Hey guys! I just wanted to start off first by apologizing, I know I said I’d have another chapter for you last week but things have been a little hectic lately and life just kind of gets in the way you know? That being said I’ve also been busy working on other personal projects and have found that some of my creativity for this fic to be a little slow - and the last thing I want to do is post anything on here that isn’t up to par with the other chapters. But I promise to try my best to get some out for you this week.
Some good news though, I finally have this fic up on AO3! So if you’re still interested it’s under the same name MostlyWritersBlock and this story is officially called, Don’t Cry. You’re Perfect.
Aftermath is also up on AO3
Thank you all so much for your patience and for even giving this fic a chance, it means a lot to me that you guys are enjoying this story as much as I am (or I hope that you are) anyway, see you all soon! <3
Author’s Note: So this is going to be kind like a sequel to my Arcane ff, but posting at the same time. This is a Silco centered fic about SPOILERS IF YOU CONTINUE
if he secretly survived at the end but everyone believed he didn’t, (kind of like how Jinx was slowly dying but Silco brought her to the lab and saved her)
Takes place immediately after ep 9.
ps: I just wanted to say to all of you who have commented, tagged, or anything on my arcane ff or this one - that I really appreciate it and that it brightens my day to read all of your thoughts. Thank you <3
Part 2.
Part 1
I wake up to the sounds of the silence that allows
For my mind to run around, with my ear up to the ground
I'm searching to behold the stories that are told
When my back is to the world that was smiling when I turned
Tell you you're the greatest
…But once you turn, they hate us
Oh, the misery
Everybody wants to be my enemy
Spare the sympathy
Everybody wants to be my enemy…
My enemy.
But I'm ready
Pray it away, I swear I'll never be a saint, no way
My enemy.
Pray it away, I swear I'll never be a saint
Look
out
for
yourself
.
.
.
He awoke with a start, a light blinding him instantly. For a moment he considered that perhaps Vander had lied to him, perhaps he had sent him to the other side, permanently. But then he felt cold metal under him and as his eyes slowly adjusted he realized he was in a dimly lit room. Save for the bright lamp above him.
Distantly he thought he could hear soft voices around him.
Straining to see better he tried to turn his head, but found that his neck wouldn’t respond. Confused, he thought to lift an arm.
Nothing.
Suddenly panicking he tried his damndest to do anything but it was as if he were frozen. Amidst this realization he heard footsteps rapidly approaching.
“He’s waking up!”
“Doc-?”
“This isn’t good, he’s not ready - be a dear, hand me that will you?”
“This?”
Silco felt a small pinch in his arm, then watched helplessly as a darkness crept in around him. There was a faint ringing in his ears as his mind slipped back into unconsciousness.
=========================================
When he came to this time he was no longer on cold, hard metal, but rather a warm bed.
Glancing around he also found that he had regained the use of his body. Good.
Straining to sit up, Silco immediately regretted this decision as his chest and abdomen began to ache.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” A voice said to his left. Shifting slowly to look he was met with the weary face of ‘Singed’.
“Hello again.” The alchemist said, moving around the bed.
Silco narrowed his eye as he watched him approach.
“To be honest I didn’t think I’d be seeing you so soon. However, under the - unfortunate circumstance taken place - I suppose you had little choice.”
Silco stared.
“I’m speaking of your death of course.” He continued, stopping a few feet away. Silco’s eyes widened. He knew. But to hear it out loud…
“For approximately eight minutes to be exact.”
Silco startled, “eight-?”
“Mmmm, and for that reason alone, I’d like to run some cognitive test. So far there doesn’t seem to be any speech impediment, so let’s try out your motor skills next.”
Affronted, Silco snarled, “I’m not one of your experiments-!”
“Actually, as of a few days ago, you are.”
That was news to him, just what the hell had happened?
“What are you talking about.” Silco said evenly, trying not to let his nerves get to him.
He tried to move away from Singed as the man stepped closer, but the aching in his chest suddenly turned sharp. He let out a hiss as he froze all movement, his head feeling dizzy and heart pounding.
Singed blinked at him, “I did try to warn you.”
“What did you do to me?” He growled lowly, he felt very much like a cornered animal.
“Look, if you keep moving like that I’m going to have to sedate you-“
“Like hell you are!”
Silco managed to scoot out of the man’s grasp, just as the door on the far side of the room slammed open.
“Hey! What is going on in here?” Sevika questioned as she limped in. Both men turned to her.
Silco immediately took stock of her appearance…she’d definitely looked better. It wasn’t often someone got the upper hand on her, the bruising on her face evidence enough. Her arm was different too.
Singed spoke first. “Just trying to run some cognitive test, all standard I assure you, I need to make sure there wasn’t any brain damage in the time -” he faced Silco again, “-that your heart stopped pumping and your oxygen ran out.”
Silco simply glared at him, the pain in his chest not lessening.
“You.” Sevika pointed toward Singed, “get out, you can run your little test later, he and I need to talk.”
Singed looked between the two of them, shrugged and made his way towards the door.
Sevika waited until he’d gone before stepping closer. Silco was suddenly staring at his body, just now realizing his entire torso was bandaged. Shit
Hesitantly she approached, stopping a few feet away.
“Sir?”
He glanced up at her, his breathing coming in quick successions.
“Sir, I know this is hard to understand, and I’ll do my best to explain everything that happened-“
“Jinx, where is she?”
Sevika made a face that could only be described as her eating a lemon.
“I don’t know, sir.”
Silco’s gaze sharpened. “You don’t know.”
“She’s missing - or hiding, either way we don’t want to find her.”
“I do.” He snapped, leaning back on a pillow slightly. Then quietly, almost to himself, “I have to…she needs me.”
Sevika didn’t say anything to that, rather she drug a chair over to the side of the bed and sat down.
“…How are you feeling?” She asked, looking over him critically.
“I’m fine,” he mumbled, settling back onto the bed, the pain finally letting up. “I need you to find Jinx, send everyone you can-“
“I can’t do that.”
There was a sudden tension in the air.
“Why. Not.” Silco asked, glancing at her from the corner of his good eye.
“Because you and I both know that if Jinx doesn’t want to be found, she won’t. And because I can’t waste what help we have left.” She let out a deep sigh, leaning forward she crossed her arms.
“We’re at war, Silco, with Piltover.”
He knew this, but stayed silent.
“Jinx…she caused it. She blew the council sky high, and now - now we’re all paying the price for it.”
“She attacked the council?” He asked, playing dumb.
“Bombed it more like, I hear they’re still digging people out from the rubble.”
“Do they know it was her?”
Again, Sevika made that lemon face. “She was seen firing at them, by her own sister no less…So yeah, they know it was her, and they’ve been looking for her for the past week.”
Silco let out an indignant huff, “of course she would tell them.”
Sevika raised a brow. “Funnily enough, Jinx’s last known location happened to be where we found you.”
He narrowed his eyes, “so you are tracking her then.”
“I was tracking you.” She pinned him with a look.
Silco met her knowing gaze. She shook her head, taking in a deep breath.
“…just…tell me it was an enforcer - or hell, that her sister did this to you…anyone but Jinx.”
He glanced away. Sevika was on her feet in the next moment, pacing, her composure slipping by the wayside.
“Why-“
“It was an accident.” Or he hopped it had been…Jinx’d certainly seemed regretful after the fact.
“Oh, it was an accident that she killed you?” Sevika hissed, gesturing toward him.
“I’m not dead, and you weren’t there, she was confused…”
“Confused about what - exactly? About how gun safety works, because clearly she missed training considering the amount of lead we pulled out of you.”
“Sevika.” Silco sighed out in warning.
“I don’t - understand why you’re defending her.” She said, pinching the bridge of her nose, but paused in her fury.
Reining it back in she stood a foot away from him.
“…Sir. I know you want to find Jinx, but right now we have bigger priorities -“
Something inside him snapped.
“Nothing! Is more important to me than Jinx.” He spat out. “I have to find her.”
Pushing himself back up he made to stand, casting her a glance “Even if I have to do it myself.”
Sevika stepped forward, not at all surprised by his outburst. “Sir, you’re in no condition -“
“I’m fine.”
“You aren’t.”
“Sevika, if you don’t get out of my way-“
“You’ll what?” She said folding her arms. It was as good a challenge as any.
Silco narrowed his eyes.
“Listen to me, please. Sir, you can’t -“ She sighed out.
“Move. Now.” He growled out, threateningly.
“What’s your plan anyway,” she asked, ignoring him. “Say you manage to make it out of here without passing out, you’re going to - what? Limp your way through the city? What if someone recognizes you? What if an enforcer catches you?” Shrugging, she took a cautious step forward.
“What good are you to anyone dead. What good are you to Jinx then?”
she’s got a point, a voice sounding vaguely like Vander said in his head.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, he realized he was shaking slightly. Whether it was from the anger or his injuries he wasn’t sure.
Sevika moved closer still, “you won’t be helping anyone if you leave. Especially yourse-”
“You worry about you, Sevika, and I’ll worry about me. I told you, I’m fine.” He snapped, still working up the energy to fully stand.
“Right. Because it isn’t my job to worry about you.” She dead panned. Silco shot her another warning look.
“Keep talking like that and see if you still have one.” He hissed, his fuse growing ever shorter.
She scoffed. “Please, you would still be dead if it weren’t for me!”
It was a low blow, but honestly she didn’t care at the moment.
He let out a dark chuckle, expression turning cruel. “Oh? Am I supposed to be grateful? After all, weren’t you just doing your fucking job?”
Another low blow.
It was small, but he saw her fist clench.
“What’s that you’re always saying about loyalty? That it has to be earned, not given freely? Remind me again how Jinx has your loyalty, how she’s earned anything.” Sevika spat back.
Silco felt his control slipping, suddenly lunging forward. “Jinx isn’t-!”
The world turned sideways.
Feeling himself begin to fall, he braced for impact.
But the floor never came.
There was a soft grunt as he crashed into strong arms, Sevika catching him.
Carefully, she sat him back onto the edge of the bed.
“With all due respect, sir. You’re a fool.” She mumbled, the tension in the air melting away slightly.
Despite still feeling dizzy, he couldn't help the dark smirk that arose from her comment. “Then maybe you should have let me fall.”
Sevika watched him, still close by. “Maybe,” her own smirk forming, “…but then maybe I’d be out of a job.”
Squeezing his eye shut, he put a hand to his head. He was beginning to feel nauseous now. Sevika seemed to notice the shift in mood.
“Should I get the doctor-“
“No!” He quickly said, eye shooting open. “No…I’m fine, just give me a moment.”
Slowly she moved away, sitting back down in the nearby chair.
Silence dragged on.
The room wouldn’t stop spinning, his head pounding. Just as he was considering laying back down, Sevika spoke up.
“…I’m sorry.”
Silco glanced at her.
“I - I shouldn’t have come at you like that, I shouldn’t have dragged Jinx into -“ She cut herself off, letting out a deep sigh, “and not now, not when things are already hard enough.”
She folded her arms, eyes looking up to meet his. “But the thing is. You don’t know what’s happened; what’s happening.”
He frowned, glancing away. “Sevika-“
“Please. Let me speak?”
Pausing to look at the floor, he gave a small nod.
It took her a moment, he waited as she gathered her thoughts.
“A week ago Piltover invaded the Underground. Since that first day there’s been nothing but fighting. Our people, our city - everyone. They’re dying. And the enforcers, they just want one thing. Justice…they want Jinx, and our people are dying.” She swallowed thickly, voice straining.
Silco listened to her silently. She’d clearly reached her limit as well.
“I wish I could say I understand. But I don’t. how can you - worry - about one person, about the one person who’s caused this. How can you say she needs you, when our people need you.”
Slowly she looked to the floor, her face resigned. “How can you expect the people to follow you when you won’t lead…how can you expect loyalty, when you aren’t loyal to them.”
For a moment the tension in the air became taught once more, and then it snapped.
Closing her eyes, Sevika let out a shaky breath. “I’ve been trying to keep the Underground together the best that I can, but my best isn’t going to cut it if we want to survive this…I need your help sir. I need you.”
“Okay.”
Sevika blinked in surprise. “Sir?”
Vander’s words were ringing in his ears. He needed to help more than just Jinx.
Fix the damage she caused, fix relations with Piltover, fix the Underground
It was like an internal mantra, one he knew he couldn’t ignore.
He should be feeling ashamed. That would have been the normal response to what she’d just told him, but instead, all he felt, all he’s really felt since waking up, was a heavy exhaustion. The last of his resolve fading.
“You’re right, the people should come first. I’ve caused this mess. It’s my responsibility to fix it.”
Sevika stared at him for a moment, body wound tight. “You didn’t tell Jinx to fire that rocket, sir.”
We’ll show them
“No, but I didn’t stop her either.”
“Sir, you couldn’t -“
“That isn’t what I mean.” Gaze sliding to meet her’s once more. “I had plenty of other chances, but when it counted, when she needed me -“ He closed his eye, mind flashing back to when Jinx found him debating on what to do; turn her over to Piltover or condemn Zaun to a life of ruin. “…I failed.”
“So she killed you?” Sevika asked, concern lacing her words.
Silco rolled his eyes, “I told you, what happened wasn’t intentional, her sister and that enforcer girl were both there. They confused her.”
Sevika let out a small ‘hmmph’ but didn’t comment.
He continued. “That’s why I need to find Jinx, I need to make things right.”
Sevika considered his words. “…well, I’m not sure how you’re going to accomplish both,” another little huff as she frowned at him, “so far the only way I can see this war even coming close to an end is if Jinx-“
“I’ll not turn her over.” He glared, suddenly sizing her up. “If that’s your only solution to stop this war, then perhaps we should cut ties now.”
A brief look of hurt crossed her face before it morphed into a glare. “If you have a better idea, I’m all ears.”
He looked down, expression pensive. “I don’t know yet.”
“hmm”
His head shot up, “but that’s why I need Jinx,” he spat. “Once I know she’s safe, we’ll go from there.”
Sevika didn’t look convinced, but he couldn’t care less. As long as Jinx was okay, he’d do about anything.
He knew, she knew, he was desperate. Despite their earlier dynamic, she was holding all the cards. He knew he’d been slipping, that he’d fallen out of favor with a lot of their allies, that Sevika was one of the last tether’s he had to power. He’d bet on her loyalty to him, but it was clear that would only get him so far, for so long.
She watched him. The tension from before mounting. He’d mocked her position to him, demeaned her job, when in reality they both knew the truth.
The tables had turned, but instead of stealing everything right out from under him, she was still here, preforming the role she’d always played. Why?
Why had she even bothered to look for him at all. She could have taken the empire they’d built and ran with it, leaving him to rot.
She could have let Singed turn him into something unrecognizable. A true monster.
She’d had hundreds of chances to kill him, and yet -
“Fine. We’ll find Jinx.”
She was loyal.
“But my guys will do that, you need to get better and soon. I can’t exactly do both yours and my job at the same time. So.” She motioned for him to lie back down. “Get some rest before Singed gets anymore ideas about making you his newest test subject.”
Deciding to heed her advice, he began to lay back. “I want Jinx found unharmed.”
Sevika made a face, but he chose to ignore it.
“I’ll do my best.” She said wearily. “But if she starts gunning for my lads, I’m pulling them back.”
Silco couldn’t argue with that. Instead he settled more comfortably into the bed. Sevika got up and walked closer; leaning a hip against the edge of the bed, she folded her arms, frowning down at him.
“Do you need anything?”
Just as wearily he shook his head. Mind traveling elsewhere. “You mentioned Piltover invaded a week ago…”
Sevika nodded. “You’ve been in and out of it the last few days.”
“And no word of Jinx.”
“She’s disappeared, if I was her, I’d have done the same thing. But I’m sure there’s a lead somewhere.”
“And -“ He hesitated, not sure he wanted to know just yet. “-the people, you said they’re fighting, I take it we’re not winning…”
“No. But neither is Piltover. Their entire structure was over turned in one night, I hear it’s been hell trying to get anything done. They’re unorganized. Which is good for us.”
“We’re just as unorganized.” He said flatly. “It’s only a matter of time before Piltover regains some kind of control, when that happens, we’ll be in trouble.”
Sevika glanced to the side. “How much time do you think we have until that happens?”
He shook his head again. “I don’t know, I’d have to see the damage done.” What he was really thinking was, whether or not Jayce had died.
Scrutinizing his expression, she pushed off from the bed. “I’ll see what I can find out.”
He watched her as she began to move away. “Wait.”
She paused.
“Who knows what happened - to me.”
Sevika walked back. “Some of the guys helped me track you down -“
“Do they know I’m alive.”
“They did at the time, we haven’t had a chance to catch-up yet.” She frowned.
“Tell them I’m dead.”
“What? Why?”
Silco didn’t want to say that his main reasoning behind keeping his existence a secret was in a way to protect Jinx, but well…
“Just tell them for now. We don’t need anymore unnecessary attention.”
“Fine. I’ll let Singed know.” She began to walk away again, but suddenly turned around.
“What about Jinx? If she knows your alive she might come willingly?”
Somehow Silco didn’t think it would be that simple, or that easy.
“…Just find her first.” He stated, unsure of his feelings on the matter.
“Sir.” She gave a nod.
“And Sevika.” A pause. “When you get back, I want to know everything that’s happened from the moment you found me to now. Everything about the war, Piltover, if there’s anyone left we can rely on.”
There was a hesitance in her next move, body shifting as if a weight was lifting, her expression relieved.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon. I try to update every Monday and Wednesday.
This takes place between Ep 3 and 4
Trigger warnings: trauma, gore, depictions of child death, panic attacks, slight suggestion of suicide.
(I am in no way a medical professional so I apologize if my depictions of medical care are incorrect. Thank you!)
PS. This one has dark themes. Please see the warnings above. If that isn’t your cup of tea please feel free to skip, I promise we’ll get back to the hurt/comfort soon.
Also this chapter is a little longer because I will be visiting family next week, so I’ll only be posting one chapter then instead of two.
Thank you to all who read these btw, I feel like my pre-story notes keep getting longer and longer, sorry!
Part 8.
Part 7. Part 6. Part 5. Part 4. Part 3. Part 2. Part 1.
New series: Aftermath (Silco centered fix-it fic) post every Friday.
=============================================
Powder stared at the toy outstretched toward her.
“…Where did you get that?”
“Does it matter.” ‘Other Powder’ frowned, sitting down beside her. “Now.” She set the toy between them.
“Let’s talk about Vi.”
================================================
The moment he opened his eyes, Silco knew he was dreaming. He was back in the cannery, daylight streaming through. Somehow he felt different. Blinking up and around him he slowly touched his face.
And gasped. He didn’t need to see his reflection to know the scarring was gone.
Stunned he slowly began walking towards the exit leading outside.
Shielding his gaze from the bright light with a hand, he stopped at the entry.
Fresh air greeted him.
“Silco?”
===============================================
“Powder?” ‘Other Powder’ prodded her gently. “Do you wanna go first, or should I?”
She stayed silent, staring down at the toy. The other version of her blew a raspberry.
“Okay, I’ll go first.” She pulled the tory toward her. “Vi was holding us back.”
“What?” Powder frowned glancing at her, “no, why would-“
“Ah, ah! I said I’d go first, you can have your say in a minute.”
She frowned but stayed quiet.
“She didn’t believe in us. Even when she said she did, she didn’t mean it. She never gave us a chance to prove her wrong either.”
‘Other Powder’ slowly pushed the toy back in-between them. “Your turn.”
Powder blinked, gently she pulled the stuffed animal into her arms.
“She did give us a chance to prove her wrong, lots of them. Like the inventor…we just -kept messing up.” Powder squeezed the toy close. “Like we always do.”
Silco spun around, but there was no one behind him. Glancing wildly about for signs of another person he stepped further outside.
After a moment of looking, he narrowed his eyes, paranoia creeping up inside him.
“Show yourself!” He growled out, body becoming tense.
Silence.
Quickly becoming frustrated, he marched back inside the cannery -
“Where are you going?” A voice called.
- and stopped. Clenching his fist he stalked back outside, realizing the sun was swiftly setting.
“I said show yourself!” He yelled, anger rising.
A shadow suddenly ran past him.
Momentarily startled, Silco gave chase.
=================================================
‘Other Powder’ pulled at the animals ears as she held the toy. “What happened wasn’t our fault remember. The inventor shouldn’t have even made those things, I mean who does that?” She gave a hard yank, “But Vi blamed us for what happened, and Mylo blamed us for losing the stuff we’d found. But none of that was our fault.”
Powder couldn’t say she necessarily disagreed.
“And that whole speech on the roof, she made it sound like everyone makes mistakes. So why is it that when we do something wrong it’s suddenly; ‘Powder isn’t ready’ and ‘Powder should stay behind.’ Silco is right, if Vi had just taken us with her in the first place, none of this would have happened!”
There was a small ‘rip’ as ‘Other Powder’ gave a particularly hard tug on an ear.
“Oops, uh heh, sorry.” She placed the toy back down.
Silco followed the shadow toward the back of the building, night having suddenly fallen. A chill seemed to pick up around him. Feeling uneasy about the entire situation he slowed his pace as the figure dashed down the same alley/tunnel they’d taken the previous night.
What was happening??
“Silco.” The voice eerily beckoned from within the darkness.
He hesitated. Some part of him instinctively telling him not to go any closer. Against his better judgement however, he called out.
“Who are you? Show yourself!”
Suddenly the chill was replaced with an intense heat as an explosion went off behind him, the force of it knocking him forward onto his knees. Whipping his head around he watched as the cannery became alight, fire licking up from the bottom, windows blown open.
Coughing heavily from the fumes, he stumbled back to his feet. Shocked, he watched as the building began to crumble inward on itself, the entire top floor collapsing.
That hadn’t happened
A scream ripped through the air. Silco’s eyes widened, the familiarity of it hitting him full force.
