixes weren’t quite enough to cover what had happened the last few days. 

Without even thinking of it, Jayce wandered over to where he knew Vander would be at work. 

Small talk to blow off a little steam. 

Normalcy. 

That might do the trick. 

The large man had his back to him, shirtsleeves rolled up and focused. 

“Hard at work or barely working?” Jayce asked. 

Vander grunted. He looked over his shoulder and said, “I thought it was hardly working?”

Jayce shrugged. “Means the same thing, doesn’t it?”

Vander set his work down and faced Jayce fully. 

“How goes it?” Vander asked. 

Jayce shrugged. “Could be worse.” He replied. He sighed and sat on a nearby bench. 

Vander quirked up a brow. “Could it?” He asked. 

Jayce huffed a laugh. “No, it couldn’t.” Jayce squeezed his hands together. He collected his thoughts before continuing, “I recently got some bad news.”

Any other time, Jayce might wonder if he was crossing a line. Being a little too friendly. But today, he just couldn’t find it in himself to care. He needed to talk. He needed to get it out. 

Vander didn’t reply. Just watched Jayce quietly, waiting to see what he would offer. 

“I have a friend,” Jayce’s voice broke. He cleared his throat. “A friend,” he continued. “Who just found out he’s dying. Or, well, I just found out he’s dying. He seemed to have some idea that he wasn’t doing well.” 

Vander nodded. “And you’re taking it…?”

“Bad.” Jayce replied. He unclasped his hands and gripped his knees. “I am taking it bad.”

Vander chucked. “Stupid question,” he said. “There is no other way to take it.”

Jayce turned to Vander, but the man was no longer looking at him. He was staring off to the side, faraway look on his face. 

“Have any experience there?” Jayce asked. 

It was a personal question. One Jayce didn’t have any right to ask. Vander answered anyway. 

“A little. Had plenty of friends die.” He replied. He turned back to Jayce. Vander was quiet for a moment before replying. “It doesn’t get easier.”

Jayce burst into a laugh. “Thanks,” he said, still laughing in shock. “That made me feel a lot better.”

Vander shook his head. “Nah,” he spoke. “It doesn’t get easier, but you learn to live with it.”

Vander’s shoulder dropped. He sighed and wiped sweaty hair from his face. Jayce watched him. He seemed downtrodden in a way Jayce hadn’t noticed before. 

“I had lost my dad when I was a kid,” Jayce said. “It was different, though. There was no grappling. He was just there one day and gone the next.”

Vander nodded. “Yeah.” He said. “That’s how it was with my daughter, too.”

Jayce startled. “Your daughter?” He asked. 

“Anniversary of her passing was a few days ago.” Vander replied. “Spent it with the kids. Talking about it helps with people you care about.”

Jayce swallowed. He felt foolish. And shitty. He hadn’t even known Vander had lost a child. 

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Jayce said. “About your daughter.”

Vander shrugged. “It was a long time ago. You learn to live with it.”

Jayce looked down. 

He tried to picture it. A life without Viktor. What it would be like. 

Bleak was the best way to describe it. Empty. 

Sitting in the lab alone, no more shitty snipes at each other at three am, no more snark about the academy as they did something insane, no more breakthroughs that Jayce rushed to tell him because no one could understand like Viktor could, no one-

Jayce closed his eyes. 

He wanted to wake up tomorrow, and none of it had happened. To find out Viktor wasn’t dying, and he and Jayce would continue on as they were meant to. As partners. 

Jayce heard footsteps approaching. 

“Can’t let it eat at you, kid,” Vander said. Jayce opened his eyes and looked up at Vander. “Do what you have to, enjoy your time while you can.”

Jayce found himself nodding, eyes flitting down. He paused for a moment. Vander had something. On his forearm. 

Recognition lit Jayce like a firework. 

“What is that?” Jayce asked, pointing to his arm, praying he was wrong. 

Vander unfolded his arms and held out the inked one. 

A monkey. A specific, highly stylized monkey that could be found in Jayce’s crime scene photos and Caitlyn’s conspiracy board. 

“Tattoo,” Vander answered, though his voice felt far away. “Got it for my daughter. To remember her by.”

“When did she pass?” Jayce asked. He couldn’t tear his eyes away. 

“Before I came topside.” Vander answers. “Years ago.”

Topside. 

Because Vander was from the fissures. 

Jayce stood abruptly. 

His head felt woozy, whether from the information that struck him or the heat, he wasn’t sure. 

“I have to go,” he said. “Thank you for the advice.”

Vander looked at him a moment before shrugging and stepping back. 

“Take care of yourself, kid,” Vander said. 

Jayce walked away. 

He had to find Caitlyn.

Caitlyn did not slam the door behind her. That would be undignified. 

She was sure she could see her mother’s point, that perhaps stopping at Steb’s home before her own was a little selfish considering her mother had been starting to worry. 

But Caitlyn had a duty to collect evidence while she could. 

And Steb’s visit to Stillwater only confirmed Caitlyn’s mounting evidence against Silco!

Or should she say, the Eye of Zaun.

She wondered what kind of name that was supposed to be. 

Caitlyn suspected it had something to do with the level of surveillance he kept in the city. It couldn’t have been a very well-earned name, considering a teenaged boy snagged his supposed top lieutenant underneath his nose. 

After leaving Steb’s, saying her goodbyes to Maddie, who claimed a long bath was over due, Caitlyn finally went home. 

She was promptly put under verbal assault for an hour and a half. 

Cassandra Kiramman finally seemed to run out of things to argue about and Tobias Kiramman finally managed to convince his wife that Caitlyn had a long day and was needed her rest. She was released from her mother’s heated one sided debate. Caitlyn ignored the fact that it wasn’t even eight and helped herself to her room. 

Caitlyn took Maddie’s advice and showered. If she was extra careful about her appearance and an sprayed oil perfume into her brush that she knew Vi likes, that was no one’s business. 

She never said when they could talk. Only that they would soon. Soon could be anytime. Could be next week. Could be tomorrow. Could be tonight. 

Caitlyn hoped it was tonight. 

Sneaking Vi into her bedroom never ceased to make her feel like a stupid teenager, particularly when she had to explain herself to security and beg them not to breathe a word to her mother, but by god was it worth it. 

Caitlyn had goosebumps remembering the last time they engaged in a tête-à-tête with Vi. 

Not that she was expecting the same level of activity. They had only made plans to talk. 

If Caitlyn still put on her good underwear, well. That was her own business. 

Ultimately, it wasn’t Vi who visited. 

Not twenty minutes after Caitlyn had dressed, Jayce was there. 

Caitlyn initially thought that the knock on the door had been her father, but when she opened up there stood Jayce. 

His expression was frantic and body tense. 

“Cait,” He blurted out. “Thank god. I was worried.”

Caitlyn sighed. She opened her door further, letting him in. 

“You didn’t have to come all this way. Surely Marcus updated you.” Caitlyn replied frostily. 

She would get over that whole nonsense, eventually. She knew it was just Jayce’s nature to do that sort of thing for people he cares about. Jayce was the sort of person who couldn’t stand to let a problem sit. He had to go and solve it with his own hands, even if the only thing being asking of him was to listen. 

Caitlyn knows he only went to Marcus out of affection for her. The fact remained, it was still annoying.

“Look, Cait, cut the attitude. You forged my signature, I asked the Sheriff to look for you. We’re about even.” Jayce replied firmly, striding into the room. 

Caitlyn’s face flushed. She closed the door behind her. She crossed her arms and put her nose in the air, looking down at Jayce. 

“It was for a good cause.” Caitlyn sniffed. No admission of guilt to be found. Caitlyn didn’t feel guilty. His signature was crucial in breaking her case. 

Jayce sighed. A weary expression overtook him. “Yeah. About that. I went over evidence with your friend, Steb.”

It was only her training that kept Caitlyn from making an alarmed sound. Jayce walked over to Caitlyn’s evidence board. 

“That symbol.” Jayce said, pointing to the monkey. “I have an employee at the forge. Today when I talked to him, I saw a tattoo of that exact monkey.”

Caitlyn’s heart began to race. Silco’s arsonists symbol? As a tattoo? What could it mean? 

Her mind raced. 

This changed everything. This meant Silco had someone topside working with him, feeding him information. Caitlyn’s face hardened. 

“Who is this man?” Caitlyn demanded. “Tell me everything.”

Jayce frowned. “His name is Vander.” He revealed. “I know he was born in the Undercity and he has four kids, but that’s about it.” 

Time stopped. 

Vander. 

Vi’s father.

There was no way that could be. It had to be a coincidence.

“Last name?” Caitlyn asked. It couldn’t be. It just could not be the same man. 

“McNeil.” Jayce replied. 

Fuck, Caitlyn thought. 

Vi’s last name. Caitlyn and Vi had once broken up after an intense fight because it took Caitlyn three years to learn it. Vi argued last names were unnecessary, stupid, and knowing it wouldn’t tell Caitlyn a thing more about her, so it wasn’t a big deal. Caitlyn argued last names are important and a basic identity detail, and if Vi really cared about her, she would want Caitlyn to know those kinds of things. Vi had scoffed and said of course, to someone like you, last names are all that fucking matter. A fight ensued, then a split. Caitlyn couldn’t forget it if she wanted to. 

Fuck. 

In a strange, twisted way, it made sense. Vi’s father lived in Piltover but was sympathetic towards the Undercity. He would have ways to scope out the crime scenes if he needed to. He had access to Jayce, apparently knowing him well enough to engage in casual conversation. It wasn’t a lot, but the tattoo was damning enough to connect the threads. 

Caitlyn swallowed. 

She had to dig more. Maybe there was a mistake. 

“I will look into it.” Caitlyn swore. She glanced at the clock. Half-past eight. The archives didn’t close until ten. “As soon as my mother goes to bed, I can get past the staff and head straight to the archives. We need confirmation tonight.”

Jayce smiled at her sheepishly. “I can help you get past your mother.” He said. “If you’re willing to tell a white lie. I’ll give you a ride wherever you need to go.”

Caitlyn quirked a brow. “What kind of white lie?” She asked. 

Jayce rubbed his neck. “Are you willing to let her think you’re interested in my job offer?”

Jayce had generously waited outside while Caitlyn raced to Maddie’s door. 

She didn’t initially answer Caitlyn’s frantic knocks. 

Caitlyn had to go around her house and throw rocks at her bedroom window. 

More than Caitlyn’s dignity was at stake, so she waited for Maddie to throw on something presentable. Jayce helpfully gave them a lift to the archives with a promise from Caitlyn to contact him tomorrow with her findings. 

A flash of Maddie’s badge was enough to get the archivist off their back for coming in so close to closing, and plenty of breathing room as they searched. 

No Results For Vander McNeil.

Caitlyn wanted to be relieved when both women turned up with nothing, but something nagged at her. 

Her argument about the lack of significance in last names with Vi wouldn’t leave her head for some reason. 

When Caitlyn softly requested the archivist search up just ‘Vander’ instead, she was met with a blow. 

There were plenty of records on just ‘Vander’.

The Hound Of The Underground, they called him. 

Known for creating blood baths in boxing rings as a youth, plenty of arrest records for violent crimes and illegal protest, articles written a political movement in the Undercity calling for separation from Piltover. The articles had pictures of a huge, towering man Caitlyn recognized immediately next to a smaller, thin man with longish black hair and a thin sharp face. The articles quoted the man as ‘Silco’. 

Caitlyn felt nauseous. This had been what the Lieutenant had been taking about. Silco had a history with Vi’s father, a long one painting them as brothers in arms against Piltover. 

Records ended on The Day Of Ash. Vander, of all people, had been noted as the one who led the Undercity men and women across the bridge. 

“This is mad,” Maddie whispered, reading over Caitlyn’s shoulder. “What are we going to tell the Sheriff?”

Caitlyn swallowed. 

She was thinking of a bigger question: what was she going to tell Vi?

Chapter Text

Silco sat down, his chair creaking beneath him. 

He growled in frustration, grabbing a cold cigar from his ashtray. 

There were no leads on Sevika. Someone had taken her, but no indication of who or why. Just the thing Silco needed right now. 

He pulled his lighter out of his left pocket. It flickered uselessly. Not unlike the company he kept. Silco grunted, holding the cigar between his lips.

To his right, the desk squeaked as weight was placed on the corner. 

Silco could feel a long pigtail drape over his arm and her knee brush up against his. 

A lighter flicked on to the right of him. 

Silco turned. 

Jinx reached over and lit the cigar. She cocked her head in a way that reminded Silco of the crows she liked to chase as a child. 

Silco inhaled. 

Jinx hooked an ankle around his chair, pulling it so they were side by side. She tucked her arm underneath his and laid her head in the crook of his shoulder. 

Silco could smell her berry shampoo. Good. She often forgot trivial things such as eating, sleeping, and bathing when in the midst of her work. 

“What is it?” He asked, exhaling smoke from the side of his mouth. At this angle, it was hard to keep it from her downcast eyes. 

She propped a knee up and nudged his chair. Rocking back and forth. 

Back and forth. 

Back and-

“Jinx.” He coaxed.

Jinx pouted. She sullenly turned her eyes up, resembling a sad doll. 

She nuzzled her head closer, tucked under his chin, making it uncomfortable to swallow. Silco often had the thought that if Jinx could crack open his ribs or peel back his skin, she would, and crawl underneath for warmth. 

Silco carefully lowered his cigar, avoiding the tangle of Jinx’s limbs. He let it rest on his ashtray. 

“Where’ve you been?” Jinx asked glumly. “I came by to show you somethin’, but you weren’t here. Chuck said you went out without me.” 

Silco swallowed a curse. What was the point in paying his bartender for discretion if he couldn’t keep his mouth shut?

“It’s none of your concern.” Silco replied. “You are to focus on your work.”

Jinx peered up. There was something dangerous lurking in her shining blue eyes. Silco steeled himself. 

“You don’t have time for me?” Jinx prodded, sticking out her bottom lip into a childish pout. A pretense Silco knew well. She was angry. 

“I have things to attend to, Jinx.” Silco said firmly. 

Her eyes sparked. 

“Make Sevika do it.” Jinx challenged. 

Silco closed his eye. Fuck. 

He moved forward to pick his cigar back up, disentangling Jinx. 

He looked away, feigning disinterest, and instead inhaling his vice. 

Jinx was practically humming with menace. 

“Oh, that’s right,” she spat, pushing herself back, away from him. “Sevika is missing. Yay.”

“It’s being handled.” Silco cut her off. He turned and met her leering eyes with a stern look. “You have your own problems to focus on. Leave Sevika to me.”

Jinx threw her head back and laughed, sharp as glass. 

“That’s me.” She said in a sing-song voice. Her giggles tapered off, and she glared. “Problem solver.”

There was a knock at the door. 

Jinx was gone, vanished like the smoke on her skin. 

Silco adjusted his chair, smoothed his hair back, and told them to come in. 

She would be back. She would press the issue until her curiosity was satisfied. 

Silco straightened as his door opened and cut off thoughts of Jinx.

It was all going straight to hell. 

“-he has been living here the past seven years.” Kiramman continued, unaware of the weight of despair solidly sitting on Marcus’s chest. 

He stared unflinchingly at Officer Nolan and Kiramman as they stood at attention, backs straight and hands behind back, and reported their findings, copies of articles included. 

Officer Nolan had a confidence about her, sure of herself and her place on the right side of Justice. Kiramman was more reluctant, focused on being objective and leaving room for grace if she was in error. 

Marcus stared listlessly through their presentation. He was glad his desk hid his arm rest so the women couldn’t see his white knuckles. 

Vander?

Vander?

Vander alive?

Marcus’s jaw was so tight his head began to throb. 

It was one thing for Vi to be alive. One young woman could go quietly unnoticed if Marcus pulled a few strings. He might have gotten it past Silco, who seemed too busy coddling his little nightmare and her tantrums to worry about Marcus. 

But Vander?

There was no way Marcus could take care of that quietly without Silco getting wind. He would have to jump the gun and tell him first. 

Marcus’s mind raced. He needed a plan. The walls were closing in on him. Between the scrutiny of the council, Silco’s boot on his throat, the threat Marcus’s family lived under constantly, he felt like an animal chewing his own leg from a trap. 

“-sir?” Officer Nolan asked, brow furrowed. 

Marcus forced himself to swallow. 

“Thank you for your…devotion.” Marcus finally said. The fact the wood didn’t splinter beneath his hands was a miracle. “I am going to verify this information. You’re not to breathe a word.”