Jinx!
Taking off at a full sprint toward the burning building -
- Silco was painfully yanked back. Struggling against the grip, he moved to shove whoever was holding him away. Only to stop cold.
“Where are you going?” Vander hissed, gripping him tightly.
Stunned, Silco stared back, “Vander?”
“I said where are you going?” The large man growled.
Fumbling for words, Silco glanced at the building as another scream rang out. “Jinx, she needs help.”
Vander frowned, his grip tightening even more if it were possible. “You can’t go in there.”
A weird righteous anger was rising in him as he tried to pull his arm free. “Let go!”
“You’re too late.” Vander spat out. It felt like a slap to the face.
“No! Can’t you hear her, she needs help!” Wrenching his arm finally free he stepped back, but Vander made to grab him again.
“You’ll only make things worse!” Vander yelled. Silco ignored him, choosing instead to race toward the building.
“Vi was trying to protect us.” Powder mumbled out, fingers playing with the ripped stitching, the ear hanging on by a thread. “That’s why she told us to stay. But…I wanted to help. I wanted to prove I could be just as good as everyone else. That I could be smart like Mylo, or tough like Claggor and…brave like Vi. That I could be someone Vander would be proud of…”
Wearily, she held the toy out to ‘Other Powder’.
Instead of taking it, she simply put a hand on the stuffed animal’s head. “They’re dead, Powder, we can’t be like them because we aren’t them. And we can’t make someone who isn’t here anymore proud, so why try. Why keep holding onto something that will only bring us pain.”
“The past can’t be changed, why waste time with ‘what ifs’ when it does more harm than good. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
Silco hesitated as he reached the building, eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement.
“Jinx!” He yelled. The smoke making it difficult to see anything.
A scream came again, but not near the flames; further away this time. Confused he stepped back, following the sound once more to the side of the building.
“Help me!” She screeched.
Silco rounded the corner, Jinx coming into sight as he did so.
Just like the night before.
Only this time she wasn’t alone. There was another figure standing next to her.
Swiftly moving toward the child he felt himself stumble as his eyes grew wide. It wasn’t some figure; it was him.
Silco watched himself crouch down, Jinx sobbing a mere foot away. Time seemed to slow. It was surreal, seeing himself from afar like this.
He waited.
Waited for the child to fling herself at him, for him to drop the knife in surprise. To decide to take her with him.
But as the seconds dragged on, the chill from before returned.
“Please!” Jinx cried, “help me!”
Silco took a hesitant step forward.
Why wasn’t it playing out like it had the night before? Why was-
The Silco near Jinx pulled out the knife.
Jinx didn’t notice him though; instead she glanced over his shoulder, right at Him.
Silco felt his stomach drop.
“Help me!” She screamed.
He ran. Fully prepared to knock into the other version of himself -
-the version of himself that was bringing the knife down on the child.
“I can’t just…move on.” Powder grumbled out, “they’re my family.”
“Correction. Were, they were your family.” ‘Other Powder’ scooted closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Look, I’m not saying we should forget them, I’m just saying maybe we stop dwelling on the past? If Vi really cares, she’ll come back, right? So why don’t we just enjoy our time until then.”
Powder scrunched up her face, “enjoy our time?”
“Yeah, I mean have you even thought about the possibilities now that we don’t have Vander telling us what to do and where to go? Or Vi breathing down our necks every time we want to explore the city. We’re free Powder. We can do whatever we want now!” She stood excitedly. “We can say whatever we want, eat whatever we want, take whatever -“
“Yeah, but, what about Silco?”
“…What about him?”
Powder fiddled with the stuffed animal. “Don’t you think he’ll have rules too?”
“Sure, all adults do.”
“Then…we’re not really free are we?” Powder frowned deeply.
‘Other Powder’ folded her arms. “He’s different though.”
“How do you mean?”
“He made us a sandwich and let us eat those muffins. You think Vander would have let us do that?”
Powder was about to say ‘yes, yes he would’ but was cut off.
“Besides…he gets us.” Then softer, “he gets me.”
Powder looked at herself in confusion. “You? But we’re the same?”
‘Other Powder’ looked down. There was something - off - about her gaze. “I told you. I’m better than you.”
Powder felt the floor give a small shake, distracting her from the ‘Other Powder’s’ implication. Oh no! I’m doing it again! She quickly covered her face. Despair creeping in around her.
Warning. Graphic depictions of gore and child death, skip to next line break.
No matter how hard he tried. He couldn’t reach her. Some unseen force was holding him back. Helpless he watched.
He watched as a version of himself repeatedly brought the knife down, easily tearing through the child. Her screams still echoing in his ears.
She was dead by the third strike. Silco had seen the light leave her eyes; that odd shade of blue and violet and face wet from her tears, frozen in time.
There was blood. Everywhere, and as sick as the sight made him he couldn’t rip his gaze away. For some reason he felt as though he needed to see this, needed witness what might have happened. Too see just how monstrous he could have been.
And in not saving her, he owed her. He owed her to see it through.
Hands stained red, he watched himself shakily stand.
“I told you.”
Both Silcos turned around.
“You’ll only make things worse.” Vander walked up beside him.
Silco was unable to respond, instead he looked back at the child.
“You know.” The other Silco spoke up, looking at Vander. “I couldn’t just let her walk away. I need The Lanes support, how would it look if word got out that I’d killed you?”
“You’re not my only enemy Silco. Remember that.” Vander growled back. “There may not be any war, but the battle for Zaun has only just begun. Are you ready for that kind of responsibility.”
The other Silco snarled. “I’ve been ready for years! You were the one who was never ready!”
“I did what I thought was right!”
“As did I!”
Vaguely Silco realized the two had continued to yell insults at each other, ignoring both, he slowly made his way over to the child.
The fire was beginning to spread, it’s blaze casting long shadows on her face. Eerily, it gave the appearance she was still breathing.
Kneeling heavily beside her, he gently reached out, hands shaking.
She was still warm. Silco felt bile rise up, turning away from her he emptied his stomach.
How.
How could he have considered killing her.
A child.
Shame, horror, anger, he didn’t know what to feel. He was disgusting. A true monster.
Guilt.
…her siblings had been children too, not nearly so young, but he hadn’t given them a second thought the moment they’d came for Vander.
He felt guilty.
He’d wanted Vander to understand. To make him realize; to see that all he’d wanted was for the Underground to be as great as he knew it to be. What was so terrible about that?
But Vander didn’t see, and so he’d set out to make him understand and in doing so, he’d destroyed this girl’s family. In doing so he’d broken her.
“Whoa! Did you feel that!” ‘Other Powder’ exclaimed, when the floor finally stopped shaking.
“How do I stop this, I don’t what to make another hole.” Powder worried aloud, standing as well.
“Actually - that one wasn’t you.”
Powder looked at her in confusion. “What? I thought you said I made the hole, that I’m controlling this dream, or whatever.” She folded her arms, face becoming pensive.
“Right, yeah, and you did. But just now…that might have been me.” ‘Other Powder’ said sheepishly.
“So you’re controlling my dream now?”
“Our dream. And sure, but only because you’re letting me.”
Powder was quickly becoming frustrated. “What do you mean? You keep changing what you’re saying.”
“Yeah, because you keep changing the rules!”
Powder froze. “What rules?”
‘Other Powder’ let out her own frustrated sigh. “Whatever you want, usually we just follow whatever someone else tells us. But these last few days, we’ve been following less and less, and it’s been great! We’re leaders Powder, not followers! Why should we have to listen to anyone else!”
Powder glanced around the room, had it always been this dark? “Look, I don’t - I don’t really understand any of this -“
“Of course you don’t!” ‘Other Powder’ hissed, mood instantly turning sour. “You’ve been too busy trying be someone you're not that you’ve never even noticed me!”
“But you are me!” She yelled, anger and a small bit of fear lacing her words.
The room suddenly felt like it was closing in around them.
What was happening??
‘Other Powder’ glared at her.
“For the last time. I’m not you, I’m -“
“Better, yeah, I heard you the first time!” Powder snarked but still moving away, “how can you though, if this is my dream, how are you better than me.” She snatched the stuffed animal off the floor. “And - and if I’m in control then I should get to decide what happens next.”
‘Other Powder’ looked confused. “What?”
“You’re scaring me.” Powder stated, holding the toy close. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to wake up.”
Taking a step closer, ‘Other Powder’ reached out, “wait, don’t go, we still have so much more to talk about.”
Powder looked down at the pit from earlier. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
“No.” Fearfully she looked between the hole and her other self.
‘Other Powder’ narrowed her eyes. “You can’t leave, not yet.”
“I’m sorry.”
‘Other Powder’ frowned. “Why are you-“
Powder rushed her, and in one giant push, she shoved the other version of herself back toward the hole.
“What are you doing!” ‘Other Powder’ screeched, nails digging into her.
“I’m sorry!” She cried out again, eyes watering.
‘Other Powder’ looked over her own shoulder, just as her heels dropped over the edge of the pit. She began to fall backwards. Reaching out she latched onto the stuffed toy.
They stood for a moment. ‘Other Powder’ balancing on the tips of her toes and hanging by the ears of the toy. Powder standing firm as she stared into the eyes of her other self.
“Don’t do this.” ‘Other Powder’ breathed out. “You need me. You won’t survive without me.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m not, Powder listen to me-“
“No. Not about that. About Vi. You said she was holding us back. You’re wrong.”
The stuffed animals’s ear gave another small rip, the tether breaking, ’Other Powder immediately tipping back.
Powder snatcher her hand at the last second.
“I - I knew you wouldn’t let me fa-“
“You’re holding me back.” Powder stated.
Then let go.
‘Other Powder’ stared back in momentary shock, before letting out a chilling scream as she fell.
Silco held her close. The heat from the fire getting awfully near now.
He didn’t feel it though. And if he did, he didn’t care.
He couldn’t - put into words - couldn’t describe everything he was feeling in that moment. How could a dream be so reveling of one’s emotions?
And yet.
Here he was. Unable to move, unable to detach himself from her small body.
He didn’t cry, didn’t scream in anger. But he felt it. Felt how much this child had changed him in the span of a day. Imagine what she could do in a week, a month, a year?
He heard soft footsteps approach.
“If you don’t move soon, you’ll both go up with the flames.” Vander said, strangely emotionless.
Silco wanted to shout at him, wanted to ask him how he could just stand there. Did he not care? Wasn’t she like a daughter to him?
This was a dream.
Calming slightly he tried to rationalize the situation, but there was no point. Perhaps if he let the fire get them he’d wake up.
Maybe he wouldn’t.
Maybe he wouldn’t wake ever again.
Something about that thought settled and unsettled him.
It was getting hotter.
“Silco.” Vander warned.
She, was getting hotter
What the hell?
“Silco, get out of there!”
He looked up, surprised to hear the fear in Vander’s voice, but he was gone.
“Sir, wake up!”
What?
His hands and arms were burning, the child was burning; still he didn’t let go.
“Silco!”
.
.
.
Silco’s eye shot open, Sevika’s worried gaze hovering nearby. Immediately he bean to sit up, but was hindered by a weight on his chest. Looking down he found the child clinging to him.
Alive.
She was alive.
The relief he felt in the moment was once again - embarrassing. He needed to get a grip, and fast.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, his tired brain trying to play catch-up.
“I think we should get her back into the tub.” Sevika was already heading toward the tap.
Silco looked back down at the child, quickly realizing that the heat hadn’t been from the fire in his dream; she was burning up again. Sweat was covering the child’s face, her hair matted down. She was paler than before.
He carefully slid them out of the bed and kneeled beside the tub. Gently he placed her inside. She was still sleeping it seemed, but the jerky movements she made showed just how restless she was.
Sevika stood, looking between the two of them. “I’ll get the doctor, keep her in the tub until we get back.”
There was a stillness. A deafening silence as Powder stood above the pit. For a moment she felt good, like an unknown weight had lifted.
Then she saw it.
A small, trickling of sand.
It dusted onto her head. Glancing up she watched as small amounts seeped in through cracks in the ceiling.
Strange.
Then she felt it.
A pain so sharp it brought her to her knees. It tightened around her chest, strangling, squeezing. She couldn’t breath. All at once she was too hot and too cold.
The pit grew wider.
Fearfully she scrambled back, but the pit only continued to grow, the sand quickly filling up what space was left within the room.
“No, no, no” She whispered, too afraid to break the strange silence.
There was nowhere to go. The window she’d come through earlier, gone. Horrified she watched as the pit grew ever closer, sand now falling in as well.
She was going to die.
Or fall into an endless darkness.
She wasn’t sure which was worse.
“Wake up, wake up!” She tried pinching herself. “Come on!” Letting out a frustrated scream, she tossed herself against the nearest wall, “wake up!”
She tried again, and again, and again. Her shoulder beginning to ache. The pain in her chest not letting up.
“Wake up, please, wake up!”
She was running out air, out of time.
“I’m supposed to be in control, then. Wake. Up!” Shakily she slapped herself. Feet slipping in the sand, she got on her knees. She pressed herself as close to the wall as she could get, the pit only a foot or so away now.
“Please,” she begged. “Please, wake up, stop this, please.”
The pit didn’t listen and in the next moment she felt her legs drop out from under her; she didn’t even have a chance to let out a scream before sand and darkness consumed her.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
This takes place between Ep 3 and 4
Trigger warning: trauma
(I am in no way a medical professional so I apologize if my depictions of medical care are incorrect. Thank you!)
Part 7.
Part 8. Part 6. Part 5. Part 4. Part 3. Part 2. Part 1.
New series: Aftermath (Silco centered fix-it fic)
Silco stared at the ajar door from his place on the floor, his ears straining to listen as he heard Sevika’s footfalls growing swiftly quieter.
For a brief moment he wondered if perhaps he should follow her. But he quickly shot that idea down. Sevika could take care of herself, Jinx? Clearly not.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Silco tried not to let his frustration get the best of him. He could handle one - at most two - messes at a time, not a fucking brigade.
Alright that was a little dramatic, but all the same, he was getting fed up. It’d been one wrong thing after the other and -
“Silco?”
The man was jolted back to reality.
Turning away from the door and toward the child, he sat up. She was still pale, yet her face didn’t look nearly as clammy as it had before the bath. He reached a hand out to her forehead. It was still hot. Damn it all.
“Is everything okay?” She asked tiredly.
Not sure how to answer that, he replied with his own question. “How are you feeling?”
“Sleepy.” She said blearily, “and wet.”
Silco frowned, he’d tried his best to dry her off before placing her in the bed.
“Are you cold then or too hot?”
She shivered lightly. “Both?”
Feeling a headache coming on, he rubbed at his temple. How was he supposed to handle the two extremes. Maybe he shouldn’t wait until tomorrow to send for a physician…
“Am I sick?” Jinx asked, pulling the blanket up around her tighter.
Silco looked to the floor momentarily, then nodded. “I believe so.”
Immediately the child’s eyes began to water, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” She coughed out.
Silco felt something inside him ache at the sight. Moving closer, he got up to sit on the edge of the bed beside her and leaning down he placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Shh, you have nothing to apologize for.”
Jinx shivered again, snuggling deeper into the comforter.
“I’m so sleepy.” The child repeated, yawing and closing her eyes. For a moment Silco become fearful she might not wake again, but thought better of it. Perhaps Jinx just needed to sleep off whatever was ailing her.
“Then rest.” He said softly. Jinx peeked at him.
“You’re not going to leave are you?”
Internally, Silco found himself momentarily embarrassed; the thought of leaving her having never even crossed his mind.
In fact, the very idea of being away from child in her current condition pained him.
It’d been less than a day and here he was - willing to drop everything.
He was in too deep now.
Quickly banishing his thoughts and sudden feelings on the matter he tried to focus back onto the task at hand.
Sitting more comfortably on the bed, he shook his head, “No.” Jinx smiled tiredly back at him before closing her eyes once more.
When she opened them again she was laying in her old bed.
Her home, back at The Last Drop.
Confused Powder sat up, looking around her, she found the space empty aside from the few contraptions she’d been working on. Her monkey bomb lay untouched beside her.
Had…
Had it all been some kind of nightmare?
Feeling a surge of a dozen different emotions, Powder sprang to her feet. Quickly she made it to the top the stairs and looked out across the main floor.
Only to find it completely empty, not a patron in sight.
That was okay, perhaps Vander had closed early, or she had her days mixed up. They had to be around here somewhere…
Or maybe they all went out?
That was probably the more likely scenario; Vi, Mylo and Claggor out exploring the city while Vander visited Benzo. She’d clearly fallen asleep and no one had bothered to wake her.
That was fine.
Deciding she couldn’t wait for them to return she swiftly headed for the front entrance. Upon entering the street outside, Powder immediately froze.
It was empty.
Not a person was in sight, the normal chatter of the city, deadly silent. Not even the whirring of the Underground could be heard.
Standing in the middle of the road, Powder glanced around, a cold shiver running down her back as a fear began gripping her. Something about all of this was just…wrong. It felt wrong. Scrunching her face up she quickly took off for Benzo’s.
Perhaps Ekko would be there, or even Vi? Perhaps Vander would explain everything and she could put the anxiety rising inside her to rest.
Eventually she made it, sprinting in as she tossed the door open.
“Vander!” She called out, squinting against the darkness that greeted her. The lights weren’t on. Strange?
“Vander? Are you in here?”
Slowly walking further into the room, she hesitated when she thought she saw movement in the far shadows.
“…Vander?”
“…Why did you come here Powder?”
Startled, Powder frowned, she recognized that voice, but it sounded different -
“Ekko?”
Said boy came forward.
In great relief, Powder ran toward him, arms open for an embrace. “Ekko! I’m so glad to see you!” She wrapped herself around him, a sob escaping her. “You won’t believe the dream I was having, it was so real!” Moving her head so she could look at him better, another shiver run down her spine. His arms had stayed by his sides as he stared at her.
Wrong.
Feeling a weird sense of danger she took a step back, rubbing at her arm uncomfortably.
“Do - do you know where Vander is?” She asked looking between him and the floor.
“…Yeah.”
Another wave of relief. “Where?” She couldn’t help the smile on her face, eyes quickly filling with happy tears.
Ekko stayed silent, watching her from afar.
Wrong.
“Where is he Ekko?” She asked again wetly.
“He’s with Benzo.”
Looking around, Powder slowly frowned in confusion. “Oh. Well, where is he?”
“Dead.”
…get out
Powder felt the word slam into her, chilling her instantly.
“Wh-what?”
“He said they’re dead.”
Powder whipped around so fast she felt dizzy. Vi stood at the entrance.
“Vi -“
I said get out!
“They’re all dead.”
No.
“No, no that - that can’t be, I’m back, it was just a dream, a nightmare -“
“Oh, is that what you thought?” Vi said tauntingly.
“No! No you’re lying, where are they!” Powder suddenly screeched. The fear fully gripping her.
“We already told you.” Vi took a step closer, “weren’t you listening?”
“I don’t thinks she was,” Ekko said behind her. “She never listens.”
Vi paused, cocking a hip she smirked. “You know he has a point. You never listen, do you. Because if you had, we wouldn’t be here. If you had they wouldn’t be dead!”
run you idiot!
“No!” Powder yelled back, hands tangling painfully into her hair. “Shut up!”
“You killed them!” Vi shouted.
“NO!”
Not able to stand there anymore Powder suddenly took off, barreling past Vi she ran down the street.
“Get back here!”
Powder sprinted, her heart hammering in her chest as she heard Vi and Ekko give chase. Terrified, she could only wonder what would happen if they caught her.
“I’m sorry!” She yelled back at them over her shoulder. “Please, I’m so sorry!”
“Not yet you aren’t.” Vi growled, gaining on her.
Bypassing The Last Drop altogether, Powder made a bee line down an old alley she hoped would get her to safety.
Only to come face to face with a dead end. Wrong again.
Panicking, Powder looked wildly around for anything to hide in or perhaps to climb up on.
“Where’d she go?” Ekko asked not too far away.
“Keep looking!” Vi said even closer.
Powder wrapped her arms around herself, body trembling, she would be cornered soon.
“pshh, hey, hey up here.” A voice whispered. Powder followed the sound to an arm sticking out of an upstairs window.
“he-hello?” She questioned reaching up toward it. The hand grabbed her before she could and suddenly she was being pulled up and through the window.
Landing roughly on her side, Powder rolled over onto her back, she was about to say something when the same hand from before covered her mouth.
“Shhh, they’re coming.”
They stayed silent as Powder could hear Vi enter the alleyway.
“What is it?” Ekko mumbled.
“I thought I heard something.”
Ekko let out a loud sigh. “She couldn’t have gone this way, it’s a dead end.” Footsteps began trailing away. “Come on, we’re gonna loose her if we hang around here too long.”
She heard something crash, then Vi gave a short yell.
“Sheesh, you need to calm down.” Ekko said.
“Let’s go.” Vi muttered.
After a moment both sets of feet seemed to fade. The hand around her mouth slipping away. Powder immediately sat up, scooting far from whoever owned the hand.
Great. Maybe she was dreaming after all. Powder opened her mouth, a scream on the tip of her tongue, but held it back.
“How - how is this possible?” She might as well try for the logical explanation first.
“Uh, because I’m you and this is all inside your head. You should know that.” Her ‘Other’ her said, standing up.
“You’re me.” She replied dumbly.
“Well, a version of you.”
Powder frowned. “You pushed me out of a window last time we met.”
“Uh yeah, because you weren’t listening. You wanted to run on back to ‘her’, how’s that working out for you by the way?” ‘Other Powder’ began walking around.
Powder flinched at her words. “…she’s confused. Once, once I explain everything, once she understands, she won’t-“
“What? She won’t be angry? Yeah right, listen to yourself Powder. You killed our family, destroyed it, and you think a simple explanation, a few dozen ‘I’m sorry’s’ will suddenly fix everything?”
Powder sat silently.
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.”
“How do I fix it then, since you seem to have all the answers!” Powder threw up her arms in frustration.
‘Other Powder’ scoffed. “I don’t know. But you know what, even if I did, that wouldn’t matter, because I don’t want to fix it.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Powder pulled her legs up to her chest. It was becoming hard to breathe.
“Face it Powder, we’re better off without her.”
“Don’t say that.” She huffed out.
“Why, you know it’s true.”
“It’s not.” She squeezed her eyes shut, “and you’re not me.”
“You’re right. I’m better than you.”
Suddenly the floor underneath her started to give way. She screamed as she felt herself begin to fall, eyes shooting open to watch as ‘Other Powder’ reached out and snatched her arm.
Dangling dangerously, Powder looked down at where the floor had disappeared. Now there existed a large pit. Horrified she let out a shout.
“Pull me up!”
“You know we have the same strength right?” ‘Other Powder’ quipped, struggling to hold her up.
Grunting with the effort, ‘Other Powder’ managed to drag her up enough that she could grip the ledge. Working together they hulled her up. The two collapsed safely beside the hole.
“Wow - we’re really weak.” Powder said trying to catch her breath.
“Yeah, who’s fault is that?” ‘Other Powder’ wheezed out.
Slowly sitting up, Powder glanced inside the hole.
“…What happened?”
‘Other Powder’ sat up as well, copying her same pose.
“You happened.”
Powder frowned. “What? What do you mean ‘I’ happened, aren't we the same-“
“We are…kind of,” ‘Other Powder’ shrugged, “it’s complicated, but you caused that, this is your dream, remember.”
“Why would I make a hole?”
“Because. You’re upset.” She stood again, brushing off her clothes. “I don’t know, maybe you didn’t like what I was saying, maybe you didn’t like hearing the truth-“
“It’s not true-“
They both froze as the floor under them began to shake slightly.
‘Other Powder’ folded her arms, “….or maybe you’re in denial.”
“I’m not in denial.”
“What was it Claggor said?” She cleared her throat, suddenly mimicking him, “there are five stages of grief, the first being denial.”
Powder looked down at the hole once more. Sighing, she wrapped her arms around herself. She thought back to the last few minutes, to Vi and Ekko, to her waking up back in her bed. To the relief she’d felt. And the fear.
“…I know they’re dead.” She whispered, eyes watering. “I know that. I just - I hoped, you know. I hopped it wasn’t real. That none of it had happened.”
She could sense more then see ‘Other Powder’ move closer.
“Why am I here?”She choked out angrily, “you say I’m in denial but I know what happened, so why am I here?!”
“…I don’t think that’s what you’re in denial about.”
Powder looked up at her. “You think I don’t know what I did?”
‘Other Powder’ shook her head.
“Then what!?” She bit out, tears streaming down her face.
Wordlessly, ‘Other Powder’ held out their stuffed animal; Vi’s forgotten toy.
Flinching backwards he had to catch himself from falling off the bed. Rolling back over and he suddenly had an arm full of a wiggling child.
“Jinx!” He said, shaking her lightly, trying to wake her. It didn’t seem to be working. Sitting up more properly, he gently pulled the child into his lap, wrapping an arm around her securely. The other hesitantly rubbing her back. This was becoming a familiar occurrence for them.
A few moments later and the child began to calm, slumping heavily into him. Silco watched her closely, his expression pensive. She’d been thrashing around; difficult to wake. He wondered if the fever had anything to do with it… He hopped she wasn’t getting worse. Slowly he leaned back against the wall, similarly to how they had been earlier that same day. She was warm in his embrace, shaking a bit and the clamminess had seemed to return.
Oh no.
Silco wasn’t used to feeling so helpless.
He shut his eye, hoping some kind of solution might come to him on how to better help the child.
A light knock on the door brought him from his thoughts. Eye opening he looked over to see Sevika standing in the entry. She had a small mug in her hand.
He raised a brow at her in question as she stepped further into the room.
“Sorry for running out like that, sir.” She whispered. Silco looked from her to the mug in response. She followed his gaze and motioned with the cup. “Tea.”
That wasn’t really an explanation but Silco couldn’t be bothered to push it further. He’d ask again later, perhaps when the child was well.
Sevika moved over to the bed, hovering quietly over them, he watched as she critically did a sweep of the child, hand gently touching her head. It was swift and methodical, much like a commander taking stock of their soldiers. Her gaze wasn’t cruel he noted, but instead, coldly efficient.
Silco could never look at someone and possibly know what ails them. He could look at someone and list out there top five weaknesses, but a sickness? It was as foreign to him as taking care of a child.
A child whose small arms had tried their best to wrap around his middle in her sleep. He smiled softly.
Sevika’s gaze moved from Jinx to him. Wisely choosing not comment on his expression or the child he was holding. Quietly she sat at the foot of the bed. “She still has a fever.”
Silco hummed. “A physician may be needed sooner than tomorrow.”
“Agreed. Should I go now, sir?”
He considered for a moment, eyes glancing over Jinx, for the moment she seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Disturbing her now might cause more harm than good.
“No, let her rest, if her condition hasn’t improved when she wakes, then go.”
Sevika nodded, then after a beat she held out her mug to him. Silco blinked and surprised himself as he reached out to take the offered drink.
Taking a sip his senses were immediately accosted by the sweet taste of honey and ginger.
He liked it.
Sevika seemed to read his expression because she pushed the drink further into his grasp. “You have it, I already had a cup.”
Somewhat grateful, he mumbled a quick ‘thank you’ before swiftly downing the drink.
Sevika stood suddenly, heading quietly towards the far chair, the one he’d sat in briefly earlier.
Sitting stiffly, she glanced at him.“…You should get some rest as well. I’ll wake you if anything changes.”
Silco stared at her for a long moment, more than a little uncomfortable with idea of someone watching him sleep.
But who was he kidding, he hadn’t had a decent rest since before last night. His brief sleep in the common area clearly not enough. And if Sevika was volunteering to keep watch, then who was he to deny her her duty.
Choosing to actively trust the people in his vicinity not to murder him in his sleep, Silco laid back down, the child still wrapped in his arms.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
This takes place between Ep 3 and 4
Trigger warning: loss of a limb
(I am in no way a medical professional so I apologize if my depictions of medical care are incorrect. Thank you!)
Part 6.
Part 8. Part 7. Part 5. Part 4. Part 3. Part 2. Part 1.
New series: Aftermath (Silco centered fix-it fic)
Sevika stood outside of LeRoy’s, a run down, sad excuse for a pub. But it was inconspicuous and nothing like The Last Drop. Given their circumstances this was probably the best place to lay low for now.
Sighing, she ambled in, already disgusted by the grimy interior. Her gaze surveyed the room. It wasn’t full of patrons but the area was thick with smoke and the lights were dim. Silently, she spotted a familiar blonde sitting at a back table.
A moment later she slid into the seat next to him.
Surprised, the man let out a startled cry, his two other companions watching her intently.
She didn’t waste any time. “Listen closely, I need you to round everybody up and meet back at ‘Tilly’s’ within the hour. The Boss wants a word - and we need to go over the new plan. There are enforcer’s coming down later this afternoon to investigate and we don’t want to be in their way when that happens, do we?” She said rhetorically. The blonde nodded jumpily. His companion to the right, another woman with pale skin and raven hair frowned.
“So soon? After what happened, I thought we’d lay low for awhile?”
Sevika leaned in closer. “We are, but before that happens we need something to go off of for the next few weeks. What if an enforcer questions you, what will you say?”
The woman nodded slowly. The third companion, a fairly large man sitting across from them motioned towards her shoulder.
“Are you alright?”
Sevika sent him a reassuring smile. Despite his size, the man was relatively the kindest of the three. He carried her out of the flames last night if that was telling enough of his demeanor. He joined their little group some months ago and while he didn’t often say much, Sevika found him pleasant enough.
“I will be,” She said honestly. These people she could trust, or at least enough to know they wouldn’t stab her in the back the moment she dropped her guard.
Glancing around the room, Sevika tapped the table three times. “We can continue this conversation elsewhere, but for now…” And she nodded towards them. Almost simultaneously the three got up and walked to different areas of the pub. Sevika watched as the blonde slipped out a back exit while the woman and burly man casually walked out the front entrance.
Good. Now that that was taken care of, it was time to report back. Looking down, she gently pulled the stuffed animal out from under her cloak.
“That’s a cute toy, not yours I’m guessing?”
Sevika looked up to meet striking green eyes.
She frowned. Quickly placing the stuffed animal back.
“I’m not in the mood, Benni.”
Benni let out a short laugh. “Oh? Something happen to put you in such a sour mood perhaps?”
She rolled her eyes and made to stand up.
“Word is Vander’s dead - but you already know that I’m guessing?”
Sevika paused, glancing around the room. Slowly she sat back down.
“…What have you heard”
Another laugh. “Not much. Just that a new spot for top dog has opened up. As you can imagine, those are big shoes to fill - so not many have stepped up. At least not yet.” He played with an empty shot glass on the table. “But give it a day or two, word travels fast and pretty soon, every rival gang in the area will be tearing each other to shreds - just for a chance at the big leagues.”
“You’re talking about The Last Drop?”
“Vander didn’t leave any heirs, and as you know, those kids of his are as good as dead, so…it’s going up for ‘auction’. Though I doubt it’ll last that long, given the circumstance.”
“They’re selling it?” She asked, genuinely surprised. Vander had been gone for less than a day…
“It’s a power move, what can I tell you. ‘They’ who owns The Last Drop, controls The Lanes.”
Sevika blinked. “What did you say?”
“I said it’s a power move, you know? Like when-“
“No, no about owning The Last Drop.”
“They’ll own The Lanes too?”
She grinned. Reaching inside her shirt she pulled out a small pouch. She tossed a coin to him. “Thanks for reminding why I keep you around.”
Benni frowned. “You said you’d pay me double next time.”
“You got something else worth double and I will.” She leveled him with a look.
“…I’ll see what I can find.” Benni grumbled, sliding out of the seat.
“Good lad.”
She watched him disappear into a crowd of patrons before standing up herself and heading out the back exit.
It took her a sum of seventeen minutes to make it back. ‘Tilly’s’ was the name they used, but in actuality the place hadn’t been called that in decades. The armory long being condemned to the slums. Now they used it as another base of operations, not for the shimmer but for other ‘business’ related reasons. It’d been the nearest safe spot for them from the cannery last night, but now Sevika was wondering if perhaps they should have chosen a more distant hide out, considering the enforcers were likely to be sniffing around for a while.
Deciding to bring that concern - along with a dozen others - to Silco, Sevika made her way down the many, many steps leading her to the armory’s entrance.
Making it past the factory floor and into the common area, Sevika paused. She hadn’t been expecting them to still be asleep but she couldn’t help the small bite of irritation that stirred within her. She didn’t have time to hunt them down. She wanted to brief him before the rest of the gang showed up, knowing very well her boss preferred to be in the know before being confronted about their change in plans. Sighing she decide the break room was her next best shot. Quickly she took the far door that lead into another hall. And another one, until she heard some small commotion.
Frowning she made a final turn into the last hall way -
And came face to face with her Boss.
Stunned she looked down between him and the child he was cradling in his arms.
“Boss?”
Silco seemed just as surprised, eyes darting between her and the girl. He looked panicked. Instantly she went into alert mode, glancing behind him for some kind of danger.
“What happened?” She asked.
Silco’s face went through several emotions before finally settling on something bordering embarrassment and annoyance. It was an odd look.
Instead of answering her question, he deflected. Typical.
“What are you doing back so early?”
Sevika had to reframe from rolling her eyes.
“Plans have changed-“
“Why.” He threw her a dark look, shifting the child in his hold slightly.
Putting her hand on her hip, she sent him her own frown. “What’s with the kid?”
If he was going to be difficult. Fine, so would she.
Said child, let out a wet cough, her little body shaking slightly. Sevika lowered her arm, eyes narrowing. “What’s wrong with her.”
For a moment Silco actually looked pained. Then he sighed.
“…I’m - not sure.”
Sevika moved closer, eyes watching the child closely, “is she hurt?” she asked as she reached out and gently placed a hand on the girl’s forehead, acutely aware of Silco watching her every move. His arms tightened around the child protectively.
The girl felt extremely hot and clammy, defiantly not a good sign.
“She’s sick.” Sevika stated, meeting his gaze. Hesitantly, he nodded.
“I believe so.”
Taking a step back she let out a resigned sigh. Great. She watched the two of them for a moment as the child let out another soft cough, Silco’s attention immediately on her. He was clearly confused, extremely out of him element…and yet he was still trying to help her. Why? Sevika wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t just leave the man to fumble blindly on his own.
“Come on, we need to break that fever before it gets worse.” She nodded towards the way they’d come and started to move.
Silco seemed to catch onto what she was suggesting, but instead of following her he stepped further to the side, tossing a glare down the hall. “Not back there, that room is soiled.”
Confused Sevika walked back.
“We just came from there.” He said looking down at the child as if that was explanation enough.
It wasn’t. But Sevika didn’t have time to argue.
“Fine, my quarters then, let’s go.” She began to march back towards the common area.
Silently Silco trailed after her.
A few halls and rooms later they made it to her room. Pushing open the door Sevika walked over to the tub and began turning on the tap. Silco stood awkwardly by the entrance.
“You can rest her on the bed while you wait.” She suggested as she crouched down to make sure the water coming in was cold.
Silco slowly moved further into the room, but instead of setting the child down, he sat in one of the empty chairs she had in the far corner, the child still in his lap.
A few minutes later and Sevika stood back up.
“Okay, let’s get her in.”
Carefully Silco brought her over to the tub, not caring about her clothes he gently laid her inside. The child immediately cried out.
“It’s freezing!”
Silco made to pull her back out, but Sevika put her hand on his arm stopping him. He glared at her.
Ignoring him, Sevika turned to address the girl.
“You have a fever,” it was ‘Powder’ right?, “we need to break it, the water will help keep it down for now.”
Shivering the girl slowly nodded, settling back down into the tub.
Now able to clearly see her face, Sevika felt a small pang of concern, the child was extremely pale. Leaning away from the girl, she turned toward her Boss.
“Has she eaten anything today?”
Silco nodded distantly, his eyes never leaving the child’s face. “A sandwich,” he mumbled.
Sevika nodded to herself, then to him, “we’ll keep her in here until she’s cooled down.”
He murmured an agreement.
The two of them had kneeled beside the tub, a silence stretching between them as they watched the girl begin to relax. Slowly, Sevika looked at him.
“…Sir, there are some things we need to discuss.” She said softly.
“Can it wait.” He asked irritably.
“I’m afraid not.”
Sighing in annoyance, Silco leaned back as well, finally looking at her. Waiting.
“There’s been a bump in our time, the enforcer’s aren’t coming late this evening but in a few hours. I told the gang to meet back here within the hour to go over the new plan.”
Silco gave a short nod, but it didn’t seem like he was entirely listening.
“I went back to the cannery as well, to make sure there wasn’t anything to lead a trail to us, there isn’t.”
Another nod.
“The lads are going to lay low for a bit, that’s expected, but I told them this meeting would assure that we’d have something to go off of for the next few weeks while in hiding.”
Nod.
“Rumors are already spreading across the city, everyone believes the enforcers killed Vander, that they caused the explosion at the cannery and are coming down to clean up their mess.”
Silco narrowed his eyes, but nodded once more.
“…I also spoke with an informant, he said they’re placing The Last Drop for sale in the coming days.”
“What?”
It was sharp and bitting. He moved entirely away from the tub and encroached into her space.
“They’re selling it?”
“Auctioning, actually, to the highest bidder. I hear word that our ‘neighbors’ may try to claim it, as well as our rivals.”
“Those idiots.” Silco hissed out. “They should know better.”
“It’ll be a blood bath, sir.”
Silco mused for a moment, looking between her and the child. “…Not if we claim it first.”
“I thought the same thing - but it’s too soon, it would be a bit telling, no? We can’t afford that kind of attention.”
“Attention, good or bad is still attention, Sevika, and if our ‘friends’ wish to play roulette, then who are we to stop them?”
“And what of the enforcers?”
Silco hummed thoughtfully. “You let me worry about them.” Then glancing back at the child, he frowned. “But I’m calling off today’s meeting.”
Sevika moved back in surprise, “what?”
“You heard me. I don’t have a precise plan in place now with what you’ve told me. Tell them another day, do whatever you must, pay them, give them some kind of alibi, just send them away.” He leaned down closer to the tub, the girls eye’s closed as she rested.
“Sir, I really don’t think-“
“And did I ask for your opinion?” He snapped, scowling over his shoulder.
Sevika closed her mouth, shooting a glare at the space next to him.
“Sir.” She nodded quickly and dismissively before exiting the room.
===========================================
Sevika stood on the other side of her door, taking a moment to calm down.
Damn him.
Shaking her head she swiftly made her way back to the common room. Only to stop in the doorway. Her ‘dynamic’ trio lounging about. Oh great, they’re early.
“Hey Boss.” The blonde said lazily, “where’s the bigger Boss?”
“Everyone is waiting outside.” The raven-haired woman said from the couch.
Shit.
Sevika gave them a curt nod, then motioned toward the door she’d just came from. “Change of plans. We’re not meeting today.”
All three began protesting at once. Sevika felt anger in her gut.
“You three really want to argue about this?” She said stepping threateningly into the middle of the room. “I don’t make the orders, I just deal them out. You have a complaint, save it for the next meeting then, alright.”
All three grumbled. The blonde actually had the gall to look ashamed.
“Sorry, Boss.” He mumbled.
“It’s fine. Look, I know things have been screwy since last night, but I’m asking you all to be patient here.”
“So then when are we meeting?” The other woman asked.
Straight to the point, as usual.
Sevika glanced at her. “I’m not sure. But I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”
“That’s a bit un-committal, don’t you think”, the burly man said.
The raven-haired woman rolled her eyes. “It’s fine big guy, my main concern lies within our expenses, I hope you know my dudes and I still expect to get paid -“
“Everyone will be compensated for their time, job or no job.” Sevika said amiably. The woman gave a small shrug.
“Sounds good to me.” She made to stand up. The burly man following her. “I’ve got nothing else to say, do you?” She nodded toward the blonde.
“Uhh, no?”
“You?” She motioned at Sevika.
“Just - stay out of sight for now….” She said meeting each of their gazes evenly.
The other woman gave a small grin. “Yeah, well, same to you Sevika, it doesn’t sound like the gossip is going to quiet down for a bit.” With a final nod, she headed toward the door leading out, “you know where to find us…”.
“Come to our card game next week, it’s poker night.” The burly man said kindly as he followed the woman to the entrance. The blonde trailed behind but stopped short.
“Oh! Ah, wait! I just thought of something!” He spun toward Sevika, “what happened to that kid from last night?”
Three pairs of eyes locked onto her. She gave them a shrug in return. “Not sure how that’s any of your business.”
The blonde backed down. “Oh, uh, right, sorry.”
They quickly left after that. Sevika standing alone once more.
…It’d gone better than she’d hopped. Still. Nothing about this situation sat right with her.
Rubbing her shoulder through the cloak, she headed back to her room. The pain shouldn’t be coming back so soon, should it? Frowning she decided to push on. She could worry about that later. She still had a job to do.
She stopped once more outside her own door. Should she knock? That felt a little weird - all the same she raised a fist and lightly hit.
She heard a soft, “enter.”
Gently she pushed the door open. And froze.
In the span of the time she’d gone to now, Silco had taken the girl out of the tub and had tucked her into the bed, several blankets surrounded the child’s small form.
She was fast asleep.
Silco sat on the floor, back resting against the bed frame, his legs were stretched out and he looked every bit of exhausted.
Sevika quietly walked over and plopped down across from him on the floor.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Sevika slowly watching the girl’s chest rising and falling. She seemed a little better, or at least she hopped. Offhandedly she realized Silco had been watching her just as closely. Their eyes met.
“How did it go.” He whispered to her.
“Somewhere between satisfied and unpleasant.” She whispered back. Silco nodded.
“They’ll be fine then.” He said, whether it was to reassure himself or her, she didn’t know.
Motioning behind him, she looked towards the little girl. “How is she?”
“Asleep.” He said a bit grimly, “she almost passed out in the tub, I’m not sure if her fever has gone down.”
“She looks a little better.”
“Not enough.” Pulling a leg towards himself, he leaned forward, resting an elbow on his knee. “I wonder if I should send for a physician.”
Sevika looked between him and the girl. Then took in a sharp breath.
“Actually - I know someone who could help, I saw them earlier today - I could retrieve them for you, sir.”
She wasn’t too thrilled of the idea of Hector meeting her Boss, but well…something like this would need discretion, and Hector was all about that.
Silco actually looked surprised by her offer, his eye softening.
“Perhaps in the morning, if her condition worsens,” he said, eyes avoiding her suddenly. “…The offer is appreciated,” he mumbled.
Sevika smiled tiredly and bumped her boot against his companionably.
They sat in silence once more. Sevika slowly relaxing, her body becoming more exhausted with every passing minute, the shock from last night taking its toll.
Closing her eyes, she was about to drift into a restless sleep when she felt a foot bump her back.
Cracking open her gaze she looked at him.
“…What of your arm?”
At the mention of her lost appendage, the pain only seemed to increase. Flinching, she sat up straighter.
“He cleaned it, bandaged it, slapped on a little note that said ‘good as new’.” She tried for humor but it didn’t reach her eyes, and judging by Silco’s look it didn’t hit its mark either. So far she was 0-0 on the comedy front.
“So it’s safe from infection?” He asked, ignoring her comment.
“For now, I’m to return in a week or so for another redressing.”
He hummed again, looking at her shoulder closely.