Officer Nolan didn’t hesitate to nod in agreement. Kiramman, on the other hand…

Bitter resentment laid like acid on his tongue. The girl was clearly thinking, as though she had any influence on the outcome. The moment this headache was resolved, she was out. Gone. Never to set foot near law enforcement again. Marcus is sure her mother will snap at the chance to crowd her into a cushy, meaningless job and get her out of Marcus’s hair. 

Finally Kiramman answered. “Understood.” She murmured. Her face was neutral, but there was no mistaking the conflict in her eyes. 

Marcus sighed through his nose. He had to put a bandaid on the weeping bullet hole known as Silco. Then he would take care of Kiramman. 

“Dismissed.” Marcus ordered curtly. 

Both women shuffled out, leaving Marcus to prepare. 

Vi was no genius like Ekko, but she knew her way around the wrench. 

After a brief break to catch up on actual sleep and get a bit of food in, Vi and Ekko hunkered down to do upgrades on his hoverboards. 

Ekko carefully walked Vi through the process twice before watching her do it like a hawk. 

It reminded Vi of when they were younger, the way Ekko would stare the big kids down as they divided candy or whatever between them, to ensure their pile wasn’t any bigger than his.

They worked in Ekko’s workshop/room. It had a little cot, lots of warm colors and books. He even had a little gramophone for music. 

They sat on the floor, surrounded by parts, work bench above them. 

That was overtaken by Sevika’s disassembled arm. 

Serves her right, Vi thought, glancing at it. 

She had suggested reusing the parts, but Ekko said he wanted time to look at it first. Figure out how it worked. 

As for Sevika, she was currently tied to high heavens in the back of the Firelight base. 

Ekko and several of his friends had all talked about what to do with her before deciding that she could be used as leverage. 

What they were going to ask for was still being decided. 

Before long, Vi finished with the last board in her pile. 

Ekko had been sitting, watching her for the past few minutes, small smile on his face. 

“Not bad.” He teased, nodding to her significantly smaller pile of finished boards. 

Vi shrugged. “Yeah, well, not like you pay well.” Vi replied. 

Ekko laughed. Soon, the smile melted off his face into a more comfortable frown. 

“We should head out soon.” He said. 

Vi furrowed a brow. “Head out? Why?” she asked. 

Ekko looked at her as though she had grown a second head. “We’ve been down here for almost two days, Vi.” He said. “I have classes. And you need to go home.”

He had a point there.

With a sigh, Vi pushed herself up. 

Ekko dusted his pants off. 

“I’ll let Scar know where to find these before we take off.” He said. He moved to walk away. 

“Ekko,” Vi said softly, catching his wrist. He turned. “Next time you come down, we’ll go together, yeah?”

Ekko stilled. He searched Vi’s face as if he had finally found something he had been looking for. “Yeah.” He said, his voice raspy. “We’ll go together. After you spend a night in your own bed.”

Vi chuckled. She punched him in the shoulder. He winced, even though she barely touched him. 

He left to go find Scar. 

Vi would go spend the night in her own bed. 

After she made a stop first. 

Leaving the station felt wrong. 

Everything felt wrong. 

“We did it!” Maddie breathed, turning to Caitlyn with bright eyes and a smile. “We are this close to solving the case! You did it, Caitlyn!”

Maddie stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Caitlyn, warm and inviting. 

Caitlyn stiffly put an arm around her. 

Wrong. She felt wrong. 

Maddie, of course, noticed. 

She pulled back, worry in her eyes. 

“What’s the matter?” She asked. 

Caitlyn hesitated. She looked down, contemplating telling Maddie the truth about her doubts. When she looked up, Maddie was watching her patiently, waiting for her reply. Caitlyn spoke. 

“Vander is Vi’s father.” Caitlyn confessed. 

The smile flopped off of Maddie’s face and dropped to the ground with a splat. 

“What?” Maddie said, leaning forward, eyes taking in every micro expression for any hint Caitlyn was making it up. When she saw nothing but the truth, she pulled away. “Oh lord,” Maddie gasped. “Do you think she’s involved?”

Caitlyn’s head snapped up. 

“What?” Caitlyn snapped, balking. “No! How could you say that? Vi hates Silco, you saw her! She risked her life to fight that thug under his employ, she blames him for her sister’s death! There’s no way Vi is involved in any of this.”

Maddie put her palms up in surrender. “Ok,” she blurted. “If that’s not it, then…” Maddie paused. She looked… disturbed. “Then why would Vi’s father work with him?”

Caitlyn crossed her arms over her chest. The wind breezed through her hair. She shook her head. “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense. “Caitlyn said. “Vi is so sure Silco had something to do with her sister dying. And if that’s true… why would he work with his daughter’s killer?”

Both women contemplated in silence, cool breeze fluttering leaves around them, whistling in the near empty street. 

“Something isn’t adding up.” Caitlyn finally said in a low voice. “The tattoo is damning but Vi…” she sighed. Her expression softened. “She thinks the world of him. The Vander Vi has described wouldn’t be a part of something like that.”

“Apparently he would. He set the bridge on fire, Caitlyn. He might be more capable than Vi thinks.” Maddie pointed out. 

Caitlyn frowned. Her face contorted. She shook her head, turning away from Maddie. “I think I’m missing something. I have to talk to Vi.”

Maddie placed hand on her shoulder, turning her towards her. 

“Before you head off on another mission,” Maddie said, voice lightening into something teasing and bright,” Why don’t we celebrate a little? Blow off some steam. You’ve done incredible work the last few days.”

Maddie met Caitlyn’s gaze. Slowly, she tucked a piece of hair behind Caitlyn’s ear. She cupped her cheek. 

Caitlyn allowed herself to enjoy the warmth. The idea wasn’t bad. She and Maddie were no strangers to a nice bar, with low music and flavorful drinks. They had been out together many times, dancing and letting worries melt off. Sometimes with other friends. Sometimes alone. Sometimes… intimately. 

But Caitlyn couldn’t indulge. Vi’s soft grey-blue eyes flashed in her mind. 

Caitlyn looked into Maddie’s eyes before stepping away. “I can’t.” She said. “Not without talking to Vi.”

The words hung heavy in the air. 

After a moment, Maddie stepped back. She smiled tightly.

“Don’t take too long,” Maddie replied, false brightness in her voice. “I might make other plans.”

Caitlyn forced a smile back. 

They nodded to each other before going their separate ways. 

No sign of Sevika. 

Enforcers loose in the Lanes. 

Chembarons demanding a meeting. 

Silco was a busy man. 

Marcus barely managed to catch him. 

“Sheriff.” Silco said mockingly as Marcus approached his desk. He had a tumbler of whiskey in hand and slowly swirled it around the ice. “What a lovely surprise.”

“I have news for you.” Marcus said bluntly. He took a step forward. His face was hard and his body stiff. “Bad news.”

Silco arched his brow. “Well, by all means.” Silco said, pausing his movement. “Clue me in.”

Marcus’s nostrils flared. There was a near imperceptible shake to his hand. 

Silco picked up a piece of paper with his free hand, bringing it to his front, looking down to read it, as if Marcus were not in the room. 

“It’s about Vander.” Marcus finally said. “He’s back.” 

The room froze. 

Ice could have crept up the window and would have not been remiss. 

Silco stared at the paper ahead of him, eye widened, knuckles whitened around the glass. 

He looked up at Marcus. There was a painful promise in his expression. 

“From the dead?” Silco hissed. He slammed his glass down, purposefully. “How?”

“I don’t know but-“ 

“How did this escape you?” Silco demanded. “I have given you endless resources sheriff. Endless time, and patience to ensure surprises like this wouldn’t happen-“

“This isn’t my fault,” Marcus argued. “You’re the one who said you-“

“I need him dead.” Silco seethed, leaning forward, rage shining through both eyes, good and bad. “You need to kill him. Quietly. On your daughter’s life, not a word of Vander’s escape can get out.”

Marcus swallowed. “It will be taken care of.”

Silco’s face twitched. “See to it. For your own sake.”

Marcus leveled Silco with one last glare before storming out. 

Silco sat for a moment, panting, a million thoughts flitting across his face now that he was alone. He smoothed back his hair, knocked what was left of his drink, and rushed to stand. 

He abandoned his work and stalked out of the room. 

He slammed the door behind him. 

Pictures on the wall rattled with the force. 

A long, blue braid unwound itself, falling from the rafters. 