She followed his line of sight and somewhat perked up.
“Oh, that reminds me.” She dug around under the cloak, pulling out the dirtied stuffed animal, it’s ears charred slightly. “Here.”
Silco stared at the toy, then back at her.
“Why are you giving me this?” He asked, clearly confused.
“I think it belongs to her.”
“Jinx?” Silco asked, perplexed as he frowned down at the animal.
Sevika stared back in her own confusion. “Is that her name?”
“That’s the one she gave me.” Hesitantly he took the toy. “It’s filthy,” he said looking it over.
“Hmm, yeah, maybe clean it before giving it back to her.”
“Or I could toss it out with the rest of the garbage.”
Sevika shot him a look. “I didn’t drag that thing around half the city for the last few hours for you to just toss it out.”
Silco blinked at her, then set the stuffed animal beside him. “Fine.”
Sevika nodded in finality, “good, I don’t know how it managed -”
- then hissed as a wave of pain shot up her shoulder.
Damn it!
She grabbed at the cloak, hunching over as wave after wave began hitting her in quick succession.
What the hell??
“Sevika?” Silco questioned.
“I’m fine.” She grit out, scrambling to get to her feet, but stumbling. The pain wasn’t like anything she’d really felt before, each wave was white- hot and searing, like she was loosing her limb all over again.
She managed to make it to the door, tossing it open she quickly ran out. Briefly she heard Silco call after her as she disappeared down the hall.
Author’s Note: So this is going to be kind like a sequel to my Arcane ff, but posting at the same time. This is a Silco centered fic about SPOILERS IF YOU CONTINUE
if he secretly survived at the end but everyone believed he didn’t, (kind of like how Jinx was slowly dying but Silco brought her to the lab and saved her)
Takes place immediately after ep 9.
Part 1.
Part 2.
Silco found himself standing on a small bridge, a shallow creek running under it. The sun was unusually bright, but there seemed to be little heat in the air, nor was it cold.
Confused he tried to get his bearings as the landscape looked like neither Zaun or Piltover.
Strange.
A figure standing towards the middle of the road caught his attention. Stepping closer, he felt himself grow cold as he stared at Vander’s large form only a few dozen feet away.
Vander leaned against the railing of the bridge, eyes watching him as he approached.
“‘Bout time you showed up. I was beginning to think I was late.”
Silco swallowed heavily, this Vander looked nothing like how he saw him their last time, instead he looked to be about a decade younger. Back when they were ‘brothers’.
A sudden thought occurred to him.
“Am I dead?” Painful images flashed before his eyes, Jinx and that enforcer scum, Jinx holding her gun. Jinx shooting him.
Oh.
He looked between Vander and the length of the bridge that suddenly seemed to go on forever.
“That all depends on you.” Vander said cryptically.
Silco scoffed, “by all accounts, I should be dead.” He spread his arms wide and motioned towards everything around them. “This place, it’s not like any I’ve seen before.” He shot Vander a sour look, “and you’re here.”
Vander chuckled, moving closer.
“And me being here would suggest death to you?” He folded his arms. Silco took a step back.
“What else should I believe.”
“I didn’t say you were wrong, but it’s certainly a morbid thought Silco.”
“Again, what else should I believe.” He spat.
Vander put a finger to his chin, seeming lost in thought.
Silco’s patience was running thin, that and he was beginning to panic.
“Where are we? What- what is this place?” He asked glancing around.
Vander just stared back at him.
“If this is the afterlife, I don’t quite understand it-“
“You did it, you know.”
Silco threw him a questioning look. “…Did what?”
“All that talk, all that we had planned - the Nation of Zaun. You did it, for a split moment we had what we wanted. Peace.”
“What the Hell are you talking about?” Silco was growing concerned, last he knew Jayce had decided to condemn them, all because the stipulations were too high (for him anyway).
“The council voted, they agreed to give us our freedom.”
Silco stared in shock.
They’d finally done it, years and years of hard, painstaking work and they’d managed to achieve his dream.
Their dream.
For a moment, Silco was overcome with emotion, a broken laugh escaping him. It didn’t matter if he was dead, they were free. The Underground would finally become the great nation that he always knew it could be.
“We did it.” He whispered, looking up at Vander.
Vander nodded slowly, he smiled. “We did.” Then a deep sadness overtook his features, “we had.”
Silco paused in his internal celebration, something about Vander’s words putting him instantly on edge.
“Had?”
“Powder she-“
“Jinx.” He said out of reflex, but then caught Vander’s gaze, “it’s Jinx, now.”
“…Jinx, she was, upset to put it lightly. Everything involving with Vi, and - and you. It was too much, and ultimately, she made her decision.”
Silco’s concern was growing. “Her decision?”
“On who she really is.”
Silco frowned, he briefly remembered Jinx mentioning something about her identity, about whether or not she was Powder or Jinx. Which was ridiculous, she was Jinx, it was just that her traitorous sister was making her confused. But he knew she’d always find her way back.
Or he’d hoped.
“Who did she choose?” The anticipation was making him nervous, a rare emotion for him.
Vander pinned him with a look. “What do you think?” Then a bit more solemn, “she’s more your daughter than she was ever mine.”
Silco swallowed thickly. “Who did she-“
“Jinx shot an arcane crystal into the council chamber amidst the voting.”
Vander’s gaze was burning him, he suddenly felt as though he were drowning all over again.
“No.”
“She did, and now Piltover is readying to attack. Everyone, and I mean everyone, on both sides is up in arms over the situation.”
“No.” He heard himself say agin as a wave of nausea came over him. How could she do this? She knew the stakes. Why? Why, Why!
“Because she figured out who she is. She’s Jinx.”
“That isn’t- I didn’t teach her to-!”
“Didn’t you?”
“No!” Silco ran his hands through his hair, trying to contain the emotions within him. “I-I don’t understand.” He mumbled to himself.
“I don’t think she does either.” Vander said, leaning a hip agains the railing. “I think she’s lost.”
Silco stared down, eyes searching the ground for unseen answers.
“I think she needs you.” Vander whispered.
Silco’s head shot up. A silent understanding crossing between them.
“They’ll hunt her down for this.” Vander said straightening. “Piltover is out for blood.”
“What can I do?” Silco asked, stepping closer. His paternal instincts kicking in.
“You? I thought you believed you were dead?”
Silco fumbled for his words, but he kept coming up empty, instead he just shot the larger man an annoyed eye roll. “Is there something I can do to help her?”
“Of course.”
“What is it?”
“You can go back.”
Silco stared at him. “Go…back?”
“You see this bridge? As long as we’re not on one side or the other, you’re still living -er, not dead I guess.”
Silco looked around them again. “So one end will take me back and the other will seal my fate?”
Vander nodded.
“Which one will lead me back?”
“Now, hang on.” Vander stepped even closer. “You and I need to make a few things clear.”
Silco bristled, but listened.
“First of all, this isn’t how these things normally happen, you’re a special case if I’m being honest. But if you go back, you’re going to need to fix this mess you’ve made. And that includes Jinx-“
“I’ll not hand her over if that’s what you’re suggesting.” He lashed out, coming to stand only a foot away from the bigger man. “I’d rather die for good than betray her like that!”
“I wouldn’t. Silco, if there’s anything we have left in common it’s that we’d never betray our girl’s trust.”
Silco calmed slightly, looking between the man’s eyes and seeing nothing but honesty.
“…Very well, so I fix the damage Jinx has caused. That good enough for you?”
“Fix the damage she caused, fix relations with Piltover, fix the Underground, and for fuck’s sake get rid of that swill you call Shimmer.”
Despite their situation, his comment amused Silco. “I recall you using that ‘swill’ at one point to gain the upper hand.”
“Don’t go digging more holes when you’re not even out of the first one, Silco.” Vander glared.
Holding up his hands placatingly, Silco grinned. “Fine, I’ll see what I can do. Any other stipulations? Time constants, would you like a daily progress report.” He said dryly.
It was Vander’s turn to roll his eyes. “Time works differently here, so you don’t need to worry about anything that doesn’t concern the land of the living.”
Silco raised a brow. “That’s ominous.”
“That’s how this works. So, are you ready to go?”
Silco sucked in a shaky breath, then nodded.
Vander pointed in the direction he’d just come from. Looking behind himself, Silco sighed. “I. Do have a question. If I may?”
Vander motioned for him to continue.
“I understand that you think I’ll be able to fix all that’s taken place, I certainly hope that I can - but, what makes you think I can control Jinx? You make it sound as though she’s gone off the deep end.”
“Because she listens to you.” Vander sighed, an honest look appearing on his face. “Because when the chips are down, you’ve always been there. I’m not saying this will be easy, you helped make her the way she is, but if anyone is going to help her see reason within this situation, it’s you.”
Silco felt something within his chest tighten.
“She needs her sister as well.”
That something within his chest burned away and anger arose in its stead.
“NO, she’s the reason Jinx became confused in the first place!”
“She needs a balance Silco.”
His rage was blinding. “That traitor- and her friend - they caused this! They’re the one’s who should be held responsible! They-“
“She needs her family!” Vander shouted back.
Silco paused, seething. Vander continued on.
“She needs her family, Silco, all of it, including you, and including Vi. If you want this madness to end, you have to be willing to accept that, you have to stop separating Jinx and Powder.”
Vander sucked in a large breath, “they’re one in the same. Can’t you see that?”
Silco stared hard. He could hear his blood pumping in his ears. Could he do that, accept that?
“…If I do, what you suggest,” he said quietly, “will it help her?”
Vander’s gaze softened. “It won’t hurt.”
Nodding stiffly, Silco looked out over the bridge. “Very well then.” He looked back at Vander. “I think I’m ready to go.”
Vander watched him for a moment before giving his own curt nod. “Be on your way then.”
Silco frowned as he turned away. Silently he made his way towards the end of the bridge. He got about ten steps in before turning back around, mouth open to say something but Vander beat him to it.
“It was good to see you again, Silco.”
Said man stared back in shock. Closing his mouth with an audible click, he smiled sadly.
“Likewise, Vander.”
“And don’t worry, this won’t be the last we see of each other.” Vander chuckled darkly, “you’ll die eventually, so.”
Silco snorted, “until next time,” then softly, “brother.”
Vander smiled back just as softly. “Until then, brother.”
Silco quickly turned back around, eyes suddenly wet and heart heavy as he made it to the end of the bridge.
The cobbled road seemed to end and a dirt path opened up in front. Sighing he stepped forward, off the road and onto the path.
And fell.
He let out a short yell as he suddenly found himself falling through a foggy mist. It quickly turned to a greenish tint and the fog resembled that of gas rather than clouds. He was choking now, the fumes stronger than what he was used to in the Underground. Struggling in the air he felt his breath leave him as sheer pain coursed through his body.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
PS. I’m going to start posting chapters twice a week guys :) I’ll also have another fic that takes place after ep 9 that will be posted once a week. Thanks again to everyone reading this, I really appreciate it!
This takes place between Ep 3 and 4
Trigger warning: some mention of gore and loss of a limb
(I am in no way a medical professional so I apologize if my descriptions of medical care are incorrect. Thank you!)
Part 5.
Part 8. Part 7. Part 6. Part 4. Part 3. Part 2. Part 1.
The first thing she did upon waking up was to naturally reach over and grab the little pocket watch her brother had given her, on the side table. When she didn’t feel it, she paused.
Two things occurred at once, the first being that she had one hell of a pounding headache and the second was that she realized she had no arm to reach for.
Oh fuck.
Sevika stared up at the ceiling as the memories from the night before came crashing back to her.
Her gut twisted and in one baleful motion she rolled onto her stomach and proceeded to puke large quantities of alcohol onto the floor.
No wonder she felt like shit.
Sighing at the mess, she tried not to let her mind wonder into a dark area of despair. She should be grateful right? She was alive after all.
Dragging herself up into a sitting position, which was honestly harder than it seemed, she decide to not think about what had happened to her.
She wasn’t going to ignore it, but honestly she really wasn’t in a good place to logically and rationally deal with herself at the moment. Not when she still had a job to do.
She went through the motions of getting dressed, forgoing a wash and instead, pulling on an outfit that wasn’t covered in dirt and burned to hell and back. She looked down at her empty sleeve, and in one fluid motion tore it off.
Good enough.
Looking at herself in her mirror she stiffened. She really did look a mess. Her body, though nothing was broken looked like one giant bruise, and her shoulder had been hastily wrapped, dried blood seeping though the bandages from the night before.
She needed to see a physician.
She needed to round up the gang.
She should probably do a headcount, maybe scout out the damage, listen in for any rumors off the streets.
There was a lot that needed to be accounted for if their plan wasn’t going fall by the wayside.
She grabbed her somewhat tattered cloak and laid it over her left side, covering up her shoulder. She couldn’t appear weak when she went out today, she had a reputation to maintain and people to keep in line.
They were like wolves, loyal to the pack but if one of them sniffed out a weak link, they’d be on her in an instant.
Glancing at herself once more and nodding in approval that she didn’t look like she’d gotten blown up the night before, she quickly left the room.
It didn’t take her long to reach the common area, her mind briefly wondering towards the kitchen but she stopped dead in her tracks.
There were a lot of things Sevika would say she’d need to see to believe but in this one instance she was too far in shock to believe what her eyes were telling her.
There, in the middle of the room lied her boss; ruthless till the end, somewhat pretentious, and cleverly conniving, leader, fast asleep. The child laying in his lap.
She snorted.
Loudly.
Fearfully she quickly covered up her mouth and watched to see if they’d stir.
Neither did, and Sevika found herself slowly walking closer. Curious she looked them over.
They looked like shit. Honestly it was a wonder they all survived.
She watched the child for a moment, her mouth open as little snores slipped out, there was blood under her nose interestingly enough and she was covered in dirt. Her ‘fearless’ leader didn’t look much better, bruises littered his neck and despite his relaxed features he didn’t appear to be sleeping peacefully at all.
After another moment of just watching them, she stepped back, her shock of it all finally wearing away leaving mostly amusement in its wake. And some concern.
She’d never seen him like this. It was a new development and honestly probably not the best look on him considering the situation. But she could already tell some kind of bonding had taken place, she’d seen it the night before, dazed as she was, when the child flung herself onto him. And he’d held her back. She’d been too fucked up to really make sense of it all, but now.
Now she wondered if she should be worried.
The Underground was already really no place to raise a kid. But here?
They’d need to have a talk, just her and him. She didn’t normally like to throw around her position in ranks, but she knew he’d at least listen to her if she brought up her concerns. He might not agree, but he’d listen.
Turning away, she thought it best to maybe mention some of those concerns now. Just in case the lads decided to show up early.
Heading to the far desk, she pulled out a piece of paper and began writing. It was a good thing she was right handed.
Leaving the note where he’d likely see it, she swiftly left.
By the time she finally made it up and out of the armory her shoulder was throbbing. Damn, she’d thought she’d have a little more time before the pain set in again. Last night, before drowning herself in booze, she’d taken a powerful painkiller. Probably not the best idea but she hadn’t been in her best mind last night either. Now it appeared both the alcohol and drug were wearing off, and quickly. She also didn’t have anymore either, meaning this physician was her best hope at finding any relief and fast.
Swiftly traversing the streets, Sevika kept to herself in the alleyways, avoiding large groups and for the most part remaining unnoticed by the general populous.
Ten minutes later and she’d arrived to his home. Dr. Banefield is what he went by now but Sevika new him to go by a different name at one point. He’d been a relief agent, a medical officer who’d been one of Piltover’s best. He’d defected some years ago of course, though why he had Sevika had yet to get an answer. She’d run into him when she was just a teen and in need of help, he’d taken her and her brother in for a time, but then-
“Are you going to stare at my door all day or are you going to come in?”
A tall, thin, man, with an extraordinarily long beard stood in the doorway looking at her quizzically.
She grinned.
“Hey, Hector.”
“Hmm.” He turned away but left the door open.
“What.” She said following in after him. The entryway opened up into a large, cluttered room; full of books and parchments scattered across the floor. It was as though a gust of wind had tossed everything around. Even the furniture, several chairs, a writing desk, and a sofa, looked as if it had seen better days.
“You don’t write, you don’t find time to visit, hell you don’t even come by for our card games anymore.”
“I’m here now-“
“You’re here,” He said, peering down at her from the far side of the room. “Because you want something.”
She glared back at him.
“Hmm, am I wrong?”
“…No.”
He gave a little nod, and then gracefully folded himself into a chair. He pulled a pipe out of his pocket.
“So then tell me, Sevika.” He lit a match and held it under the pipe. “What is it that you want?”
She glanced about the room for a moment, triple checking that they were truly alone.
“I had a little accident last night-“
“The explosion at the cannery?” He asked. Sevika blinked back in surprise.
“How do you know about that?”
He let out a dark chuckle, smoke rising from his lips. “My dear child, everyone knows.” Leaning back he pinned her with a glare. “It’s all anyone is talking about. That, and that Vander is dead.”
Sevika looked down. For a brief moment she felt shame.
“Hector, I didn’t-“
“You know.” He took a puff. “Vander was the last thing holding this shit-hole together. And now-“ A scoff, “well now, what are you going to do?”
“Vander was holding us back.” She bit out.
“Perhaps. But also perhaps, violence isn’t always the way child.”
She could feel her anger rising, face heating up.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, old man. You’ve no idea what the Underground could be, why should we stand back and let Piltover -“
She paused. There was no point in arguing, truthfully the pain was becoming too much. And pissing off the one person who could help her didn’t seem like the best course of action. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.
“Look, I didn’t come here to fight, okay.”
“Of course not, because you need my help, yes?”
She opened her eyes and looked at him, sighing she walked closer.
He watched her for a moment, eyes dragging to her cloaked shoulder.
“You didn’t walk away from that explosion, did you.” A smug looking coming to rest on his face. “Good, you deserve whatever happened to you.”
Furious, Sevika yanked off the cloak and shoved her left side towards him where he could see the bandaged wound.
He stared.
The only sound in the room was her ragged breath as she tried to control her emotions. She could feel the pinpricks of tears on her eyes.
No. She would not cry.
Slowly, the man stood up. He put out his pipe and let out a heavy sigh.
“Come on then, let’s have a look in the back.”
Grateful, Sevika relaxed, her expression softening.
He led her past a few more rooms and into a more clinical one, another desk and two chairs were off to the side, the room was lined with cabinets and medical tools.
“Have a seat.” He said as he moved towards one of the cabinets.
Sevika did as he asked, suddenly feeling like a teenager again. She’d often find herself in this room, having gotten into fights frequently when young. And somehow after every hit, punch, scrape, or bite, Hector had managed to put her back together. She hoped he could do the same now.
“What was it.” He asked, still searching amongst the cabinets. “The explosion I mean, everyone who saw it said it looked like nothing they’d ever seen.”
She frowned. She was really going to have to do some damage control if the gossip had traveled this fast. It was spreading like wild fire.
“I don’t know.” She said honestly. “It hurt like a bitch though.”
Hector chuckled, glancing back at her as he grabbed a bottle of disinfectant. “I bet it did.”
“What else are people saying?”
“Oh, you know, the unusual, that Piltover is somehow the cause, especially after a similar incident took place above ground recently. Those enforcers they’re sending down to investigate certainly aren’t helping their case.”
Sevika nodded “I heard about that”
“Yes, they should be here this afternoon.”
She froze. “They’re coming this evening.”
“Nope, this afternoon, that’s what I’ve been hearing.”
Shit!
“…Are you sure that’s what you heard.”
He came back over to her, hands full of bandages, disinfectant and a bottle she didn’t recognize.
“Listen, I don’t often believe half the rubbish that theses people say around here, but believe me, when I tell you, I’m sure about this. Why, what does it matter anyhow?” He pulled up a chair beside her, “turn towards me.”
She grit her teeth as he began cutting away the bloodied bandage. “It doesn’t.” Then after a moment. “Can we make this quick please?”
“Oh? Somewhere to run off to so soon?”
“Hector-“
“They say that Piltover caused that explosion, that the enforces killed Vander because he knew too much, that he was hiding the real culprits behind the attack above ground? But you and I both know that’s a bunch of horseshit.” He tossed the soiled bandages into a nearby bin. “You were there last night Sevika, you know who killed Vander, you helped it happen. And now you’re running around town trying to clean up the evidence.” He opened the bottle of disinfectant. “All because of some misguided attempt at a revolution? You really think that fighting Piltover is going to bring about peace? That we’ll finally become the Nation Zaun? You saw what happened last time, what makes you think this round will be any different.”
Sevika watched him nervously as he applied the disinfectant, He was clearly angry, but he worked methodically on the wound.
He let out another deep sigh, eyes meeting her’s. “Did you ever stop to think, what if you’re wrong? What if he’s wrong?”
“He isn’t.” She stated clearly. Hector looked at her sadly.
“…You know. Your brother said the same thing. Now look where he is, several feet underwater in some sledge in an unidentifiable hole in the ground.”
She flinched at his words.
“He died for something he believed in.” She whispered, looking down.
Hector watched her closely. Then he gave her wound an experimental prod with a cotton swab. “Well. It appears you’re on the same path, considering you’ve given your arm to the cause now.”
Rolling her eyes, she decided not to comment.
“Can you feel this?” He asked, giving the tender flesh another poke.
“Not really, no.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Well it would appear the heat from the explosion sealed the wound closed. You’re lucky, had it not you would have most definitely bled to death.”
Sevika grimaced. “Wonderful.”
“You’re still prone to infection though, so I recommend disinfecting the wound with every clean bandage. The nerves here,” another prod, “also seem to have been damaged, well see though if there’s any lasting effects in the next coming weeks. Until then, don’t get it wet, and try not to get into any trouble that would lead to a reopening of the wound, understand.” He gave her a look.
“Roger that.”
He pulled out the bottle she didn’t recognize. Then a syringe with a needle on the end, he stabbed it into he top of the bottle and filed up the tiny syringe, then he jabbed it into her shoulder.
“Here, this should help with the pain for a while.”
Slowly, she began to feel a tingling sensation run up her shoulder and down towards the wound until it felt numb.
He stood up and went for another cabinet, quickly returning. He held out a small glass vial.
“Take this, when the pain returns place a few drops into a drink and it should numb the pain. Only, a few drops though, anymore could be dangerous.”
She reached for it, but he suddenly pulled it back. “Ah, that also means no more drinking while taking this, do you understand, don’t think I didn’t smell your sour breath. Mixing those is asking for trouble.”
Sevika snatched it from him as he sat back down and began to bandage her back up with a clean cloth.
“I’m not some child.” She mumbled out, but she could see him smirking out of the corner of her eye.
After he finished he leaned back in his chair and inspected his work once more before nodding in approval. “Well, that should about do it.”
“Thank you.” She said, standing and replacing the cloak back over her shoulder.
He nodded again, but a frown passed over his face.
“Just one more thing, I’m curious to know how exactly you managed to only loose your arm. Seems an odd turn of events, given your entire existence should have been blown away. Or am I missing something?”
She rolled her eyes again as she started to make her way towards the rooms exit.
“Yeah, you’re missing a lot of somethings.”
“Hm, just doing your job then, I see. Well I hope he knows what you risked.”
She stopped and looked back at him.
Hector raised a brow. “I may be old, but I’m no fool Sevika, and neither is Silco. You’d do best to remember that.”
She glared. “I do, every day.”
They walked the rest of the way to the final door’s entrance in relative silence.
She paused at the entry. “Listen, Hector, I know we haven’t always gotten along -“, she sighed, why was this so hard. “I just-I…Thank you.”
He smiled gently at her. “Until next time, my dear. Maybe try to come see me when you don’t need immediate help, hmm?”
She grinned at him, “yeah, maybe.” Then she slipped out the door.
============================================
Back on the streets of the Underground and feeling marginally better now that the pain was going away, Sevika made a bee line towards the cannery. Logically she knew this probably wasn’t the best idea, but she didn’t have time to stop and ask for help, nor would reporting back to Silco be the best course of action. She needed to make sure there wasn’t anything left that could somehow link the incident, especially the one above ground, back to them.
A good thirty minutes later and she’d made it to the cannery.
Sevika stared at the melted mess before her. Now in the daylight it was clearer to see. The fire must have raged on for a while judging by the amount of melted pieces laying around. There looked to be no sign of the shimmer laying around, all the tiny vials having either been blown up or burned out. She paused as she saw a few charred remains among the rubble. They were completely un-identifiable. All the same Sevika walked over. She crouched down next to the bodies, looking for any signs or clues as to who they could have been but there was absolutely nothing. Feeling a little unnerved she quickly moved away. Traveling further into the building she wondered briefly at the soundness of the structure, fearful it might collapse on her.
There were half a dozen more bodies inside, all equally charred and unrecognizable. The upper floor of the cannery, completely caved in and melted. Moving on towards the back of the building Sevika was getting a brief feeling of deja vu as she remembered being carried down the same path the night before. As she rounded the side she stopped.
Vander’s body - or what was left of it - lay only a few feet away. It had also been charred, but she knew who it was. For a moment she felt a wave a grief crash through her. Once upon a time the two of them had been friends, but that had all quickly changed. He had changed.
Swallowing down the angry lump in her throat, she approached the body.
Standing about a foot away, she crouched down, the smell sending her back a bit.
“…Listen.” She frowned.
Ran a tired hand over her face.
“What am I doing.” She sighed as she stood up. She turned to walk away.
But then turned back.
“You never could listen, could you.” She spat out. “Even when it could help you, even when it was the easy way out. You always had to make things difficult.”
She came to stand over him.
“..I didn’t want things to end like this.” She closed her eyes.
Then she turned and -
-and stepped on something soft. Looking down Sevika stared at the stuffed animal under her foot.
Chuckling darkly, she reached down and picked it up. It surely belonged to the child.
“Who would have guessed.” She mumbled. “You should have seen them this morning Vander, you wouldn’t have believed your eyes.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Our fearless leader.”
Looking back down at the toy, she frowned in thought.
“…Maybe you would have guessed.” She murmured, turning the toy over. “Maybe you would have believed your eyes. Because you would have done the same thing, wouldn’t you.”
“That’s why you did all of this, that’s why you couldn’t fight back. Because of them.” She gripped the toy tightly, painfully.
Then glanced back at the charred corpse.
“Don’t worry though, I have a feeling she’ll be in good hands.”
Sevika continued to squeeze the toy as she left the area, not once looking back.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
PS. I really just want to thank you guys who are reading this, I really appreciate it. Unfortunately I’m going to be taking a break here this weekend, but should have part 5 for you come Monday.
Anyway, I’ll let you get to it, enjoy! :)
Takes place between Ep 3 and 4
Trigger warning: panic attacks & slight mention of child manipulation
Part 4.
Part 8. Part 7. Part 6. Part 5. Part 3. Part 2. Part 1.
Silco avoided his reflection as he dressed. He didn’t need to see the rest of the damage that last night had caused. Instead he put his focus into the last few hours. New information had his mind reeling. The most significant being that of those little blue bombs.
He hadn’t been able to say anything then, not with Jinx in the sate she was in, but he’d been curious since she’d told him just what exactly had gone down at the inventor’s home.
Some kind of new science perhaps? It almost had..arcane qualities to it - if Silco were such a believer in that -the power it had emitted...Impossible. Impossible for those not born with such a gift.
And yet…
No.
It must be a new science.
And it certainly packed one hell of a punch.
Definitely useful. Perhaps - perhaps Jinx had some more? Perhaps they could learn to make their own.
Silco’s eyes became wide imagining all the possibilities with that kind of power, just like his so called shimmer. He’d be unstoppable.
But if she didn’t, and they had no means to recreate it…
Silco frowned, maybe the inventor had more? Or. They could make more.
He pulled on a boot.
It could be extremely dangerous.
One screw up and perhaps they’d take all of the Underground, all of Zaun in one giant blue flash.
Silco grimaced, as much as he wanted control, he wasn’t one to entertain genocide.
No. Maybe it was best to leave the invention under-wraps for now. They could always revisit it at a later date.
There was too much to do now with his own experiments. Taking a mental step back, he reasoned with himself. There was a lot that needed fixing in the coming weeks, he didn’t have time for anything that didn’t involve his shimmer.
Once he had control of the Underground properly, there’d be all the time in the world to recreate such a weapon.
Pulling the other boot on he stood up straight, finally looking himself over in a mirror. The bruising peeked out over his collar but the water seemed to have washed away some of the dirt making the mark appear worse than it was. Sighing he moved back into his sleeping quarters, glancing at a clock on the far wall as he did.
He had about five hours until their meeting.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, Silco allowed his musings to drift dangerously back to the events of the previous night.
He hadn’t had a moment to fully digest his situation; everything leading up to the current moment - and he needed to. Least he experience another fit like the one in the washroom.
Things hadn’t gone according to plan-
To put it bluntly, shit had really gotten out of hand. He wouldn’t call it necessarily a set back, but the disappointment was leaving him hollow.
Alright fine. Moving on. His losses, list them out.
First; His lackeys, he couldn’t say he didn’t care, but they knew what they were fighting against, and they were paid generously for it. He could always hire more. Second; his most successful experiment yet had been killed, again he could always make another. Third; his leading scientist was nowhere to be found and Silco had a sneaking suspicion he didn’t make it out of the cannery alive. Fourth; his base of operation and a fuck ton of shimmer had gone up with the smoke.
Perfect.
He dragged a hand down his face.
Silently, he added Vander to the list of losses as well. The Lanes Support. Possibly his enforcer informant.
Letting out a noise of frustration he laid back on the bed, an arm covering his face tiredly.
The only thing he’d managed to get out of last night was possibly a new weapon and the child.
Jinx.
She was…different, not what he was expecting. From their first interaction she’d been surprising him. They were similar in a way, in that they’d both experienced a familial betrayal unlike any other. But she hadn’t quite reached the level of vengeance he’d had yet. That would come with time though, he thought. Once she began to get over the death of her family and really saw them for what they were, what they had done, what her sister had done. She’d understand.
He hopped at least.
Until then he wasn’t sure what his intentions were with her. She was a scared, helpless child, or so she appeared. And yet she’d had no problem coming to her family’s aid, no problem in possibly killing everyone inside the cannery.
He could work with that.
Rolling his head to look at the clock once more he suddenly realized how long he’d been away. He told her within the hour - the time was approaching just that. Quickly he sat up, grabbed his over coat and headed towards the door. The last thing he needed was to arrive late and for the child to think he’d somehow abandoned her. He internally flinched at the idea, a small part of him wishing he’d kept a better eye on the time.
Powder sat on the small cot, her legs pulled up close to her chest. She hadn’t been counting, but she could sense it had been over an hour since he’d left. Trying to stay positive she deicide to reason with everything out loud.
“Maybe he got held up on his way back.” She said to the stale air.
“…Yea maybe.” A figure in a far corner spoke back.
Powder jumped, fearful someone had snuck inside the room while she was bathing.
“Who-who are you!?” She had nothing to protect herself with, afraid she pulled the wool blanket close to her.
The figure stared back at her through the shadows.
“Maybe he left.” The shadow whispered.
Powder flinched back, her gut twisting.
“No-no, he wouldn’t…”
“Why not? Everyone else has. Why should he stay?”
Powder brought fists up to her eyes and rubbed hard, fighting back tears.
“What makes you think he’d stay, when I wouldn’t even.” The figure stepped out and Powder watched in horror as Vi appeared in the dim light, her face scrunched up in anger, her eyes hateful.
“You’re a monster.” Vi said, slowly approaching her.
“No! No Vi! Please! Please, I’m sorry!” She was torn between fleeing and flinging herself at her sister’s feet. She stayed frozen.
Vi scoffed. “You’re sorry? Oh well that makes everything better, that fixes Everything, Vander, Mylo, Claggor, it’s all good now.” She stopped near the tub, glancing in she made a disgusted face.
“Look at this filth.” She looked at Powder. “Just like you. Damn I wish I could have washed you off, maybe then they’d still be alive.”
“Vi..please.” She wailed painfully.
Suddenly Vi turned on her, enraged. Her face distorting as she screamed.
“You’re a Jinx, do you hear me! Mylo was right!”
Powder screamed back, just as the door to the room flung open.
Silco had quickened his pace when he’d thought he heard yelling down the hall, but the scream that reached his ears as he slammed the door open sent a chill down him.
He stared for a moment as the child sobbed uncontrollably, her eyes pinned to the far side of the room, near the tub.
“I’m sorry!” She wailed at nothing. “I’m so sorry, please! It was an accident!”
Silco looked between her and - whoever she was talking to- and began to move.
He slid onto the cot beside her, instantly trying to stop her thrashing.
“Jinx.” He sad trying to gain her attention. She glanced at him briefly but it was like she was seeing right through him.
He looked back, some alarm far in the recess of his mind warning him. Something wasn’t right.
Shaking her gently he tried again, “Jinx!”
She kept her eyes on the tub.
Not sure what else to do he brought his hands up around her face, slowly covering her eyes and pulled her against him. She struggled, but only for a moment.
“Jinx, whatever you - whoever you see, they’re not real, listen to me. You’re safe, I’m here.”
She continued to cry but it was somewhat subdued. After a few minutes he slowly withdrew his hands. She blinked for a moment and then stared down at the cot, the back of her head resting against him.
He brought his arms around her loosely and she laid her hands on top of his, holding him in place.
“…You were late.” She whispered. Silco felt his stomach drop.
“I was. I’m sorry.”
“Did you ‘intend’ to,” She asked, much like their earlier conversation. Her voice strained.
“No. Purely by accident.”
She gave a small nod, looking over at the tub again. “Then apology accepted.”
Silco looked down at her. Then he rested his chin on her head.
They stayed like that for a long while, Silco eventually brining his legs up onto the cot and reclining back against the wall, Powder in his arms.
She’d dozed in and out of sleep as they sat there, her body not used to the constant exhaustion. She’d felt a little better this morning, but since her melt down in the kitchen she’d felt progressively worse and worse. Now she just wanted to curl up and sleep forever.
She could tell he was growing tired as well, judging by the lax way he was holding her. She could easily slip out.
For a split second the thought crossed her mind. She could leave, she knew the way back up, she could leave, hunt down Vi and-
And what? Her mind shot back at her.
Why would you want to leave?
Powder found ‘herself’ staring back at her under her eyelids. Only this version of herself looked a little strange. She had violet eyes.
“I-I don’t, not really” She thought back.
The ‘other’ her began to grin.
I don’t want to leave either. She-them-it, said.
“But…but what about Vi?” She asked herself. Despite her earlier vision, she longed for her sister.
The ‘other Powder’ let out a small hiss.
What about her? Why would I ever want to go back to someone who doesn’t want me!?
She has a point, Powder thought. But a small part of her still ached, still disagreed, still questioned.
“But what if she does? What if I’m making a huge mistake?”
‘Other Powder’ walked up to her and leaned in close, lips pressing against her ear.
I won’t.
And then she shoved her.
Powder was suddenly falling. The image of the cannery’s window appearing above her as glass trailed around her.
She reached out, terrified she was going to fall to her death, only to see ‘other Powder’ stick her head out of the blown window. She grinned.
Powder jumped awake.
Breathing heavily she gripped onto the arms surrounding her. Silco startled.
“Jinx?” But before he could question her further she quickly scrambled away from him and off the cot, making it about a foot before the contents of the sandwich and muffins made it on the floor.
==========================================
Silco reeled back in disgust as Jinx empty her stomach only a few feet away. Trying not to get too angry he slowly slid off the cot.
She was crying again, but in that hysterical, I’ve-just-thrown-up-and-now-I’m-too-tired-to-process-this kind of way. Silco didn’t want to say he could relate, but well…
He stepped around the mess and crouched down on her other side, the smell alone making him scrunch up his face.
“Jinx.” He tried again, sticking out a hand and resting it on her head for a moment, hoping to comfort. She glanced up at him, eyes wet and nose running. She tried wiping at her face but it didn’t really help. Silco frowned. The child looked…pale. Like sickly almost.
Moving his hand from her hair to her forehead, he sharply pulled back. She was burning up.
Great.
His irritation spiking, he pinched the bridge of his nose. This was the last thing he needed right now. Not only did he have a helpless, broken-mess of a child, but now he might have a sick one.
What did one even do for a sick child?
“I’m sorry.” She coughed out as she looked at him, sadness and fear mingling in her eyes. “I’ll-I’ll clean it up.”
He stared at her.
There were a handful of times that Silco would ever willingly admit to feeling like an ass in his entire life.
This was one of them.
He pulled her gently to him. “It’s okay, forget the mess.” She latched onto him, tiny body shaking. “Come, let’s get you cleaned up.” He said hefting her up into his arms.
Swiftly, they left.
Silco would have said he was relieved to be out of the smelly room, but he had other concerns outweighing anything else at that moment.
Now that Jinx held onto him tightly, he could feel the heat from her pressing into him. This wasn’t good. She’d seemed fine earlier, hadn’t she? Was this normal? He’d hardly ever been truly sick himself in the past years, he wasn’t equipped with having to deal with another living being going through such a state.
Calm yourself, he thought. Panicking now isn’t going to do you or her any good.
“Boss?”
Silco froze mid-step as he came face to face with Sevika.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
Takes place between Ep 3 and 4
Trigger warning, panic attacks & some child manipulation
Part 3.
Part 8. Part 7. Part 6. Part 5. Part 4. Part 2. Part 1
Silco awoke to the sound of a door shutting gently. He glanced around sleepily for any sign of another person within the vicinity. The room was empty, save for the small figure laying on his chest. The girl was snoring softly, mouth open slightly as a bit of drool formed under her cheek. Silco grimaced at the sight of it, he was really in need of a new outfit after last night, the drool being the cherry on top.
Slowly he shifted them into a sitting position.
Jinx stirred a bit from the motion but remained asleep after a moment. Silco let out a tired sigh. He wasn’t stuck per-say, he could easily remove the child, but that would mean waking her and dislodging her form him. Both options seemed to sour him.
Looking about the room helplessly he considered the time, he wasn’t on any real schedule, not until this evening, and it certainly wasn’t that late. His internal clock estimating it was sometime mid morning. Sighing again, he relaxed back into the chair, deciding they could both do with a little more rest. His body still ached but for the most part he was comfortable, his back surprisingly not hurting from the position in which they slept.
He brought his arms up around the child again as he rested his head back, eye closing as he mused over what needed to get done that day. He began making a list.
Without thinking he gently rubbed the child’s back and after a moment she gave a little stretch. Silco paused to look down at her, the act reminding him very much of a cat. Blearily the girl’s eyes cracked open. They looked at each other. Then she grumpily buried her face.
Silco smiled amusedly, the child’s actions reflecting his exact thoughts.
All the same, they couldn’t very well sleep the day away, and now that she was awake he felt less inclined to stay sitting.
“Good morning.” He gave her shoulder a small pat. She let out a small grumble.
“What was that?”
She huffed and raised her head. “I said ‘good morning’”
Silco watched as she sat herself up, back propping up against the chair’s armrest. She rubbed groggily at her eyes. He looked her over critically, now more awake and aware than he’d been last night.
Frowning, he took in the sight of her dirtied clothes, soot and ash from the fire caked on her shirt, arms and hair. Her eyes were still puffy from all the crying, the dried blood under her nose had flaked off a bit and the bruise on her face was turning a nasty purple color. All in all the child looked a mess, and that was putting it politely.
She was staring back at him now, and judging by her face he guessed he didn’t look too much better either.
Her stomach growled.
It was a violent sound and it appeared to startle them both as they looked down at her belly.
Quickly she wrapped her arms around herself suddenly embarrassed. Silco raised a brow at her. Then he slowly motioned for her to get off of him. Hesitantly she slid off his lap, taking the wool blanket with her as she wrapped her herself in it.
Silco stood, stretching his body out for a moment, then nodded to her.
“Come. Let’s get something to eat.”
Jinx seemed to perk up at his words, taking the wool blanket off slowly and placing it on the chair.
While she did this something had caught his eye. Glancing around the room he saw a small note laying on the far desk that hadn’t been there before. Already scowling he made his way over and picked it up. It read as follows.
“Hey Boss,
Went to round up the lads and let them know the plan for the day, then off to the doc’s. Should regroup after, maybe grab a drink or two and be on our way back. No later than six though, word is Piltover is sending over some enforcers tonight to survey the damage from the explosion last night. I guess there were some similarities from the attack above ground…best to lay low. Also.
Just a quick word of advice, maybe don’t have the kid around when the gang shows up. You’re both cute and all, but I don’t think the sight of you two cuddling is going to raise morale.
Sevika.”
Silco felt his face heat up. She’d seen them. Lord, he was never going to hear the end of it now.
She did have a point though. What had he been thinking? Anyone of his lackeys could have walked in on them. He had a reputation to upkeep mind you. He couldn’t be seen being soft with his friend turned enemy’s child. What would they think? God! He could hear the gossip now. They’d think he’d lost his mind for sure, he’d lose their support, their respect. Their fear.
Angrily he crumpled up the note.
“Is everything okay?” Jinx asked timidly from behind him.
Instantly Silco felt some of his rage leave him. Taking a deep breath he tried to rein in his emotions.
He turned to face her and gave a curt nod then motioned for her to follow him.
He led them through a different door than the ones they’d come through yesterday she noted, quickly following him. She stuck by his side like glue as he took them down several more hall ways, all littered with doors or adjoining rooms. It appeared almost like some kind of old office space. Weird?
Eventually they stopped outside of a room without a door but rather just an open, arched, entry. Inside it appeared to be a very out of date kitchen but still with all the necessities. Instantly her eyes landed on an encased bowl, the image of pastries peaking through. She ran over.
“You have sweets!?”
Silco’s eye followed her but he kept quiet as she quickly tore off the glass top and reaching in she pulled out what looked like a kind of muffin. Shoving almost the entire treat into her mouth Jinx let out a satisfied groan. Silco watched in horror as she proceeded to grab two more of the same and shove those into her mouth as well. For a moment he feared she might choke.
Humming happily, she looked over at him. “These are amazing.” She mumbled around the food in her mouth. Silco made a disgusted face at her lack of manners.
Not phased in the least Jinx went to grab a fourth but Silco snatched her hand before it could reach in.
Frowning, he tried not to let his irritation get to him. He let her go. “Perhaps, maybe start off with something that isn’t going to ruin your diet.”
She looked back at him in question. “Like what?”
Silco rolled his eyes and stood up straighter. “How about we start off with something simple. A sandwich.” And as he made his way towards a somewhat stale loaf of bread he didn’t miss the look of pure joy emitting from the small girl. Excitedly she bounded over next to him as he began pulling out a knife to slice the bread with.
As he made the somewhat basic sandwich; Jinx began chatting quickly. All at once Silco was overwhelmed. He’d thought she was kind of quiet, like him, a bit reclusive maybe, but he was swiftly coming to realize how wrong he’d been.
“I think I could count on my hands alone how many sandwiches I’ve had in my life, so like, not a lot you know. And it really sucks because they’re always so good, but it’s not like you can really find them down here. Not that it’s anyone’s fault it’s just how things are right? Like the other day I had this amazing sandwich in Piltover-“ She stopped mid sentence as if her own words had burned her. Silco glanced down at her as he put on the finishing touches; another piece of bread. Her story hadn’t surprised him though, he’d heard all about who had caused the most recent ‘attack’ above-ground.
Her mood instantly switched as she stood there now looking down at the floor as her hands twisted into the bottom of her shirt.