When Caitlyn got home, there was a message waiting for her. 

They were bringing Vander in for questioning. 

Caitlyn sighed, tossing aside the message and ignoring the warning not to say anything to anyone. 

No chance she could do that. 

She had to tell Vi. She would be no kind of friend, or anything else, to her if she kept it. 

Caitlyn stalked towards her room, stomach jumbled and heart heavy. 

This would change everything. Caitlyn wasn’t sure she could ever make Vi understand. She was sure if she was wrong then no harm would come to Vander, but what if she was right? What then?

Caitlyn opened her door. She kicked it shut behind her and toed off her shoes. The discovery of her father’s connections with Silco would devastate Vi. If nothing else, she believe the man had something to do with her sister’s death. Which raised the question, what happened? It was the one piece of the puzzle Caitlyn couldn’t put together. For Vander is work with Silco and Vi to hate him so much when she clearly admired her father with everything she had, it just didn’t add up. She-

Caitlyn froze. 

She wasn’t alone. 

Vi was lying on her bed, stomach down, arm draped over the end and feet kicking in the air. 

She was beautiful. 

Caitlyn would be lucky if she ever spoke to her again. 

“You did this? All on your own?” Vi asked, gesturing to Caitlyn’s evidence board. She huffed a laugh. She rolled over onto her back. “And I thought Powder could get obsessed.”

Shame curled in Caitlyn’s gut. Vi had been through so much, and here Caitlyn was. Putting her through more. Caitlyn came and sat next to her. 

“It wasn’t your fault.” Caitlyn said. “What happened to her.”

Vi stilled. “You don’t know the half of it, cupcake.” She finally said. 

Caitlyn laid down. She rolled over to face Vi. “What I do know, Vi,” she breathed. “Is that you loved her. Isn’t that what matters?”

Vi is silent. She stared at Caitlyn’s ceiling, eyes distant with a familiar emotion. Guilt. 

Caitlyn furrowed her brow. She reached over and tangled her fingers with Vi’s. 

“What happened to her?” Caitlyn asked softly. 

Vi looked away. After a short pause, she spoke. “When my parents were still alive, me and Powder used to share a bed like this. Except maybe half the size.” Vi breathed a laugh. Caitlyn watched her. Vi’s whole body went limp, as if letting go of something. “We played a game where we pretended to be bigger and bigger monsters.”

Caitlyn rolled to her side. She laid on her arm, propping her head up to watch. Vi had a smile on her face, soft in a way that Caitlyn rarely got to see. VI’s eyes weren’t on her. They were somewhere else, far away and long ago. 

“So she would say ‘I’m a slug monster with venom for ooze.’” Vi turned to her side, mimicking Caitlyn’s pose. “And I would say, ‘well I’m a slug eating crab with razor spikes.”

Caitlyn’s heart thudded. This was the most Vi had ever spoken about her sister. Everything else had only been in passing. Powder used to love the arcade. Vi was used to being woken up, Powder had nightmares. Vi had gotten into trouble for bringing Powder to the markets past dark, and Vander grounded her. 

Powder was only in the barest details of the story. Never expanded upon. Vi would mention her like it was natural as breathing, only to clam up when Caitlyn questioned her. 

“Sometimes I’d get carried away and she would get scared. I didn’t want her to start crying and wake my parents up, so I pretended to chase my own monsters away. I’d say, ‘no monsters going to get you when I’m here.’”

The smile was gone. The air saturated with a soft kind of sadness, worn like an old baby blanket. Caitlyn could feel it seep into her. Vi spoke with love in her voice. She spoke with gentle resignation of someone who had been holding a loss for a long, long time. 

“Then a real monster showed up.” Vi said. She closed her eyes and ducked her face towards herself. “And I just ran away.”

Caitlyn reached over. She stroked Vi’s cheek. Vi clasped Caitlyn’s hand and held it to her. She looked at Caitlyn with a vulnerable sheen in her eyes. 

“I left her.” Vi admitted. “The day of the accident. Silco tried to kill Vander. I tried to stop it. Powder came and- well. It doesn’t matter. I left her and Silco showed up. Now she’s gone.”

Caitlyn stroked Vi’s hand. Vi pulled away and sat up. “That’s what happens, Cait.” She said. Vi swallowed hard, and her eyes watered. She hung her head in her hands. “I-I choose wrong. Whenever I try to do right by people. And I hurt them. If I didn’t walk away, Powder would be alive.” Vi pulled her hands to the back of her head. “Now I am hurting Vander, Mylo, Claggor, Ekko, you-“

“Hey,” Caitlyn interrupted. She sat up, wrapped her arms around Vi, and rested her chin on the nape of her neck. “You’re not hurting me, Vi.” Caitlyn sighed. “Truth is, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

They fell silent. 

Vi sat up and faced Caitlyn. They were close, practically nose to nose. Caitlyn could feel her breath ghost her cheeks. 

“Cait,” Vi said. “I don’t want to take this the wrong way. I still love you.”

Caitlyn’s heart dropped. 

“And if you don’t feel the same,” Vi started. 

Caitlyn cut her off with a kiss. 

It was exactly as Caitlyn remembered. 

Warm, sweet, addicting. 

Vi pulled away, panting. “Listen, I don’t want you to do this just because I’m fucked up about my sister-“

“Vi,” Caitlyn snapped, pulling her close till they were nose to nose. “I never stopped loving you.”

Vi glanced between Caitlyn’s eyes and lips. Her gaze flits back and forth for a moment before her lips crash into Caitlyn’s. 

All thoughts of what she has to tell Vi have fled Caitlyn’s head. 

Instead, the warmth of her arms enveloped her. 

Maddie knocked on the door. 

Vi’s father’s apartment wasn’t far from the bridge, in a lower residential part of town. 

It was a quiet street with mostly housing, sparse establishments like coffee shops, and a few other vendors. 

The building was a little run down, but tidy. No garage littering the lawn and the inside relatively clean. 

He lived on the second story towards the end of the hall in a apartment labeled 201 according to his employment records. 

Maddie wasn’t alone. Officer Davis had been sent to take Vander to the station with her. Maddie didn’t care for Davis. He was pushy and cocky, often speaking over Maddie on the few occasions they worked together. However, the Sheriff just barely allowed her request to be on the arresting team in the first place. She couldn’t push her luck by requesting Steb or someone. 

They approached the door. 

This was it. 

They were going to bring in a highly suspect culprit. 

A highly suspect culprit who happened to live with Vi.

It was a weird feeling, standing in front of the guarded woman’s house. Maddie hoped she wasn’t home. It would make things needlessly more complicated. 

Davis knocked. 

After a brief moment, a large young man with curly dark hair and a round face answered the door. 

A brief flash of surprise flashed over his face. He looked them up and down, took in their uniforms, and furrowed his brows. 

“Can I help you with something?” He asked in a gravelly voice, hazel eyes going back and forth between the two. 

Maddie cleared her throat. 

“I’m officer Nolan,” she introduced herself. “This is officer Davis. We’re looking for a Vander McNeil. We need to speak to him.”

Maddie’s eyes wondered. Behind the young man was a hallway that opened up into a few rooms, it seemed. There was a coat rack on the wall, a few pictures hung, bland gray walls and hardwood floors clean and uncluttered.

The young man frowned. He leaned on the doorframe, blocking Maddie’s view. She turned her eyes back to him. 

“What’s this about?” He asked. 

Davis raised an eyebrow. “Are you Vander McNeil?” He asked. 

The young man frowned. “Again. What is this about?”

Davis scowled. Maddie could already see his temper rise. She withheld a sigh. Out of everyone who could have been assigned to this…

“Listen here,” Davis snapped. “We’re on official order to speak to Vander McNeil, and unless you’re him or you can go get him, I suggest you move out of the way.”

The young man scoffed. “Do you have a warrant to come in here?” He asked, crossing his arms over his chest. 

Davis’s face screwed up in anger. 

“No,” Maddie quickly stepped in. She put a hand on Davis’s arm. “No, it’s nothing like that. We’re not here to cause you any problems. This is a goodwill visit.”

The young man scoffed. It was quiet, under his breath, so soft Maddie nearly missed it. 

Davis heard. 

His hand went to his belt.

“It doesn’t have to stay that way, though.” Davis threatened. 

Behind the young man appeared an older one. 

Maddie immediately recognized the face. 