“I messed that up too.” She said quietly to herself. Silco cocked his head as he listened, his gaze turning questioningly.
“The sandwich?” He asked playing somewhat dumb.
Powder’s head raised up, but her gaze kept flickering between him and the floor. Then she let out a deep sigh.
“No. We were on a mission, we’d gotten a tip about some wealthy inventor, so we figured we’d take a few of his inventions and sell them… Everything was going according to plan until -“ She rubbed tiredly at her face.
“Until?” He prodded, handing her the finished sandwich.
“Until the inventor came back. I got scared and I must have dropped one of these - these blue looking balls -it-it’s what caused the explosion, they’re like tiny little bombs. I didn’t know that when I took them. Vi came and found me and then I was running and Mylo and Claggor, we were all running and jumping out the window when the explosion went off!” She was speaking quickly now, her breath coming in ragged pants. “I was so scared, I didn’t know what was happening but we kept running, the enforcers chasing us. We ran all the way back to the Underground. But it didn’t matter they’d seen us, they knew where we were. They sent all those enforcers, they were looking for us, and Vander he-“ She fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
“That was my fault too.” Hiccup. “I thought I could help then, and Vi thought I was ready. But I screwed it up, I lost the stuff we stole because I was too afraid. How could I have thought that I - but Vi was right! I’m not ready, I’m not ever going to be ready, because I’m scared, I’m too afraid…too afraid I’ll mess it all up again.”
She knelt there, face wet and body shaking, her hands clasping her sandwich sadly.
Slowly Silco knelt down in front of her. He grabbed the sandwich from her and placed it back on the counter, then he gently held her hands.
“Jinx.”
She sniffled.
“Jinx, if a person were building a house of cards, and another walked in, unknowing of the first person and breezed past accidentally causing the cards to tumble down, who’s to blame.”
Confused she looked at him. “The person who knocked down the cards?”
“Why?”
“Because they knocked it down?”
“But they didn’t know, it was an accident.”
“Yea, but…but they still did it.”
“So an accident is cause for accountability?”
She frowned. “No I - I don’t know.”
“Because if that’s the case, then you must also hold the person who built the house of cards responsible.”
“But they didn’t do anything-“
“Didn’t they?” He narrowed his eyes. “Did they not build in a space that they possibly knew was unstable, perhaps they were in a walkway, perhaps they knew that other person took that same route everyday but they didn’t care. Nor were they considerate to that fact.”
Powder considered his words.
“There are two sides to every story Jinx, two sides to every situation and while some may hold more cause then others, everyone is accountable, everyone is responsible for the mess they make.”
She watched him closely as he continued.
“So let me ask you, Jinx, who made those blue little bombs, who placed them out, where a child no less, could touch them? Who made a weapon of such destruction without any caution necessary to activate it?”
“…The inventor.”
“Who knocked over the house of cards.”
She blinked back at him, it all suddenly clicking.
“It shouldn’t have been built there in the first place.” She said.
He nodded approvingly, “And?”
“And the inventor shouldn’t have made something so dangerous and left it in his home where I found it?”
“Once more, who knocked over the cards?” He tapped his nose.
“The one who built it.”
“Yes and who caused the explosion.”
“The inventor!”
She flung herself onto him, burying her face against his neck.
He wrapped his arms around her once more. A satisfied smile playing on his face.
“Yes, the inventor should be held accountable, should be held responsible for his actions, not you Jinx. It was an accident.”
================================================
He let her calm down in his arms before gently pulling away. He placed a finger under her chin and brought her gaze to meet his.
“This needs to stop Jinx. You can’t blame yourself for every wrong doing that happens, especially if you didn’t intend for it.”
She rubbed a hand against her nose, sniffling.
“There’s far too many things that we do intentionally that we must hold ourselves responsible for. When it rains and it delays you do you blame yourself?”
She shook her head.
“But if you decide to take a little more time getting ready and that delays you?”
“I’m to blame.” She said softly
“Why?”
“Because I chose to take more time.” She held his stare.
“Because you intended too.” He nodded in agreement. “Did you intend for any of this to happen?” He motioned around them but he was really hinting at last night.
“No.”
“Then why blame yourself, why continue to beat yourself uselessly over something neither of us can change Jinx.”
He watched her look down, eyes considering, thinking, really listening.
“Would you…if you could change what happened, would you?”
Silco felt himself grow cold, the question catching him off guard. Neither of them had really addressed what had happened last night and now Sevika’s words were coming back to haunt him.
“…what do you thinks going to happen when she wakes up tomorrow and finally realizes you’re the one who kidnapped her dad? It’s not going to be good.”
He took in a sharp breath.
Honesty was always the best course with children wasn’t it? Isn’t that what people said? Hell. He didn’t know.
“It can’t.” He said, his voice coming out harsher than he intended. “The past can’t be changed, why waste time with ‘what ifs’ when it does more harm than good. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
Abruptly he stood up, her body sliding to the ground around him.
She kept her eyes on the floor. Silco looming far above her. Then he snatched her sandwich off the counter and held it out.
“Eat, I have other priorities to attend to today, I can’t waste all my time in the kitchen.”
Stiffly she reached up and took the offered food, head still down.
Silco could tell something had shifted, not just in his mood but in her too. He didn’t like it, they were getting along…alright, he guessed, but this? He felt his frustration rising.
Folding his arms he waited for her to finish eating. When she was done she slowly got back to her feet, her head finally coming up but her eyes were downcast and her face was wet with fresh tears.
Oh.
She’d been silent - a realization that only made the matter worse. Silco wasn’t good with conflicting emotions. Normally he knew what he wanted and that was it. But this. Damn him. Damn her. He shouldn’t be feeling this way, he shouldn’t be getting attach-
No.
No he wasn’t. He was simply feeling a small bit of empathy, that was it. After all, he wasn’t heartless.
But he’d made her cry, and that alone was suddenly un-acceptable.
“Jinx…”
He didn’t know what to say.
She glanced up at him, eyes brimming with tears, she didn’t appear mad though, if anything she looked scared.
He unfolded his arms and not sure what else to do in this situation held them out in invitation.
Instantly she rushed to him, wrapping around him tightly.
“I’m sorry!” She mumbled against him.
Silco held her gently, suddenly becoming frustrated with himself.
“Shh, no more of that.” He said, laying a hand on her head.
The stayed in the kitchen for a few more minutes, collecting themselves.
Until Jinx pulled back to look up at him.
“I liked the sandwich you made by the way.” She said softly.
Silco stared down at her before a surprised chuckle escaped him.
Jinx stared back too before joining in and laughing lightly.
Getting a hold of himself again, Silco gave her head a small pat. “Come on, I think it’s time we both freshen up a little.” He motioned at the dirt covering her and Jinx nodded in agreement.
Stepping away he made to head towards the exit, when a small hand gripped his.
Looking down he saw that she had laced their fingers together and was looking up at him expectantly.
Not one to deny the child anything thus far he continued on, until a little tug gave him pause.
“Wait!” She said suddenly, slipping out of his grip and rushing back into the kitchen. A moment later she reappeared. Her hand grasping his and a pastry in the other. Silco didn’t have the heart to tell her no.
They made it back to the room with the cot, Powder glancing around as Silco walked over to the tub/basin. He gave the tap a little kick before kneeling down and twisting the faucet on, water began rushing out.
He stood back up, holding what appeared to be a bar of soap and towel; he held it out to her.
Hesitantly she took them.
They both stood awkwardly for a moment before Silco quickly made his way to the door. “I’ll be back within the hour, don’t leave this room until then, understood?”
She gave a small nod as he swiftly fled the room. Glancing back down at the tub, Powder made a face as she wasn’t sure just how clean the water really was.
Oh well, cleaner than her probably.
Stripping, she tried to brush off as much dirt and grime as she could before stepping into the tub. It wasn’t too cold, but it definitely wasn’t warm either. Shivering sightly she began rubbing the soap all over her, hoping to get out the water as quickly as possible.
Ten minutes later and Powder was sufficiently feeling much more cleaner and more like herself. She carefully stepped out and wrapped the towel around her. She paused, looking down at her soiled clothing. She really didn’t want to put them back on, but what choice did she have. Shrugging she got redressed.
It had taken Silco some twenty minutes to make it to his private quarters as they weren’t really a part of the armory. Sighing as he closed the door to the washroom, an ensuite to his quarters, he rested against the sink. Looking up he met his reflection.
Dark purple and black bruises stared back at him through the mirror, his neck was littered with them, the clear outline of hands surrounding him. Silco closed his eye, gripping the sink tight as a wave of anger crashed through him.
How Dare He
How dare he attempt the same crime twice, how dare he think he’d get away with it! How dare-how…how could he?
They had been friends. Brothers. Soldiers together.
Silco would have never forgotten what he’d done, but he could have forgiven, if Vander had only said yes, if he’d simply sided with him. He could have prevented this whole mess!
He spun away from the sink, reaching for anything nearby to toss. His hands landed on the shower’s curtain and in his rage ripped it down, the fabric tearing as it went.
Breathing heavily Silco stood over his own tub, the sudden feeling of nausea causing him to dry heave.
His head was pounding.
Slowly. He slid down to the floor, shifting so that his back was bracing against the tub, he brought his knees up to him. For once feeling small as hot angry tears made their way down his face.
~
“For the last time, this madness has to stop Silco.”
“We’re so close! Can’t you see, Vander-“
“Can’t you see! Can’t you see what we’ve caused!”
“You’re a fool if you think-“
“I’m sorry.”
“…What?”
“I’m sorry, brother.”
He felt strong hands grab him by the shoulder and shove, his entire body crumbling down from the weight. He felt the water crash into his back.
“I’m sorry but this has to stop.” Vander said over the rushing in his ears.
“I’m sorry.”
It was the last thing he heard before those strong hands clamped down over his neck and held him under.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
Takes place at the end of Ep3.
( as of writing this I have yet to watch ep 4-6 fully, so please if anything is incorrect let me know!)
Trigger warning, there is description of several panic attacks (though Powder doesn’t know that’s what’s happening) also slight mention of suicide and self harm.
Part 2.
Part 1. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8.
======================================
Silco didn’t stop walking until he reached the ‘common’ area. Glancing about he moved towards the couch and in one smooth swoop laid himself down upon it. He let out a deep sigh.
His body was aching; not just from the fight, or from the explosion, but carrying a child who was far too old to be carried was a feat in itself. He closed his eyes and let himself relax momentarily for the first time that day.
Slowly, almost cautiously, he let his thoughts play out. Unguarded he let his emotions roam free.
The first thing he was aware of, other than the physical ailments, was the deep hollowness he was experiencing whenever his mind would stray towards Vander. That alone was concerning, but he underlined it with red and shoved it aside as the next thought took it’s place. The explosion. What the hell had happened? Things weren’t going exceptionally well, but there had been no way Vander and his spawn were going to stand against his monstrosity. Then he’d seen a brief flash of blue and a force unlike any he’d experienced before tossed him backwards - about the same time Sevika shoved him aside.
He shook his head. It didn’t add up, where had it come from? Who had caused it?
…A brief idea of who it could be crossed his mind, but it was quickly tossed into the bin. It was highly improbable - and yet.
Where had the child -Jinx, come from? She was clearly Vander’s other daughter. But why hadn’t she joined the fight early on like the other three had? Was she hidden? She was certainly small, perhaps not yet ready to fight?
And yet, she’d come so willingly.
Silco pinched the bridge of his nose as he let out a noise of frustration. Somehow he felt as though he were missing only a few pieces to this puzzle, but they were unfortunately the most important. The picture not quite clear.
He’d be sure to ask in the morning though.
The sounds of footsteps approaching stirred him out of his thoughts. Begrudgingly he sat up, just as the door leading back out to the armory opened.
Sevika shuffled in. Which if he’s being honest to himself was quite the surprise, though he hid it from his face. Instead he raised an eyebrow in question.
“The lads are calling it quits for the night, I told them we’d regroup as soon as I’d gotten word.” Her voice was hoarse, her good arm holding the poorly covered stump of her other arm-er shoulder. Blood was slowly dripping onto the floor. It was clear she wasn’t well, the paleness of her skin alone making her look like one of the dead as she leaned heavily up against the door frame.
He studied her closely, somewhat impressed she had felt the need to report to him herself. Let alone the energy.
“Good. You can tell them to meet here tomorrow evening. What happened tonight was only a minor set back in our grander mission.” He looked from her to the quickly accumulating blood on the floor. “You may go, take care of yourself, get some rest, and tomorrow we shall begin anew.” It was a polite dismissal, but a dismissal all the same.
Sevika nodded slowly to his words and then, as if the effort alone was too much, let out a little grunt as she pushed her self away from the entry. She shuffled painfully towards another door.
Silco watched her struggle half way across the floor before he called out.
“Bye the way. Thank you…I know you were only doing what I pay you for, but-“ he looked once more at where her arm should be, “thank you.”
She stopped long enough to glance at him under her disheveled hair, letting out a small noise of acknowledgment before smirking. “If you’re really so grateful, you’d get the damn door, like a true gentleman.”
Silco stared back, his own grin forming darkly on his face. Slowly he stood up and made his way across to her.
“Of course, where are my manners.” He said gently as we moved passed her and to the door, quickly pulling it open.
Sevika stood frozen, surprised that he actually listened to her, something akin to fear crossing her features as she looked between him and the door. Hesitantly she made her way to them. A stray thought came to her suddenly.
“Where’s the girl?”
His smirking face quickly morphed into a scowl, “she’s sleeping.”
“Here?” Sevika questioned as she neared the door.
“In the old break room.”
Sevika found herself frowning. For once some part of her dark heart ached. She hadn’t really known the children, but she knew Vander and how much he had sacrificed for them, only for things to end the way they had. She didn’t feel guilty, but the kids…they shouldn’t have gotten mixed up in this.
“She’s just a child, Silco.” She murmured, not meeting his eyes. “Don’t you think she deserves something a little better than a broom closet?”
“The break room is better than a broom closet.”
Despite his words, Sevika felt herself snorting in amusement. This entire situation screamed bad idea, as well as bizarre.
He looked at her in confusion.
“Sorry,” she held his gaze, “I guess I just find this entire situation royally fucked.” She paused. “We’re royally fucked, if the enforcers -“
“They aren’t going to do anything, I made sure of that.”
She raised a brow at him, “Fine. Then what about the girl, what do you thinks going to happen when she wakes up tomorrow and finally realizes you’re the one who kidnapped her dad? It’s not going to be good.”
“I’ll deal with that when it happens.” He stated, stepping closer to her. “Besides, I think the child has her own share of secrets.”
She shook her head. “This is a bad idea Silco-“ She paused as his words registered with her. “What do you mean?”
He searched her face for a moment, “I mean, I think perhaps she might be the cause of our misfortune tonight, of your misfortune.” He motioned towards her wound.
She looked down at her shoulder as she considered his words, “You think she caused the explosion?” She looked at him incredulously. “How?”
A small nonchalant shrug as he crossed his arms. “I’ve no idea. But I’m going to find out. Whether it be the child or not, a power such as what we saw tonight could be very useful to us.”
“Useful and dangerous.” Sevika said eyeing him closely. “I’ve only got so many limbs to spare.”
It was meant as a joke but the fact that they both flinched at her words said different.
Speaking of limbs, the numbness was starting to wear away.
Her comment must have pissed him off, because she could see the anger rising in his eye. But instead of lashing out he took a deep, shaky breath. A hand raking through his hair.
“Listen.” His voice was strangely soft as he took another step closer. “We’ve both had a tremendously long day. You’re tired, I’m tired. Let’s both just get some rest and then we can continue this conversation tomorrow with the boys.”
She looked at him closely, only now realizing just how exhausted the man appeared. She could feel her adrenaline slowly fading as well, meaning pretty soon her body was going to be actively aware it had lost a limb, and she didn’t want to be sober when that happened.
“Fine.” She agreed, just as softly. He didn’t step back however, instead he took another step forward. Almost nose to nose.
He eyes drifted from her, down her neck and over to her shoulder. An emotion she couldn’t quite pin down crossed his features before it was carefully schooled back into neutrality.
Then he took three small steps back, allowing her access to the open door once more. She nodded in thanks as she made her way past him.
“Sevika.”
She paused as she reached the doorway, looking back. He was facing away from her though.
“I meant what I said.” A glance over his shoulder as his good eye met hers. “Thank you.”
She held his gaze for a long moment. Nodded and kept on walking. The door closing behind her with a soft click.
Silco stared at the space where she’d just been, alone once more he felt the strange urge to go after her. Shaking off the feeling he walked backwards until his legs bumped into the couch. He laid back down with another deep sigh.
A quick rest, then he’d be back up and on his way to a proper bed.
But his body had a different plan, eye closed; he was asleep within minutes.
==============================================
Powder awoke to the sound of an explosion ringing through her ears. Her body felt as though it was falling yet she could see herself laying in the small cot. Disoriented she moved to sit up, glancing down at her hands, she was shaking. Her breaths coming out in short little burst. Why, what was happening?
All at once her memories caught up with her, Vander, her family, Vi leaving - she was already crying but it suddenly felt like that wasn’t enough. That there was just too much emotion inside her.
She wanted to scream.
Grasping at the sheets as she sobbed, Powder became aggressively louder until once again she found that it was becoming hard to breath. Panicking she stumbled off the cot and quickly made it to the door.
Her tears and the dim hallway made it hard for her to see as she cried out for anyone.
She tripped, on nothing but her own clumsiness, and like a falling tree, she came crashing down to her knees.
She let out a broken scream.
=============================================
Silco shot straight up as a high pitched wail startled him. For a moment he thought perhaps the enforcers had found them, that someone was being murdered just a few doors away. As he stared around the empty room he listened closely.
For a minute there was nothing but silence, then he heard it, more little wails, not as loud as before but it definitely sounded like someone was in pain. Frowning he stood up.
Cautiously he made his way towards the far door, the one he’d come through just hours earlier-
The girl.
Eyes growing wide, Silco quickly tossed the door open and ran.
Powder lay in the middle of the hall, knees tucked tightly to her chest as she tried to make herself as small as possible. She wanted to disappear, wanted to cease existing if only the pain would stop. It felt as though her heart were breaking into a billion pieces all over again. Foolishly she’d believed that when she woke up it would all have been a nightmare. But that wasn’t the case. This was real, she’d murdered her brothers and father, she’d driven Vi to abandoning her. She was nothing but trouble from the first day, she was the problem, she was the -
“Jinx!”
Powder thought her heart might stop. She felt cold, ice cold. She was hearing voices now.
“Jinx?”
Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard footsteps approaching.
She curled up tighter, bracing for a kick or another slap to the face.
It’s what she deserved.
There was a presence near her, then a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Jinx.”
She continued to sob, her hands covering her face dug in painfully. It felt like relief.
The hand on her shoulder reached for her wrist, tugging just as gently.
“Jinx, let go.”
She dug in harder. The grip on her wrist did the same and slowly pulled her hands away.
She felt another hand slide under her arm and drag her away from the floor. She began to lash out.
“No!”
“Jinx-“
“No! Just leave me! It’s what I deserve! It’s not fair!” She struggled to get out of the strong grasp encircling her, the person slowly pulling her to them.
“No!” She hit and clawed but it didn’t seem to make a difference. Eventually she was pinned between arms and a solid chest that vaguely felt familiar.
She flailed for a few more moments before finally giving into the hold, body deflating like a balloon. She sagged against the figure holding her as her crying continued.
“It’s not fair.” She mumbled against the chest.
“…What isn’t.”
Not expecting a response to her statement, Powder paused to open her eyes since she fell to the floor earlier.
“It should have been me.” She said to familiar clothing, familiar arms.
A hand rubbed down her back.
“…Explain.”
She looked up, meeting a familiar gaze.
Silco.
Instantly she began to hold onto him, her panic leaving her in waves as a new comfort replaced it.
He came back.
He’d kept his promise.
Realizing he was still waiting for her answer, Powder pressed her check against him, hiding her face.
“It should have been me, I shouldn’t have been there, but I was, and I - I jinxed everything. They’d still be here if it wasn’t for me.” Her voice was shaking again and she took a deep breath to help steady it. “It should have been me, not them.”
She felt the arms holding her tighten at this admission.
“You blame yourself for what happened.” He whispered to her, she nodded.
“You shouldn’t.”
His words felt like a slap to the face, they were too loud and too strong and said with such an inflection of truth, that for a moment, Powder believed him. She pulled back quickly to look up at him. Shock on her face.
He stared back. “You were trying to help.” She gave a small nod. “Then it wasn’t your fault.”
“No, but I did it, I caused -“
“The explosion.” It wasn’t a question. Again she nodded. “I thought so.”
She looked down at her hands. “…I killed them.”
Large hands came up and gripped hers. “It was an accident.”
Furious she looked back up at him. “I killed them!”
Silco didn’t seemed phased by her anger, he just held her stare. After a moment she looked back down. Their hands were still joined.
“And what about your sister.”
Powder frowned. “What?”
“She was there, your brothers too, they were all trying their best to help but it wasn’t working.”
She kept her gaze down. “What do you mean.”
“I’m trying to tell you that it would have made no difference had you been there or not, Jinx.”
Without thinking she began squeezing their hands.
“Whether you caused that explosion or not, their fates were already sealed.”
“How-“
“Your sister made sure of it.”
Powder looked up, new tears brimming her eyes. “She couldn’t-“
“She thought she could save them, but it only prolonged the inevitable, she changed the outcome, disrupted the plan. She thought she was ready but your father knew better and in trying to save her, condemned himself.”
Powder stared at him in shock.
“Of course, it had all been an accident, she didn’t mean for any of it to happen.”
“But my brothers-“
“Caught in the cross fire, unfortunately.”
She let out a small wail. She didn’t know what to think, was he telling her the truth?
He’d given her no reason to not trust him thus far. Other than the glaring elephant in the room.
Oh yes, she knew who he was, what he’d done.
Yet some how none of that had mattered when she was screaming and crying out when Vi had left. When he held her and whispered promises about the future. When he’d brought her with him, given her a bed and then promised to come back.
And then did.
It was more than she could say for her family in the past few months. Of course they weren’t mean to her, they gave her a bed and food, but if she had really needed them, would they have come for her?
Powder wasn’t so sure. And now she’d never know -
No. No they would have. Shaking her head violently she sat back.
Silco was saying something again, she tried to focus on his voice, but there were too many thoughts swirling inside her.
“If you blame yourself then you must also blame your sister, after all she was the one leading them, wasn’t she?”
Powder nodded, only half listening.
“Then tell me Jinx, why weren’t you there with them?”
What?
Oh.
“Vi told me to stay. She said I wasn’t ready…and I wasn’t”
“I disagree.”
Powder frowned. “But, but I’m not.”
“You blew up my entire operation there, several of my employees and -“
“Killed my family.”
“Indirectly.” Silco put a finger under her chin, directing up to him. “That’s more than I can say for your sister. You were ready Jinx and she held you back.”
Powder searched his gaze before suddenly flinging her self onto him, her arms wrapping around his neck, her cheek pressed to his.
His arms came up around her after a moments hesitation but he held her securely against him.
“If you want someone to blame Jinx, blame her, you could have avoided this whole mess had you been by her side from the beginning.” He whispered into her hair. “But all that’s going to change now, because you’ll be by my side. We’ll prove everyone wrong.” He felt her grip on him tighten.
“We’ll show them. Just like you said.” She whispered back.
“Just like I promised.” He brought a hand up to the back of her head, his other gently rubbing her back.
They stayed like that for a few minutes, neither saying anything and just taking in comfort from the other.
Eventually though Silco’s body was starting to protest, his knees especially.
“Jinx…” He prodded gently, “might we go back to bed.” Unfortunately the child clung to him harder at his words. “I need to sleep Jinx and so do you, we can talk more in the morning but -“
“I’m scared.” She glanced at him from the side. “I don’t like that room and I don’t want to be alone.”
Silco felt a headache coming on. On one hand he could tell her to toughen up, send her back to the room and let that be it. Though there stood a good chance that it would put some strain on - on whatever this was - and he didn’t exactly want to cause anymore friction. There was also the possibility she would have another melt down and come find him again. On the other hand he could give in and find some place they’d both be equally comfortable and the child wouldn’t have to be alone, it might actually have the added benefit of strengthening -whatever this was - and make her trust him more easily. But. He’d lose some privacy, crossing this line would set the precedent for their future interactions and he wasn’t so keen on losing that-
“Please.” She looked at him with the biggest puppy dog eyes. Surprisingly, it worked.
Oh what the hell. What’s one night anyway?
“Fine.” He let out a long sigh, looped his arms under her and stood up. It took a little more effort this time but he managed, again she clung on like some kind of ape.
He headed them back in the direction of the common area. There was no way he was making it to his private quarters tonight.
A few minutes later and they were back inside the room with the comfy looking couch. Silco set them both down.
“Here.” He said moving to giver her room to lay down. “You can sleep right here and I’ll be right over there.” He nodded towards one of the chairs. It looked less comfy than the couch but it would have to do.
She laid down, watching him as he dug out another wool blanket from one of the boxes and came back over. He placed it across her and she burrowed herself in. Then he went and sat in one of the opposite chairs. He slouched down, trying to lay as vertically as possible in the chair. I certainly wasn’t very gentleman-like but if he was being honest he really didn’t give a shit at the moment, he doubted Jinx did either. He closed his eye.
She stared at him from under the blanket.
“Sleep Jinx.” He said not bothering to look at her.
She watched him for a few more minutes as his breathing got deeper, he had fallen asleep.
He was… different than what she imagined, not that she’d really ever given him any thought prior to tonight. But if someone had told her she’d be sleeping in the same room as the man who’d harmed her family she would have tossed her monkey bomb at them.
He looked peaceful sleeping. So far when awake the man seemed to have a constant scowl upon his face, that or as if he were about to die of boredom. Powder could relate. She often found herself bored at home, especially when Vi, Mylo and Clagger were out without her.
She wondered if she’d get bored here. Something in her gut told her that wasn’t likely to happen. Not for a while at least. She was so far out of her element she wondered if she was made for this kind of life, if perhaps she should have gone out with her family. If that would have been easier.
It sure felt like it would have.
Her mind was racing despite the exhaustion she felt. It was easier, being in the room with him. She was less afraid. But she didn’t like the distance. So far every sliver of peace she’d felt since Vi’s words, had come from the man holding her.
Slowly she pulled back the blanket and sat up. She wrapped it around her small frame and slid off the couch. Tiptoeing towards the man she stopped by his side looking him over. He didn’t appear to be injured other than the dark bruise that was forming around his neck. She wondered what had happened, the idea unnerved her and so she quickly moved on to his face. She was curious, the skin was darker, marred a bit but nothing too horrible to look at. The eye was a different matter, it had scared her initially but not enough to turn her away, now however she already started to associate it with the man as a signature quirk, like her blue hair. Gently she touched the mans shoulder, when he didn’t stir, she slowly climbed into his lap. He was cold as she settled in, suddenly very glad she brought the blanket with her and placed it delicately on top of them. She rested her head on his chest. Just as she was getting comfy she felt the man stir above her. Stiffening she waited for him to scold her, or worse, shove her off. But neither came, instead the man shifted into a more comfortable position and wrapped his arms securely around her, resting his head on top of hers.
Jinx felt warm, and for a night full of first, a piece of her shattered heart started melding back together. They didn’t fit perfectly, but that was okay. It was something. It was healing.
Author’s note. This is not a Silco/Powder but more of a trauma induced father-daughter relationship. That being said feel free to read it however you like. Hoping to post on AO3 here soon.
Takes place at the end of Ep3.
Also I have yet to watch ep 4-6 fully, so please if anything is incorrect let me know!
Trigger warning, there is description of several panic attacks (though Powder doesn’t know that’s what’s happening) also slight mention of suicide in later parts.
Part 1.
Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. Part 6. Part 7. Part 8.
===========================================
It smelled of heat and smoke. The air was thick with it. Choking, suffocating.
Silco closed his eyes, for a moment transported somewhere else, somewhere wet and cold, and dark.
He felt small hands grip onto the back of his shirt, a weight settling more firmly on his chest. Eyes shooting open Silco glanced down at the small girl clinging to him. All at once the heat and smoke was back. His eyes began to burn from it.
A cough, deep within his lungs readying to expel, but instead was met with a tightening in his chest. A soreness around his neck; no doubt a bruise already on it’s way to the surface.
They needed to move.
Slowly, Silco began to loosen his hold on the child, only for her’s to tighten.
“Please.” She whispered. “Please don’t leave me.”
He paused, teal eye meeting violet.
“We must go.” He said, voice soft over the rumbling flames.
He was new to this, he didn’t want to startle her more than she already was. But they needed to move and quickly, there was no telling how many people had seen the explosion. How many could still see the rising fire in the distance.
They needed to hide. Loath as he was to admit, but they needed to regroup, recount, rethink their strategy.
He didn’t have time to explain, nor acknowledge the emotions of a child.
A terrified, broken, lost, malleable child.
He shifted his grip, slowly moving to his knees, the girl still in his lap.
“We have to leave.” He whispered into her ear as he made to stand up.
She nodded once, still clinging to him like some kind of spider monkey.
Eventually he made it to his feet, swaying a little as he readjusted to the added weight. The child wrapped her legs around him, arms circling his neck. Fearfully she buried her face in his chest. He kept an arm around her, the other moving to support her. He looked over the flames, Vander’s broken and mutated body already beginning to char.
Suddenly he felt bile in the back of his throat and for a moment he thought of looking away. But then he remembered the feeling of air escaping his lungs as two large hands began to squeeze down upon him and-
And they needed to leave.
There would be time for introspection later.
He glanced over his shoulder at the group behind them. They stared back, there was a distinct look of confusion across them all, but whether it was out of fear or some other emotion; none of them had said a word since the explosion.
The explosion.
Silco still wasn’t sure what had happened, or who had caused it.
Because someone clearly had.
Perhaps they were dead as well. Caught in their own trap.
Or perhaps they had already run off, like a coward.
No matter. He’d get to the bottom of it, one way or another.
He always did.
Turning fully, he looked behind the group to the ally that lay beyond.
“Let’s move.”
And with that one phrase they all began to turn, Silco naturally taking the lead while the others trailed behind closely.
He didn’t look back and neither did the child who’s only movement thus far had been to shut her eyes tightly. Minutely it registered with him that she was shaking - a small sob escaping her as she continued to cry.
======
They walked for what felt like hours.
Okay, not hours, but it certainly had felt that way to Powder, who, despite her position was becoming increasingly exhausted. She hadn’t opened her eyes since the man had stood fully and the temptation to sleep was becoming unavoidable.
A part of her wanted to fight it, fight back, scream at her body that it wasn’t fair. Why should she get to rest, why should she get any relief, after all they wouldn’t ever wake again and wasn’t that just ironic. She wanted to sleep so badly and yet, here she was stuck in a loop of internal damnation.
She felt the man under her take a deep breathe, he’d been doing that over the last few minutes. Big, deep breathes, that came out shaky and shallow, almost as if the process of breathing was somehow difficult. Briefly she wondered if perhaps she were too heavy for the man, that she was somehow burdening him, but the thought quickly dispersed. If he was truly uncomfortable he’d have tossed her aside. Hell, maybe he’d even give her a good lecture about how much of a problem she was to everyone-
After all, that’s what Vi had said wasn’t it. And she never said anything she didn’t mean. Not to her at least.
Powder felt an ache deep within her chest at the thought of her si- of Vi, enough that it triggered a new wave of tears. Her arms were growing sore and so she lowered them to the front of the man’s shirt, fingers curling into the fabric as she pushed her burning eyes further into his chest.
The arm circling her shoulders tightened slightly, but other than that there was no sign from the man that he’d noticed her new anguish.
Good. She already felt terrible, she didn’t need the added embarrassment of more tears. The man would probably never wear this shirt again. At this rate it was probably better off in the fire.
She tried to throw the thoughts out of her mind, tried to be rid of Vi - of her family - if only for a moment so she could breathe. Her lungs began to burn as the air was sucked out in one giant sob, the darkness of her eyelids beginning to close in on her.
It hurt.
It hurt so much. And it was her fault. She did this, she caused this. Her. Because she thought she was ready, because she didn’t listen even when Vi told her - even when she saw the fear in her own sister’s eyes. She thought she could do it.
But she wasn’t ready.
And now, here she was, breaking into a billion pieces and scrambling to fit them back together only to find that none of them were ever going to fit correctly again.
At this realization the darkness became too much and suddenly she found she couldn’t open her eyes. A fear stronger than anything she’d ever felt before consumed her. There wasn’t enough air. She was drowning.
Help!
She was falling and she couldn’t see the bottom.
Help me, please!
She was afraid and she was alone.
She couldn’t breathe.
She was alone
The arm around her gave a small pat.
Then another.
And another.
Small pats that seemed to slice through the deafening darkness.
Slowly, her mind began to clear, each pat seeming to wipe away a bit of the fog. Her lungs stopped burning, and for the first time in what felt like ages a strange calmness seemed to wash over her.
She wasn’t alone.
She wasn’t falling into a deep, dark, terrifying abyss.
She was hurting, she was scared and broken.
But she wasn’t alone.
She felt the man breathing normally again. The pats coming to a sudden stop just as she began to open her eyes.
They weren’t moving.
===============================
Silco had been counting down, his own mind going into over drive the moment they stepped into the ally.
He wasn’t…panicking to say, so much as recalculating. Reevaluating their next move. Looking for the right step. Finding the silver lining between Zaun and Piltover. It wasn’t going to be easy. Especially with Vander no longer holding everything together.
Surprisingly killing the man had never been his full intention. He wanted Vander’s support, needed it if he was ever going to try and persuade The Lanes to join him. Unfortunately that plan had blown out the window along with everything else in the building. His precious serum along with it.
Of course he had more elsewhere - still it was such a shame and most certainly a waste.
Oh well, back to the figurative drawing board.
Silco decide to push all fears and insecurities from his mind. He could worry about everything once they were in a secure location. Instead he decide to focus on his breathing, only just realizing how painful it was, each intake feeling like a punch to the throat. He thought perhaps the smoke had been the cause for his discomfort, unfortunately it was never so simple was it.
Clearing his mind he continued counting down, this time trying to balance out each breathe with every fourth count. The result was a measured pattern that ended painfully with each exhale. But it was working. Slowly. Very slowly his mind began to clear, the pain ebbing away, until he reached the end. Steadying out, he was gratefully no one could see him. It was dark in the ally now turned tunnel, but Silco knew his way, having traversed this path many times. They were getting close.
Suddenly his focused shifted as the girl’s arms dropped to his shirt collar, digging in. He felt her push closer to him. Small body taking in her own shaky breaths as another sob wrestled out. Instinctively he held her a little tighter, some foreign part of him responding in a way that surprised him. Frowning, he tried to ignore the girl, choosing instead to direct his attention to the secret door they’d soon come upon.
Until he heard it.
It started off small; tiny little shallow breaths that barely made a sound. Growing slowly with every step that he took. Silco listened in as they became a ragged, broken noise, no longer a sob but as if gasping for air. His gut twisted.
Loudly the child began sucking in oxygen that appeared to not be doing anything judging by the force of each breath. Her little hands scrambling at his chest, clawing at anything as her body became limp; heavy like a stone. Only her legs had remained unmovable.
He slowed his pace, not quite sure of what was the appropriate reaction. Clearly the child was having some kind of fit. Her gasping reaching far too close to home for him.
Until it didn’t.
It took Silco a few seconds to come to the realization that’d she’d stopped breathing altogether. As if she’d inhaled something that wasn’t air.
As if she was drowning.
A cold rage shot through him and he felt himself slowly patting the child’s back. He’d stopped walking completely, suddenly frozen by his own panic as a certain memory played out in front of him.
~~~~~
“You can’t do this anymore, Silco, it isn’t right!?”
“Right?!” He heard his own voice crack as he looked at the man he’d once called brother. “What do you know of right? What do they know of right?! You think they give a damn what happens to us Vander, sooner or later they’ll-“
“That’s why this has to stop! We’re loosing too many- too many innocents who wanted nothing to do with this! We should have never gone to war!”
“We would have died if we hadn’t gone to war!”
“But they did die! So many, too many, Silco.”
“It’s the price for freedom, you knew that, you knew-“
“I knew.”
The ‘brothers’ stared at each other, red smoke surrounding them.
“We have to keep fighting Vander.”
“No Silco, we don’t.”
He felt the child take in a gasping breathe, then another, and another, until slowly, second by second it seemed to even out. Her grip slacking a bit on his shirt and her body seemed less limp. Good, he thought.
He gave her one more small pat, coming to realize he’d been doing so for quite sometime now and grinned as he noticed he’d stopped right outside their secret location.
Not bothering to check to see if Sevika and the rest were close behind, he quickly slipped them through the door.
=======================================
Powder had no idea where they were.
It kind of reminded her of home, in that it appeared to be another room underneath another room or establishment. The man didn’t stop though, he continued on down another hall, and then some stairs, lots of stairs. Stairs that creaked with each step and appeared more dangerous the further they went. Eventually it bottomed out and they emerged into another small room. Another door leading to who knows where was tucked into the far side. Silco stopped in front of it.
Oddly enough, the stench of Zaun didn’t seem to reach down here. Powder glanced around the room curiously.
“Are you listening.” The man’s voice cut sharply through the silent room. Powder’s head whipped around to look at him but he was staring straight ahead.
“You need to understand what I’m about to say, so I’ll ask again. Are you listening.”
Powder looked at him for a long moment, then nodded.
“This place…it’s secret. You know what that is?”
Another nod.
“Good. It’s a secret because if everyone knew about it it wouldn’t be safe, we wouldn’t be safe. And you want that don’t you.”
nod.
The man let out a deep sigh. “As long as you’re down here, no one will ever find you, not those Piltover scum or anyone from Zaun. You will be safe here.”
Powder looked between the man’s eyes. A small fear was creeping up on her. She had to know.
“Will you be safe here too?” she asked so quietly Silco wondered if he’d heard her despite their proximity.
But he did, and the question made him pause.
“Will you keep this secret?”
“Yes.” Powder was growing worried.
“Then yes, I will be safe here too.”
The child visibly looked relieved, then she leaned back in to rest her head on his chest. Curious.
Slowly he looked down at her. Then in one fluid motion he pulled the levered door and it creaked open.
A new stench wafted into Powder’s nose. Vaguely it reminder her of a smithy. Hot iron or steel, melting. And something else she couldn’t identify.
The man stepped through and out onto what appeared to be a balcony. The door slamming shut behind them.
Glancing out over the railing, Powder’s eyes grew large. It was a smithy! But no, it was also a factory, a large smithy? She wasn’t sure, but wherever they were the place was massive. Definitely several blocks in length.
She could see dozens of people milling about, but they were too far away for her to really be able to see what they were doing.
“Where are we?” She mumbled out.
“An old armory of sorts.” The man said, turning to his right and descending some more stairs.
“An armory?” Powder asked.
“Yes, a weapons shop.”
“Like, like guns?” she was feeling kind of dazed, the fumes suddenly hitting her.
The man reached the bottom of the steps, but instead of stepping out into a hall that would lead to the factory floor he turned the opposite way down a second hall that had another door at it’s end.
“Like guns.” He said.
Powder nodded, choosing to stay quiet this time.
They made it to the end of the hall, through the next door and into another room that looked to be the most comfortable room thus far. There was a large rug in the middle with two plush looking chairs upon it, a couch placed opposite, a mirror on one wall, and a painting on another. There were some boxes discarded to the side and a small desk in a corner to the right of those. Three doors surrounded the edges of the room, excluding the one they walked through.
Powder eyed the couch. It looked extremely expensive and extremely comfy. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to fall asleep atop it.
The man didn’t linger long though, already making his way towards the furthest door.
Several more halls later and they came to a simple metal door.
The man pushed it open. Inside lay a small, somewhat tattered cot, with a large wool blanket folded neatly on top, to the left side lay a large basin/tub and toilet. A wooden chair sat in a far corner, while a florescent light dimly lit the room.
The man walked towards the cot. Gently he began to set the child down.
Powder went willingly, too tired to put up much of a fight. Blearily she looked around the room.
“Is this where you live?” She asked. The man looked at her.
“No, but it’s where you’ll be staying.”
Powder felt that same fear for the millionth time that night grip her.
“You’re leaving?” She could already feel the tears begging to prick her eyes. “Please, please don’t leave me alone!”
The man stared back at her.
All at once, it was too much again. The tears came freely and Powder wiped furiously at her eyes.
“Why?” She hiccuped. “Why are you leaving? What did I do? I’m sorry!” She reached out towards the man, fisting her tiny hands into his shirt once more. “I’m sorry, please, please! Don’t leave me alone!” She smashed her face into him, as sob after sob wracked through her.
Minutes passed, with neither the man moving or with Powder’s tears stopping.
Eventually. Eventually she began to calm. Her eyes slowly drying as she became too exhausted to cry anymore. She felt sick.
After a few minutes of silence the man slowly pulled her arms and face away from him, propping her back up on the cot. He crouched down like he’d done once before.
He searched her face, eventually meeting her swollen eyes. A bruise was beginning to form on her left cheek. There was dried blood under her nose.
“What do they call you.” He asked.
Powder stared back tiredly. But the question made her think. Made her consider.
“…Jinx.”
“You may call me Silco.” The man, Silco, said. He seemed to be waiting for something, so she gave him a small nod. He blinked.
“Jinx.” He started, “I need you to listen to me very carefully. Whatever may or may not have happened earlier tonight, has nothing to do with what is happening now. You…and I, we aren’t so different. But you must also realize. I can’t be what you may always need. But I will keep my word. One day, we will show them the truth. One day, we’ll show them all. But until then, understand that you will be kept safe, kept healthy and kept strong. That I can promise you, that is all I will promise you. Do you understand?”
Powder stared. Did she? Honestly, she wasn’t sure. She was tired though, that she did understand. And right now there was only one thought that kept her form passing out.
“Are you going to leave me?”
Several emotions seemed to play out across Silco’s face in the span of a few seconds. Eventually something bordering a scowl settled in.
“I am. I will.”
Powder opened her mouth in protest but the man held up a hand to stop her.
“But.” He held her gaze. “I will return.”
Powder gazed back, her chest hurting and fear circling. She came to a decision.
“You promise?”
Silco looked between her eyes, suddenly realizing that they were no longer violet, but a soft blue. For a moment - he thought to ask - but decide it could wait for another day. Reaching out he placed what he hopped was a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I promise.” And he meant it.
Powder searched his face, seeming to believe him she nodded once and then scooted back on the cot.
Silco straightened; he pulled the wool blanket up and handed it to her as she laid down.
“I shall return in the morning, get some sleep, we have much to discuss tomorrow.”
With that, he turned and headed towards the door.
“Silco!” Powder cried out suddenly, the man stopped.
“What-what if something happens? How do I find you?” She pulled the blanket up close, already scared of being alone again.
Silco seemed to consider, “There’s always someone in the armory, just find them and they’ll find me.”
Without waiting for a reply he opened the door and walked out. She laid silently as she listened to his footsteps quickly fade away. Powder let out a deep sigh before pulling the blanket up and over her head. She felt like crying again, luckily the moment her head touched the pillow her mind blinked out.