Vi’s father, Vander. 

First thing Maddie noticed about him was how huge he was. Almost as tall as the door frame and nearly as broad. He had brown hair that was pushed back, a beard with flecks of silver in it, grey blue eyes that reminded her of someone else. Maddie would describe him as good looking, particularly so when you are aware of his violent history. His nose was remarkably straight with that on account. 

The second thing Maddie noticed was the look on his face. Both he and the young man had serious, almost solemn, looks on their faces. There was no guilt in the way Vander and the young man looked them up and down. It was suspicious. Suspicion of them. 

“It’s alright, Claggor.” Vander said, putting a hand on the young man, Claggor, shoulder. He pulled the man behind him, looming over Maddie and Davis effortlessly. For a man who must be approaching fifty, he was in good shape. Caitlyn had said he worked at Talis forge, which spoke to his strength. Maddie forced herself to settle. It was unnerving speaking with him, but he had not made himself a threat yet. Maddie’s job was to keep it that way. 

“Afternoon, Sir.” Maddie greeted. She swallowed. “As I said, I am officer Nolan, and this is officer Davis. We were sent here to ask you to come with us to the station to ask a few questions?”

The air changed immediately. Tension muddled the air. 

Davis clenched his jaw. 

Vander raised a brow at them. “Anything keeping you from asking them here?” He asked. He had an accent that Maddie couldn’t quite pin. 

Davis went over the edge. 

He slammed his fist into the door frame to prove- what? That he was a threat? That he was stupid? Maddie wasn’t sure what he was trying to accomplish- and growled. 

“You can either get the fuck out,” Davis said through gritted teeth, on edge and patience out the window, “and come with us, or we will have to make you.”

“You can’t do that-“ Claggor argued. Davis sneered at him. 

“You wanna bet?” Davis pressed. 

Maddie had enough. She wasn’t going to risk a fight because Davis decided it was high time he got into a pissing contest. 

“Officer Davis!” Maddie interrupted, sharply. Davis turned to her, nasty glare on his face. Maddie met him with a hard look of her own. Let me handle this before you ruin it, it said. Davis contorted his face. Ultimately, he pushed himself back in step with Maddie, tongue firmly bitten. 

Maddie turned back to Vander, who’s face remained impassive. 

“You aren’t in trouble,” Maddie fibbed. He technically wasn’t until the Sheriff decided to press charges. “It’s in regards to Jayce Talis.”

At the name, Vander’s eyebrows raised in surprise. Maddie could sense she was onto something. She continued. “-it’s a sensitive matter and needs to be discussed at the station. We’d appreciate it greatly if you came.”

There was a pause. 

Vander and Claggor exchanged a look. Claggor, almost imperceptibly, shook his head. Vander watched him a moment before jerking his head towards the inside of their apartment. 

The worry on Claggor’s face gnawed at Maddie. He seemed… not afraid, but concerned. Whether it was because he knewsomething or another reason entirely, Maddie couldn’t make out. 

Vander clasped Claggor on the shoulder and stepped out of the apartment 

 “I suppose I can’t refuse.” He said wryly.

With one last look, Claggor closed the door behind her. 

There was weariness in Vander’s stance, in his expression, like he had done this song and dance a hundred times before. 

The records seemed to suggest he had. 

Why would he work with his daughter’s killer?

The question blinked to the front of Maddie’s mind. 

She stepped aside, falling behind Vander as Davis led them out. 

The feeling Maddie was missing something twinged in her gut. It warned her she was making a wrong call. 

Whether the wrong call was finding Vander guilty or questioning his guilt at all remained to be seen. 

Maddie shook her head and exited with the two men. 

They would get to the bottom of this at the station. 

The forge was emptier than usual.

They were short staffed. 

Jayce didn’t think it would feel as off as it did, knowing what he knew. 

Jayce worked the forge, trying to take his mind off of everything. 

He nearly blew himself up earlier, trying to take apart the grenade Marcus gave him. He couldn’t stop his thoughts of Heimerdinger and just focus. 

 Heimerdinger had believed in Jayce since his entry to the academy, and Jayce just left him in the dust. 

Someone Jayce had known for years, an employee at his family’s business, secretly had ties to a gang the entire time. 

Viktor, turning away from him to ask how long he had in a resigned voice. 

Everything was off. 

The fire warmed Jayce’s skin, almost uncomfortably. Jayce welcomed it. Behind him, steam squealed.

A nut went barreling across the room, arcing down and thudding onto the ground. 

“Hammer work is such a delicate art.” A teasing, warm voice came from the dark. 

Mel. 

Jayce turned to face her. She looked ethereal, outlined in a warm glow from the surrounding fires. 

Jayce was suddenly very aware he was shirtless, dirty, and sweaty. Great. 

“How did you find me?” He asked, swallowing his embarrassment at his appearance back. 

Mel approached him, gliding towards him dressed in white. “You’re the de facto head of the council,” she replied. Jayce wiped his brow, pushing sweaty strands of hair back. “People notice where you go.”

Jayce scoffed. “Don’t remind me.” He said. 

He had barely a moment to himself since getting that chair. 

Mel peered around the room. She approached his work bench, caressing it with a manicured finger. She caught sight of the grenade and raised a brow. 

Jayce picked it up and showed her. “Marcus brought this to me.” He said. “It’s an explosive. Tried taking it apart, and it nearly killed me. Whoever built it knows exactly what they’re doing. Between shimmer and this, who knows what these people are capable of?”

Mel leveled him with a look. It was hard to meet. She seemed to peel back his layers and look directly into his mind. Jayce turned, uncomfortable. 

“Is that what’s really bothering you?” Mel asked. Of course she knew. He couldn’t seem to hide anything from Mel. Jayce didn’t know whether to worry about this development or to be relieved he didn’t have to hide anything from her. 

“He was my mentor, Mel,” Jayce admitted. “And I betrayed him.” 

“Everything you said about him was true,” Mel consoled him. She approached him, putting her hands on his hips and resting her head on his back for a moment. “My family cast me out and yet a part of me still loves them. Heimerdinger will understand eventually.”

Jayce struggled for a moment until he opened his mouth again. “It’s not just that.” He said. He turned to her and gestured to the grenade. “Someone I know may have ties to this. I turned over everything I knew to the sheriff.” Jayce sighed. “I just don’t know if I’m making the right call, Mel. About the robbery, about Heimerdinger, about hextech. What if I’m making a huge mistake?”

Mel put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s your time, Jayce.” She said firmly. “No more red tape. No more second guessing. You will get the hexgem returned to you. You will give hextech to the masses, like you always dreamed of. And,” she paused. Her hand slid down his arm to hold his wrist instead. “You will save Viktor. Where is he?”

Jayce shook his head. “I don’t know.” He admitted. “He disappeared. He does that sometimes. And Caitlyn hasn’t replied to my message yet.”

“The Kiramman girl?” Mel asked. 

Jayce sighed. “It’s just- “he stopped. How the hell was he supposed to explain Caitlyn arresting her ex girlfriend’s father to Mel? He thought about it for two seconds before deciding he simply wouldn’t. “Nevermind.” 

“Hey,” Mel said, cupping his cheek. She turned his face to look at her. “We’ll get through this. I’ll stall the council, but they’ll soon need their leader. In the meantime…”

She leaned forward. Jayce followed her, answering the siren’s call that was her lips. Just before he kissed her, she shoved the bolt into his chest. “Try not to lose your nuts,” Mel said, a sly smile curling up. 

She glided out of the room, looking over one last time to throw Jayce a smile before leaving. 

With her, the reassurance she had draped over Jayce evaporated. 

Weariness blanketed itself around him. 

He looked at the bolt in his hand and sighed, fingers wrapping around it in contemplation. 

He was left in the dark, thinking thoughts of whether Mel was right to believe in him. 

Caitlyn was propped on her side, tracing over the tattoos on Vi’s bare back. 

She loved Vi’s tattoos.

Their intricate machine-like design spanned from her shoulders to her arms, all the way down to her lower back. A gear crept up her neck and it was Caitlyn’s favorite spot to kiss. 

Vi hummed a content noise. 

She had one eye cracked open as she watched Caitlyn. 

They had forgone any blanket to cover themselves with. Caitlyn enjoyed the unobstructed view. 

She had missed this. Quiet moments of intimacy. The post sex hazy glow where everything was wonderful, and the world was right. She wouldn’t tell Vi for fear of what it would do to her ego, but she had yet to find something else in life that had the same mind melting effect. Caitlyn was still Caitlyn, she was just a Caitlyn that no longer had worries or stress, or really any thoughts beyond the stunning woman in front of her. Caitlyn liked post Vi sex Caitlyn. She was a relaxed,calm and centered person. 

Caitlyn trailed down further to the tail of Vi’s spine. Her eyes wandered down, down, down. 

She eyed her ass, her thighs, her calves…

Caitlyn squinted. There was something new there. 

Dark ink tracing the inner part of Vi’s leg. Caitlyn reached down to touch. 

“Is this new?” Caitlyn asked. 

Vi rolled over, sat up, and propped her leg open to give Caitlyn a better view. “Yeah,” she said, voice husky. “I got this maybe three months ago? Right before my arrest. It’s a little more color, I know-“

Caitlyn couldn’t hear her. 

Upon full access to the new image, she froze. 

A stylized monkey stared back at her, black lines overlapping with blue and purple. 

Caitlyn jumped up, not a stitch of clothing on, and away from Vi.

Vi blinked at her, confused. 

“What is that?” Caitlyn demanded, pointing an accusing finger at the tattoo. Vi frowned. She looked at Caitlyn like she was soft in the head. 

“It’s a fucking monkey.” Vi said. She raised a brow and gave Caitlyn an exasperated look. “Clearly.” 

Caitlyn fumbled for her clothes. She shoved things on backwards, inside out, just to feel a little more covered. 

“Cait, what the hell-“

“Why do you have that tattooed?!” Caitlyn demanded. “What does it mean?!”

Vi narrowed her eyes. She scowled at Caitlyn, straightening her leg to hide the tattoo. 

“It’s a powder monkey,” Vi said, contempt dripping from her voice.  “My dead sister, Powder, loved them. She actually drew this one.”

No. 

No, no, no. 

None of this made sense. 

Caitlyn’s chest tightened, and she put the heel of her hands into her eyes, desperate not to spiral into a panic. 

“But why is it tattooed on your body?” Caitlyn pressed. 

“Because my dead sister drew it! What difference does it make, what are you doing? Why are you freaking out?” Vi demanded. 

Caitlyn half choked, half sobbed. “Your dead sister?” Caitlyn asked, voice going up. “Your dead sister drew it?”

“Yeah! What about that is confusing, Caitlyn?” Vi snipped. “This is really starting to piss me off, what the hell is your problem?-“

Caitlyn threw her hands into the air. 

“My problem?!” Caitlyn gasped. She booked it towards her things, grabbing her book of evidence, and rapidly finding the page. “My problem is this, Vi! Tell me what it looks like!”

Vi glared at Caitlyn before snatching the book. 

She froze as soon as her eyes landed on the monkey. 

“Where did you get this?” Vi murmured. 

“From the crime scene!” Caitlyn exclaimed. “That’s what we were looking for in the Undercity, the robbery I’m investigating had this monkey and this- “Caitlyn hurried to flip the page. She jabbed her finger at the graffiti shown in Jayce’s lab the day of the robbery. “This. They were done by someone who was at the scene of the crime. Someone wedecided was working for Silco.”

Vi’s face had lost its color. She stared at the pictures, flipping between them over and over. She covered her mouth.  

“This is impossible…” Vi muttered. “There is no fucking way. This is Powder.” She couldn’t tear her eyes away. 

Dawning horror crawled over Caitlyn. 

“Your father has a matching tattoo.” Caitlyn said. 

VI’s head snapped up. “How did you-?”

“Jayce Talis saw. He, he thinks your father has a connection to the crime, there was a meeting with Marcus-“ Caitlyn stumbled, trying to explain. Vi threw the book aside, expression murderous. 

“You had a meeting with the sheriff about my dad?! What the fuck Cait!” 

Caitlyn pulled her hair back. “I messed up. Vi, I’m sorry, I fucked this up.” Caitlyn apologized. “I had meant to tell you that your father was under suspicion, but then we, er, got to talking-“

“You did fuck this up, Cait!” Vi hissed, standing. She faced Caitlyn, fully nude and enraged. “That should have come first, before anything else-“

“I’m sorry!” Caitlyn apologized. “I am! Vi, I am really sorry. I can fix this. We have to go, now, to try to fix this.”

“You bet we fucking do,” Vi said. A hysterical laugh bubbled up. “My sister could be alive.”

Without any warning, Vi threw her arms around Caitlyn. She sagged, like the weight of the world was just lifted off her shoulders. “Powder could be alive… Caitlyn, I don’t even know…”

Caitlyn held her tight. She would make this right. There was no other option. 

The interrogation room was uncomfortable in its silence. 

Maddie stood, politely looking away, while Vander sat in cuffs. 

Nobody believed it when he was told it was ‘standard protocol’.

The quiet was heavy. Borderline unbearable. 

The uneasy feeling in Maddie’s gut had doubled since they had left the apartment. 

She had faith in herself. In her abilities. In Caitlyn’s abilities. The connection to the crime was clear as day. It should be cut and dry. 

But what about Caitlyn? What about her doubts? Wasn’t she the one who made Maddie second guess this whole thing in the first place?

The longer she sat in the room with Vander, the less clear her head became. 

He was unreadable. He had calmly followed procedures without complaint. Without any sound at all, actually. Nothing he did strengthened or weakened Maddie’s resolve in his guilt. He was completely neutral the whole time, a steady hand and calm of resigned expression on his face. 

It was burning Maddie. 

The need for validation that she was overthinking. She wanted to speak to Caitlyn, see if she had found any clarity. Maddie didn’t enjoy feeling so dependent on someone else for an answer, but since leaving Caitlyn last, the feeling of her being out of her depth has only increased. 

Maddie was alone in her thoughts, with nothing but the soft sounds of breathing accompanying her. 

Enough. 

“I didn’t mention,” Maddie finally said. “But we know someone in common.”

Vander finally looked up. 

Maddie swallowed. She had said the first thing that came to mind. And that was Vi. Vi and her relationship with the man in front of her. They didn’t look much alike for being father daughter. Maybe the eyes Maddie could see, or the broadness in Vi’s shoulders. She never would have picked the two of them out as being related in a lineup. 

“I am a friend of Caitlyn’s. Caitlyn Kiramman.” Maddie continued. Her mouth felt dry and her words felt stupid and slow coming off her tongue. “She introduced me to Vi.” 

Vander’s brow twitched. Steely absence of a reaction all day, but the mention of Vi is what gets a reaction. 

Maddie cleared her throat. “She’s very brave.” She finished. “Has a good heart.”

Vander tapped a finger against the table. He looked up at Maddie. After a moment’s consideration, he replied. 

“You don’t know the half of it.” Vander said. 

They lapsed back into silence. 

Maddie turned her eyes away from him, confining herself to her conflicted thoughts. 

The entire way to station Vi was shaking. 

All her thoughts were taken up with Powder. 

She could be out there, right now, with no idea that her big sister was looking for her.

God, did Powder think she was dead? 

Had she been thinking that,all this time?

Where had she been? Where was she that her drawings were all over a crime scene?

Vi’s mind raced. 

They approached the building. 

Getting in was easy. 

Nobody second guessed Caitlyn, and therefore didn’t second guess Vi. 

Caitlyn spoke to a few people. She asked after the sheriff. She asked after Vander. 

“Second interrogation room.” A blur of a person told her. Caitlyn nodded and they were off. 

They went deeper into the building. 

“When we get to Marcus, we’ll explain everything.” Caitlyn said. She frowned, expression serious. “He can help us find out what happened to your sister.” 

Vi stopped in the middle of the hall. 

Caitlyn took two steps without her before realizing. 

“Vi?” she questioned. 

Vi shook her head. Her heart thudded. “I need to talk to Vander first.” She said. 

Cait’s frown grew. “Vi, I know you’re worried, but-“

“It’s not about worry.” Vi interrupted. “I need to talk to him. He has to know.”

“We can tell him after,” Caitlyn soothed. She reached towards Vi, but she took a step back. 

“No, not after, now.” Vi insisted. “My sister is alive, Cait. He wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you, you owe me.”

Caitlyn sighed. She looked down, thinking face on. “Ok.” She said after a moment. “You’re right. Ok. I can figure this out.”

They stood, looking like assholes, standing in the hall while Caitlyn’s brilliant mind whirred. 

“I’ll just sneak you in,” Caitlyn said. She looked unsure, but her voice was steady. “I’ll stand in the hall so you two can talk in peace. When you’re done, we’ll go over to Marcus’s office and figure everything out. We’ll tell him we have new evidence.”

Vi raised a brow. “Do we have new evidence?” she asked. 

“Well no,” Cait replied. “Not yet. But we will by the time we walk in there.”

There was the Caitlyn Confidence Vi knew.

Vi nodded. “Ok.” She said. “Let’s do this.”

Caitlyn led Vi to the interview rooms. She stood at the end of the hall, nodding to the door second to the left. “He’ll be in there.” Caitlyn said. “If anything happens, pretend you’re with me.”

“I am with you.” Vi said. 

“Professionally.” Caitlyn corrected. “You’re with me on the job.”

Vi nodded. 

She went to the correct door and opened it. 

Inside was a white room, with bright lights, and a table welded to the floor. 

Vander was cuffed to it, staring down at his hands, clearly thinking. The sight made Vi’s blood boil. 

Before her temper got the better of her, something shocked her out of her anger. 

“Maddie?” Vi balked at the sight of the woman in the corner, watching Vander like a hawk. 

Both Maddie and Vander looked up at Vi. 

“Vi?” Maddie said, blinking at her like she would disappear. 

“What are you doing here?” Vander immediately questioned. 

“I’m here to get you out,” Vi said. She stepped towards her father. “There’s been a mistake, you didn’t do what they accused you of.”

“They haven’t accused me of anything, Vi.” Vander corrected. He sighed. “Not yet. Get out of here before you get in trouble. Who let you in here?”

“Caitlyn.” Maddie and Vi answered at the same time. 

Vi scowled at Maddie. Butt out, Vi thought. 

Vander ignored her. “They haven’t told me what they have me here for.” Vander said. “If I try and leave now, they’ll assume guilt.”

“They’ll assume guilt anyways,” Vi shot back. Vander just sighed. “Vander,” Vi pressed. “They arrested you because of the stupid tattoo we got together. They think it’s a gang symbol.”

Vander squinted at her. “Powder’s monkey?” He said. 

Vi rolled her eyes. “Yeah,” she said. “Fuckin’ boy wonder saw your tattoo and saw the same picture at this robbery that happened at hexlabs or whatever. They connected the monkey to Silco because obviously it was Silco, and now think you’re in a fan or something.”

Vander looked as confused as Vi felt. So did Maddie for that matter. 

“Why would Powder’s monkey drawing be at a robbery?” Vander asked. 

Vi gave a shaky laugh. She looked at Vander and couldn’t help it. She smiled. 

“Vander, I think she’s alive.” Vi rushed out. 

Vander eyes widened. 

“I’m sorry, who?” Maddie asked. 

Vi shot her a glare. “Powder.” Vi said. “Dead sister. Drawer of monkeys. Keep up, shortcake.”

Maddie shook her head. “I’m going to need you to slow down,” Maddie said. “And explain a few things.”

VI’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation.” Vi replied. 

“Vi-“ Vander warned. 

Before the argument could go any farther, two enforcers entered. 

They were both young men, taller then Vi but not considerably, both thinnish and unremarkable in their uniforms. 

Both surveyed the room. 

One looked surprised to see Vi and oddly enough, surprised to see Maddie. He quickly schooled his face. 

“We’re here to take over. Who is this?” Enforcer two said, gesturing to Vi. 

“I’m with Maddie. I mean, officer Nolan.” Vi quickly lied. Both officers looked at her blankly. “Training.” Vi clarified. 

Maddie glared at Vi, but didn’t correct her. 

“You’ve been reassigned. You and your boot need to get out.” Enforcer one said. 

Maddie frowned. “I didn’t hear anything about this.”

“Plans have changed. Get out before I make you.” Enforcer two threaded. 

Maddie eyes both men, suspicion clear as day on her face. After a pause, Maddie stepped towards Vander. She leaned on the table, her hand near Vander’s cuffed one. “I have been given strict orders not to leave this room.” Maddie emphasized. “Who gave you these orders? And while you’re at it, what are your credentials?”

Both officers exchanged a glance. 

With no wanting, One stepped forward and violently hit Maddie with his baton. 

Maddie didn’t have time to yell. She crumpled to the ground, out of the fight. As she fell she uncovered what her hand had been hiding: the keys to Vanders cuffs. Right in his reach. 

Vi seemed to realize this the same time as One. 

With a grunt of effort, Vi sprinted and punched the man. 

He flew back, nose spouting blood like a fountain. 

Two raised a pistol and aimed it at Vander. 

Vander, now uncuffed, sidestepped the shot without a second to lose. 

Vi stepped forward, grabbing Two by the wrist and twisting painfully. He dropped the gun, but landed a hit to VI’s stomach. 

One recovered from her hit earlier, going to grab the gun, only to have Vander’s massive arm pin him into a choke hold. 

Caitlyn and a third officer burst into the room. 

Vi used the distraction to headbutt Two once, twice, three times. The man crumpled to the floor like aluminum. Fucking ametour. 

Three rose a baton to Vi, only for Caitlyn stomp on his heel, forcing him to fall to his knee, swipe his tazor, and turn it on him. 

Three also fell to the floor. 

It was about this time Vander dropped One, breathing but out, onto the floor. 

They stood panting, looking at the three men who had been sent to kill Vander and failed spectacularly. 

A twinge of guilt crossed Caitlyn’s face when she saw Maddie. 

“It wasn’t her.” Vi told her. Thought it was important to tell her. “She tried to help.”

Cait took a deep breath and nodded. 

“We need to get out of here.” Caitlyn said. “We don’t know who’s orders this was on. Neither of you are safe here.”

Vi and Vander both nodded. 

“Any ideas where to go?” Vander asked, raising a brow at Caitlyn. 

After a moment of consideration, Caitlyn nodded. “I know just the man for the job.”

Chapter Text

Jayce was not expecting his reply from Caitlyn to be sent from Talis Forge. 

Emergency, it read. Come immediately to forge. I need your help. Signed Sprout. 

He didn’t doubt it was Caitlyn. She would only sign off as the childhood nickname of it really was an emergency. 

He rushed over immediately. 

Anxiety churned in his gut when he entered.

Jayce strode through the low lighting and heat, trying in vain to settle his nerves.

Was she hurt? Afraid? What had gone wrong?

It didn’t take long to find Caitlyn.

She wasn’t alone.

Next to her stood Vander, and next to him was heavily tattooed young woman who, judging by the face tattoo, must be Caitlyn’s on and off again flame Vi. 

Jayce swallowed. Conflicting thoughts ran through his mind.

Either everything was about to go very, very wrong or Caitlyn had new information.

First, priorities. 

“Caitlyn, are you alright?” Jayce asked, stepping forward.

Caitlyn rushed to meet him. She grabbed his forearm. “We were wrong about the tattoo.” She tightened her grasp on Jayce’s arm and pulled him to where the others were standing. “Someone tried to kill Vander at the station. We need somewhere to hide until we can find out who’s behind it.”

Jayce nearly tripped over his own feet. Startled,he looked at Vander. “Someone tried to kill you?” Jayce asked. He looked back at Caitlyn. Her expression offered no answer to the questions now piling up. “Tattoo? Cait, I don’t understand- what is she doing here?”

Jayce gestured to Vi. It wasn’t a hostile question. He kept looking over at the woman and trying to picture why she was involved at all. 

“Hey,” Vi said, nodding to him where she leaned up against his workbench, like she owned the place. “I’m Vi.”

“I caught that.” Jayce replied wryly. 

She nodded towards Vander. “You know my dad.” She replied. 

Jayce glanced at Vander. The man wasn’t looking at him. All eyes were on to Vi. They didn’t look much alike, Jayce noted, except in their stance and similar grey eyes. He wouldn’t have pieced together their relation if Caitlyn hadn’t said something first. 

“I do.” Jayce confirmed. 

“And I hear you know about my sister?” Vi pressed. 

Sister?

Jayce recalled his last conversation with Vander. Jayce knows the only other daughter he has is dead. 

Jayce looked at Vi. Looked at Cait. Looked at Vi. 

“I give up.” Jayce said, putting his arms up in surrender. “I surrender. Caitlyn, please explain.”

Caitlyn launched into the story. 

She had Vi come with her to the Undercity as a guide. 

Right, Jayce thought. That made a certain amount of sense. 

The monkey tattoo isn’t a gang symbol, it’s in memoriam to Vander’s youngest daughter, Powder. 

How the monkey got onto the crime scene, they don’t have any evidence to prove one thing or another. 

The current theory is Powder could be alive and somehow be mixed up in Silco’s crimes. 

How?

They weren’t sure about that. 

Someone tried to kill Vander, and if building off of what they already know, Silco is the most likely candidate for calling the hit. How deep the corruption ran? 

They didn’t know that, either. 

 Jayce felt like he had run a mile by the time they were finished. 

“Silco must be holding her captive,” Vi insisted, fist balling up. “He has to know she’s leverage.”

“We don’t know what Silco is doing.” Vander reminded her, a weary look on his face. Vi huffed, scowling, and began to pace. 

She spun to face her father. “What other explanation is there?” She demanded. “Her graffiti is on the crime scene! Powder would never hurt anyone. ”

Vander shook his head at Vi. “And what kind of leverage is she to them, ey?” Vander asked, gesturing to Caitlyn and Jayce. “They don’t care about her. Why have her leave the tag where they can see it?”

Vi leveled her father with a glare and opened her mouth to argue. 

Caitlyn stepped forward, putting her hand on Vi’s chest. 

“The enforcers will be looking for you,” Caitlyn said. “By all appearances, we assaulted three officers and left in the middle of an investigation.”

Jayce inhaled sharply. That was another huge hurdle. The magnitude of the mess loomed over them. 

“Can’t Maddie vouch for us?” Vi asked. 

Caitlyn shrugged. “If they can be hired to kill a civilian in questioning, who’s to say they won’t suppress Maddie’s testimony?” Caitlyn replied. She leveled them all up with an eagle-like gaze. “We need to find proof. Fast. Jayce, I need your help.”

Jayce swallowed. He looked at them all, one by one. The determination in Cait’s face, the fire in Vi’s eye, and Vander…

He seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. 

“My boys,” He finally said. His shoulders had caved and his hands twitched by his sides. “We need to get them to safety.”

Vi blinked before groaning. She returned to pacing, hands on hips as she shook her head. 

“I almost forgot, Mylo and Claggor…” Vi groaned in frustration. “They have no idea about any of this.”

Great. Just great. Another wonderful hiccup, another problem that needed immediate attention. 

Jayce wrecked his brain. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his face. 

“Ok, ok!” Jayce snapped, opening his eyes. “Ok. My lab. They won’t look for any of you there. We can all just temporarily go to my lab until we can find a better place to figure things out. The only people allowed in are Viktor and Sky, and neither of them will be a problem.”

“Are you positive?” Caitlyn asked, skeptical. 

Jayce sighed. “Yeah. I’m sure. Cait, why don’t you get the brothers and I take Vi and Vander over? What’s the worst that can happen?”

Mylo tapped on some sort of metal contraption, Claggor peering over his shoulder in interest. 

Viktor glowered at their backs, arms crossed and gold eyes flashing with irritation. 

Jayce stood awkwardly next to him, hands behind his back, as the guest settled into the lab. 

Caitlyn had once again left to get the message out to Ekko, another member of Vi’s family, where they were and why. Once Ekko joined them, plans could be made. 

In the meantime, Jayce had an ass to kiss.

“I can’t thank you enough,” Jayce told Viktor in a low voice, putting a hand on the back of his chair. “I know this isn’t ideal for you.”

Viktor frowned. His eyes narrowed, but he still didn’t turn to face Jayce.

“This is horrible timing, Jayce.” Viktor said, irritated. His frown was so sharp it teetered on the edge of a scowl. He looked up at Jayce under furrowed brows. “I’m in the middle of something huge.”

“I know,” Jayce replied, glancing away from Viktor’s cutting eyes. “But this is my fault. I have to fix it.”

Viktor looked away, eyes tightening. He stayed silent. 

Guilt nagged at Jayce.

Viktor clearly wanted peace and quiet. It was against Jayce’s nature to so clearly ignore that. There wasn’t anything Jayce could do to fix it. It was something he would have to get used to. 

Jayce swallowed his questions about Viktor’s health and offers to do anything to make him less miserable about the situation. Instead, he said, “Can we take a look at this grenade? Together? Since we won’t be able to get real work done?” 

He held out the grenade. 

Viktor glanced from the side before finally turning, intrigued. He took the weapon from Jayce’s hands. 

“I was thinking I could ask Councilor Medarda to come, and we can tell her what we find together.” Jayce added hopefully. 

Viktor nodded absentmindedly. The conversation had ended as soon as Jayce had handed him something interesting. He clapped Viktor on the shoulder and moved away. 

Before he left, there was one thing he wanted to do. 

Jayce approached Vander. He hadn’t a lot of time to think of what he wanted to say, but Jayce’s mother always taught him apologies were best from the heart, anyway. The older man leaned up against the wall, watching his children poke around the lab, looking significantly more relaxed now that the two young men had joined them. 

“Vander?” Jayce asked, coming to a stop. “Do you have a moment?”

Vander looked up at him. He raised an eyebrow, appraising him for a moment, before turning back to his kids and nodding. 

Jayce stepped closer. “I just wanted to apologize, again, for the trouble. This was completely my fault.”

Vander shrugged. “Not all bad.” Vander said. 

Jayce’s brow furrowed. “How’s that?” He asked. 

Vander glanced at Jayce. “Now I know Powder’s out there.” He said. “Wouldn’t have found out otherwise.”

Jayce nodded. Something in his brain itched. A question that remained unanswered. “How…” Jayce started. He swallowed. “How were you unsure? Before? I mean, didn’t you…” Jayce trailed off. 

Vander’s face turned grim. “Never saw her body.” Vander replied. “Just the blood.”

Shame washed over Jayce. It wasn’t his place to ask. He swallowed back any other curiosity. Instead he said, “Still. I owe you. If you ever need anything, I’d be happy to help.”

Jayce held out a card with his address. 

Without glancing at him, Vander took it. 

Jayce nodded. 

“I’ll be back soon.” He said before turning to leave. 

“So she’s really alive, then?” Mylo said. 

The three siblings sat huddled together while Vander pretended to be interested in something written on a blackboard.

That Viktor guy, Jayce’s partner, was tinkering with something at his desk. Vi thought he genuinely could not give a shit about what they were doing.

“I can’t think of another reason her handwriting is all over the crime scene.” Vi replied. 

Mylo nodded, looking at his shoes, deep in thought. 

“You’re sure?” Claggor said, voice dry and expression pained. “It couldn’t have just looked like Powder’s doodles?”

Vi shook her head firmly. “I have that same monkey tattooed, Claggor, I’m sure.”

Claggor sighed. His shoulders dropped, like a weight had been lifted. “Well, what do we do now?”

Vi looked around. Vander was still giving them privacy and Viktor was still not giving a shit. 

“We look for her,” Vi replied in a low voice. “Obviously.”

Claggor closed his arms and leaned back against the wall. His expression was subdued and his gaze unfocused, like he was lost in thought. “How is she even alive?”

Vi frowned and looked away. 

That was the question. 

How did Powder survive? 

Was she alone or did she have help? How did she end up on the scene of a crime, one that Vi didn’t doubt for a second was Silco’s doing? 

“Doesn’t matter.” Mylo interrupted. He looked at Vi and Claggor, something fierce sparking in his eyes. “Whatever happened, happened. We’ve all been through shit. What actually matters is finding her and being there now.”

Affection for Mylo welled up in her chest. She smiled softly and threw her arm around his shoulder. “And we will be,” Vi promised. 

A smile twitched on Mylo’s face. He playfully shoved her off and rolled his eyes like he didn’t care for the validation. Vi knocked her shoulder into his and his smile became real. 

Even Claggor seemed less weary. 

“What do you think she’ll be like?” Claggor said, hope crawling into his voice. 

Vi tried to picture it. Powder, but grown up. Vi imagined she looked like Mom. She pictured her with a gap still in her smile, freckles across her nose, and sweet round eyes. It was hard to imagine what might be different. If she cut her hair short or grew it long. Stayed scrawny or gained mass. If she was Vi’s height or still the littler sister in every way. 

Mylo shrugged. “I don’t care.” He said. “She’ll be Powder, I’m sure.”