The Good: Clint Eastwood and Liam Hemsworth as Blondie (the man with no name)
The Bad: Lee Van Cleef and Jude Law as Angel Eyes
The Ugly: Eli Wallach and Michael Peña as Tuco Ramirez
So I’ve been working/wanting to work on a script idea for Sergio Leone’s The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Basically it would follow the same story but modernized. Cast ideas?
Bonus: Look at this precious gif of Blondie and a kitten, I adore this movie guys 💚
Zoe watched the exchange with curiosity, thoughts racing a mile a minute. Agatha was still fuming somewhere deep inside her when a stranger thought occurred to her. Slowly Zoe’s eyes landed on the mug resting precariously on the desk edge.
Jonathan had drank from it.
He’d actually swallowed.
Agatha’s rage was becoming loud again.
“What are you drinking Mr. Harker?” Her voice had a strange foreign lit to it.
Both Dracula and Jonathan turned to her.
“Blood.” Jonathan answered easily enough. Zoe felt her stomach drop.
Well shit. Now she had two homicidal vampires on the loose.
“You know for someone who claims they’re better than another, killing people still seems to pass judgement.” And damn that was not her voice talking.
Jonathan actually looked guilty. But only momentarily.
“It’s not-I didn’t kill anyone for this blood. When, when the foundation first came up with the idea of volunteerism for the project I thought it was a stroke of genius. So, I enlisted my own volunteers. I have been for a very long time.”
Zoe stared. “You don’t kill people.”
“No Dr. Helsing.”
Zoe was shocked, shocked because that meant the idea to sustain vampires in the most pacifist manner was possible. It- it opened so many doors, so many new possibilities. A whole species that could coincide! And here she’d started to doubt, what with the way Dracula turned his nose up at the idea.
Dracula, who turned down most of her brilliant ideas simply because he didn’t want to.
Dracula who still drank live blood.
Dracula who kills people
Dracula who slaughters without so much as a second thought.
Zoe was pissed.
In one swift motion she was crossing the floor to them. She deftly picked up the mug, looked at its deep scarlet contents, and held it out to Dracula.
“Drink it.”
Dracula all but sneered. “What? Why would I-“
“I’m not asking, drink the fucking blood.” She hissed. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Jonathan’s eyebrows shoot up, looking between the two.
Dracula frowned, he wasn’t one for taking orders but something in the tone of Zoe’s voice had him reassessing his next move. Slowly and with all the attitude of a petulant (refined) teenager he took the mug. Sniffed it once and then maintaining eye contact tipped the mug back and drank the rest of the contents in one swallow.
Dracula set the mug back down, tasting the life in his mouth like one taste wine.
“Interesting, a little dull, the flavors gone much to cold, and there’s some deep rooted issues that need to be resolved.”
Dracula clicked his tongue, “All in all not the most horrible drink I’ve had, but certainly not to my palette I should think.”
“Oh for Christ sake Dracula!” Zoe threw her arms up. “This could be a wonderful alternative.”
“No, we’ve already been over this Zoe, nothing compares to live blood, this is hardly second rate at best.” Dracula folded his arms, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Screw your palette and screw you.” She glared. “You’re always going on about how much better you are than everyone else, how no one can understand because we’ve only lived the one life time. Well here’s something, Jonathan has and as far as I’m concerned he’s doing much better than you with only having one third the amount of time.”
Silence.
Zoe could tell she’d hit a nerve, albeit a nerve she didn’t know existed but it was there all the same and glaringly obvious now that she could see it. A vileness coursed through her, if she played her cards right she might actually get somewhere with this.
Throwing him her own sneer Zoe stepped in close. “That’s right, it’s true, Jonathan really is a better you. I mean look at this place.” She gestured to the large office. “Look at this building, look at all the money Jonathan’s been tossing our way for years, and we never suspected a thing. No paper trail to follow, sorry blood trail I suppose. No missing people or bodies. No scandals, no sinking ships. Clean as a bloody whistle. And he still manages to be everything you aren’t.” Zoe finished her rant calmly but she could see the tendrils of frustration coming off the Count in waves. An image of a black wolf scratching through a gate flashed across her mind.
Weird.
Dracula let out an unsettling chuckle.
“Really? That’s it? Come on you can do better than that, Zoe. You’re so close! Maybe try with a little more emotion, anger looks good on you.”
Zoe let out an exasperated sigh and took a step back.
“Look, believe it or not Dracula but I’m trying to help you. Before today there was no one else alive like you, you were one of a kind. And despite the fact that you’re a royal bastard and kill people, it’s my job as a scientist to understand why. Why you are the way you are, how come you and Mr. Harker are two of the only people who survived the initial turning point. Why is that? Maybe there’s something similar in your DNA, maybe it’s something as simple as where you came from or as small as what you ate. Whatever the answer, know that I intend to find out.”
She took in another deep breath. “That being said all of this could be in your best self interest so I don’t see how it couldn’t hurt you to compromise just a little and stick to the volunteer program?”
Dracula eyed her curiously for a moment.
“You’re serious aren’t you? What, now we work together Zoe? I don’t think Agatha will be pleased.”
“We were already working together, we just hadn’t acknowledged it.”
“Oh, and now we are?”
Zoe closed her eyes in frustration. “I’m willing to put aside our differences in the name of science if you are.”
Dracula was looking at her curiously again.
“Let’s say I agree, you and your team continue to run test while I’m stuck in a cage being injected with blood every few hours until you make some kind of break through? Not really my cup of tea darling.”
“How about you agree to come in for testing once a day but maintain your freedom elsewhere, you also keep to a strict diet of volunteer blood.”
Dracula actually seemed to be considering her deal.
Holy shit.
There was a small sigh to the side of them and Zoe was almost embarrassed to admit she’d almost forgotten Jonathan.
Dracula didn’t. His eyes lit up viscously and his grin showed too much teeth. Jonathan for for his part looked like he regretted gaining back their attention.
“Alright Zoe, I’ll agree to this deal of yours on one condition.”
Zoe couldn’t believe it, was he really going to agree to stop drinking live blood?
No more killing.
“Johnny has to attend the test as well, with me.”
It was too good to be true, Zoe felt the floor being pulled out right from under her. How could she have been so naive.
Jonathan floundered in as much an Englishman can.
“What? No-no, no I won’t, I want no part of this deal. Please, just go, I’m warning you.” Jonathan let out a slight growl, eyes pinning Dracula with a glare.
“Alright fine, you don’t have to Johnny that’s your choice...just know all the lives of the people I’m going to kill from here on out will be on your hands.”
Well.
Fuck.
Watching Dracula work his magic was saying something for sure, but to watch him pin Jonathan so easily between two evils was horrifying and terrible. Zoe wanted to say something, wanted to voice her opinion on the matter, that Jonathan shouldn’t be involved not if he truly didn’t want to. Not after the amount of pain she saw flash in his eyes.
She said nothing.
She said nothing because she knew that Dracula had already made up his mind and there was no going back. It was either agree to his terms or nothing at all. And Zoe was not about to give up the potential opportunity to save as many lives as possible.
She’d awoken this sleeping dragon. Now he was her responsibility.
Both Zoe and he watched as Jonathan seemed to come to terms with himself. With the decision before him, and if Dracula still knew his Johnny like he thought he did then there was no way the man was going to condemn anyone.
“Al-alright. I agree.”
Zoe stared in awe for a moment before holding her hand out to the Count.
Dracula gently took her hand in his.
“I agree as well.” He said smoothly.
Zoe nodded once before retracting her arm. “Good.” She turned to Jonathan, “thank you for agreeing as well Mr. Harker.”
Jonathan didn’t reply, he just sat heavily in his chair as if he was carrying some unquestionable amount of weight on his shoulders.
Maybe he was.
Maybe they both were.
******
Leaving the building was a lot harder than Zoe has expected, mostly because Dracula wasn’t taking any excuses. He wanted to make sure rules where in place but mostly he wanted conformation from Jonathan about attending the test as well. Eventually though Zoe had to step in, at some point it seemed Jonathan had ran out of words to say to Dracula and simply sat numbly in his chair. Zoe could see the defeat easily enough, which is why she quickly wrote down her number and placed it in front of him. She told him to give her people a call and they’d arrange everything. She then pointed to the number on the desk.
“This is my personal mobile, in case you need to reach me.” There was a note of pity in her voice and she hoped he hadn’t picked up on it. Jonathan didn’t acknowledge her, but she had a feeling he heard her.
Next she grabbed Dracula’s elbow and started pulling him out of the office, Dracula looked like he wanted to protest but Zoe threw him a look before he could open his mouth. Instead he glanced back at Jonathan.
“Bye bye Johnny, see you soon.” He grinned brightly and waved as they stepped through the glass doors.
Inside the elevator Zoe rounded on him.
“Just so we’re clear what you did back there to him was not alright.”
Dracula rolled his eyes. “Of course it wasn’t but how else am I going to get him to spend time with me.”
Zoe was floored. “You can’t be serious, he hates you.”
“So did you as I recall, and here we are.”
Zoe scoffed but didn’t deny it. “Forcing him to come to these test with you isn’t going to do anything but cause more harm.”
“And here I thought you’d be happy to have another test subject, what with all that talk about having a base to go off of? Now you can scientifically compare us.”
“Don’t be an arse, that was before..”
“Before, what, Zoe?” Dracula prompted.
“Before I saw his eyes.”
There was a long pause, and Zoe was about to drop the discussion altogether for the time being until Dracula spoke up in a hushed voice.
“They are beautiful though, aren’t they...I was so worried they wouldn’t keep. And yet, even a century later...”
Zoe looked over as the Count trailed off, seemingly lost in his thoughts.
Neither said anything further as they were about to step off the lift and into the lobby.
Zoe it seemed, was the first to recover from their shock.
“No. No, we hadn’t - we didn’t, we were looking for some information. Something my team and I couldn’t solve - I’m sorry, how is it you’re alive?”
Might as well break the ice now. Zoe felt sick.
Jonathan’s eyes slid to her.
“Well I thought that would be obvious.”
Zoe took in a sharp breath, it was as if all the air in the room was being sucked out by some unseen force. A heavy weight settled on her, crushing, suffocating.
All this time. Over a century and no one, not her ancestors, not any other vampire enthusiast, not even the Murrays had mentioned one living Jonathan Harker.
By all accounts he was dead. Dead dead, six feet underground, with a steak in his chest dead.
But that couldn’t be so. Because he was standing less than four feet away from her.
And why did it feel like someone was pushing a steak through her instead.
“Impossible.” Dracula breathed out. Eyes wide in shock or some other emotion Zoe couldn’t be bothered analyzing at the moment.
Jonathan’s eyes stayed on her.
“You survived. After all this time-“ She started, but Dracula quickly cut her off.
“I killed you. I shoved a steak into your heart. You were dead. Completely. I -“ He glanced towards Zoe as if seeking reassurance. But that couldn’t be right.
“-how?” He finished quickly, eyes scanning Jonathan’s form up and down like he imagined the man might disappear at any given time.
Maybe he would.
Jonathan looked between them for a moment before letting out a small hum. He brought a porcelain mug up to his lips.
Zoe had just realized he’d been holding it the entire time. She frowned.
“You said it yourself back in the convent. It’s impossible to kill oneself, turns out it’s also impossible to kill one such as yourself.” Jonathan spoke to the room, eyes staring intently inside his mug before glancing up.
Dracula for his part seemed to going through several strong emotions, actually letting his guard down long enough for them to play on his face. Slowly, he braced himself back against the desk.
“So. You never died.” The Count seemed to be talking to himself more than the man in front of him. “But, the others. They always died?”
By others, Zoe assumed the few unfortunate to be called Dracula’s bride.
“They weren’t like me.”
And just like that Dracula seemed to snap out of his shocked state.
“No. No, they weren’t were they. None of them were like you Johnny, you’re different. You’re like Me.”
Zoe felt bile in the back of her throat. A tension seemed to fill the room that wasn’t there before.
“No.” Jonathan moved to tidy the files, “I’m better than you.”
Dracula let out a sharp laugh. “Of course you are Johnny, of course you are.”
Zoe folded her arms across her chest. “So you’ve just been in hiding all these years? There’s not one mention ever in the past of you. Of there being another vampire similar to you. Even with the foundation searching for years-“
Zoe felt like someone had dropped a bucket of ice on her. “You’re sponsoring the foundation.”
Jonathan actually smiled. “I should think it only right to endorse the company I share a name with,” Blue eyes glinted. “Don’t you?”
Dracula let out another loud laugh, “Unbelievable! All this time you were searching for me Zoe and you had a perfectly good vampire funding your research. Hah!” He shifted a bit more comfortably, “And here I thought Johnny would never have been so clever. My how much you’ve grown.”
“I have to admit,” Zoe sighed, “I wouldn’t have looked for you inside, a good deterrent as any I suppose.”
“Not well enough I’m afraid because here you are.”
That caught Zoe’s attention.
“So you knew about the meeting today? You set this whole ruse up? The fake excs and everything?”
Jonathan for his part look bewildered. “No. No I didn’t know you were coming. I was aware suspicions had been going around the office though, suspicions involving the foundation and your part in it Dr. Helsing.”
Then in slight embarrassment, “The excs downstairs are real, but they work for a different part of the company. They’re not involved with what we do here, with what goes on at the foundation.”
“So they really are imbeciles then.” Dracula drawled.
“They’re ignorant to the world we share, unfortunately some of them have been becoming increasingly curious as of late.”
“Yea, well that curiosity might be satisfied for a while now.” Zoe rolled her eyes.
Jonathan let out another small hum. “I was not expecting to see you here. Especially you.” He shot a dark look towards Dracula.
“Oh come on Johnny, it’s been what? A hundred years? You can’t say you’re not just a little bit pleased to see me.”
“I can, I’m not pleased to see you at all.” Jonathan hissed, the first real signs of anger creeping forth.
Agatha was raging. Zoe could sense the tension rising again. She moved quickly away from the desk, closer to Jonathan.
“Sorry about the mess.” She blurted out motioning to all the displaced files on the floor behind the desk. Jonathan focused back on her.
“Whatever it is, it’s not there. I keep no personal files here in the office.”
Oh. Damn.
“Then maybe you can help us-“
“Why.”
Zoe had to admit she was a little surprised at that, and the tone.
“Because I shouldn’t be alive Johnny.” Dracula grinned dangerously. “Don’t you want to know why?”
“You mean because you practically drained Dr. Helsing dry of her blood. Blood that was cancerous and by all means deadly.”
Oh. Damn.
Dracula’s grin faded.
“I read the report weeks ago. Dr. Helsing is now practically cured and you somehow miraculously survived. An achievement I’m sure you’re both very proud of. But I don’t have any answers and if I did I’d imagine I wouldn’t tell you.” Jonathan moved behind his desk, shuffling files as he went. Zoe took his place beside the table.
“So you don’t know either, fantastic.” Zoe said sarcastically, “maybe the answer is still somewhere in the science. Maybe we just haven’t-“
“Oh, no more test Zoe. Your team has been to hell and back analyzing my blood and they haven’t found anything.” Dracula grumbled.
“Maybe not. But that’s because we really don’t have a base to go off of do we?”
“I’m not following?”
Zoe’s eyes slid to Jonathan. “You’re a a vampire too Mr. Harker. Aren’t you the least bit curious as to how you work? You’d have to be to fund such a foundation, a foundation who’s work and principals are largely based on discovering the truth.”
Jonathan glared. “I know what you’re suggesting Dr. Helsing, and the answers no. If I wanted to be a lab rat I would have volunteered years ago. As it is, isn’t that what you’re for?” He nodded towards Dracula.
Dracula scoffed, “The cheek.”
“Anyway, I’m far to busy with current events, I was doing fine before you and your team decided to wake him up and I was doing alright until you both broke into my office. As it were I’ll be asking you both to go now before things can get any worse.”
In a flash Dracula was leaning over the heavy desk, face invading Jonathan’s personal space.
“Are you really going to turn us away Johnny? After we’ve just found you. After I’ve seen what you’ve become.” He spoke in mock sweetness, voice soft and wispy.
Jonathan leaned in dangerously, matching Dracula’s stance. “You have less than ten seconds to escort yourselves out of my office or I shall have you forcefully removed.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily. Johnny, please, we’re the only two alike in this world? Doesn’t that mean anything?”
“No.”
Dracula hesitated before leaning back. “You don’t mean that. Eventually, you’ll see it my way. Maybe not now, or for a hundred years. But it’ll eat away at you Johnny, the loneliness. And you’ll realize just how big and empty this world is. And when you do. I’ll be here. Always.” He gave a brief wink before pulling away from the desk altogether.
****
TBC
Part 5 **** Zoe watched the exchange with curiosity, thoughts racing a mile a minute. Agatha was still fuming somewhere deep inside her
Inside, the office was very pristine, a beautiful wooden desk with a computer and two files laying neatly to the side sat in the center, sleek glass covered everything else in the room. Minus the two luxury chairs placed in front of the desk of course. Dracula promptly sat in one of them, while Zoe moved to the front of the desk. Immediately she started going through the files.
She set them aside not a minute later and stared going through the drawers. Dracula watched in amusement. Unfortunately, Zoe caught his eye.
“You could help you know, some of this information could be what you’re looking for.”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me if you’ve found anything of interest.” He flashed her a sharp smile and Zoe scoffed as she went back to ruffling through papers.
After a minute or so Dracula was beginning to grow bored again, the sense of urgency Zoe had been bestowed with was lost on him.
“What about the computer, I’m sure their must be top secret files on there?” Dracula suggested looking at his nails, he really did need to fed soon, they were starting to yellow.
*
Zoe kept on rummage, something was wrong it- it was like she knew there was something hidden, something deep, something buried...
*
Dracula looked up, it was as if Zoe hadn’t heard him at all. He frowned.
“Zoe? Are you even-“
*
“-listening to me? Are you alright?”
Zoe’s head shot up but suddenly she wasn’t in the office anymore she was somewhere else, somewhere old and-
The convent.
I’m not quick
I’ve always been slow
Cracked walls. Dust in the light.
But the thing is, when you’re slow, you know you need to pay attention.
It’s the clever ones who never listen.
The smell of rotting flesh
You’ve read all this already in my account
A crucifix
It’s vague in certain crucial regards
A wooden stake
Continue please.
Blue eyes.
Zoe felt herself slip away from the scene before her as the office appeared once more.
Her heart was beating a mile a minute, and - and Dracula was standing, staring at her hard, face scrunched together in something resembling concern and contempt.
The office door quietly swung open. Zoe’s eyes shot from the Counts to the man entering the room. Her heart stuttered.
Blue eyes stared back.
*****
Dracula hadn’t bothered to turn around, he was too focused on what was happening in front of him. A moment ago Zoe seemed to have been in some kind of trance, her heart rate steadily increasing until Dracula actually wondered if it would stop and come back down or just keep going until it gave out.
She seemed to have snapped out if it for the most part but her heart was still racing, in fact it was stuttering, similarly to how some people’s do before panicking. Dracula would know. But he couldn’t understand what was warranting such a reaction, what could have-
“Mr. Harker.”
If Dracula had a working heart it probably would have stuttered too. That being said he does not in fact have a beating heart so instead his brain comes to a screeching halt.
Slowly. Dracula turns around.
******
Zoe can feel the moment the Counts attention rips from her to the other man, a subconscious whiplash if you will. Zoe is still maintaining eye contact, and surprisingly so is Mr. Harker.
And it is Mr. Harker.
Agatha had practically screamed when their eyes locked. It was not a joyous scream it was one of immense pain and sorrow.
Zoe wasn’t sure but she thinks she might be crying.
How, is what her first thought should have been, instead it was, no.
No.
No, no, no. No. No. No, n-
“Johnny?”
That was the Counts voice wasn’t it? It was so, so....quiet.
****
Dracula slides away from where he was leaning against the desk, eyes boring into Jonathan.
Jonathan Harker.
Johnny Blue eyes.
His perfect Bride
Looking like he hadn’t aged a day since he first set foot inside Dracula’s castle.
Oh.
Dracula felt the metaphorical slap of reality catch up to him and he was moving towards the other man with a vigor he hadn’t felt in years.
The moment he had called Jonathan’s name the blue eyes had snapped to him and stayed on him. Now that he was moving however, Jonathan moved further into the office gracefully side stepping Dracula’s advances to get near him.
He stopped near the side of his desk, body facing towards them both but attention grazing over the files strewn about.
“I assume then when you came into this office it wasn’t me you were looking for was it?” Jonathan’s voice rang clear and strong, not the weak pitiful sounds he made during his last week at the castle.
Dracula stared in awe.
****
TBC
Part 4 **** Zoe it seemed, was the first to recover from their shock. “No. No, we hadn’t - we didn’t, we were looking for some informati
Zoe glanced up from the email she’d been reading to lock eyes with him. It’d been a total of 11 days since he’d showed up in her life. To say things haven’t been snowballing since then would be an understatement.
“I’m meeting with the board tomorrow for one final review. It shouldn’t be awful but they’re going to ask a lot of questions.”
“About me.”
“About the organization...but yes about you too.”
Dracula smiled sweetly, “And what are you going to tell them about me?”
Zoe narrowed her eyes and effectively closed out of her email. “I’m going to tell them the truth.”
Dracula’s smile fell.
“That we have absolutely no idea how you survived drinking my blood. That we’ve come to numerous dead-ends and have zero leads.” Zoe finished with a frustrated grunt.
Dracula nodded slowly, a thought seeming to occur to him. “This board, they know of my existence?”
Zoe threw him a flat look. “Of course they know about you, they’re funding the organization!”
She suddenly moved to pace around the room, but Dracula stopped her, placing both hands on her shoulders to hold her in place.
“Essentially then they’re just another organization with information on me.”
Zoe peered at him quizzically.
“Maybe they know something we don’t, maybe they have the answer?” He wasn’t sure why he was feeling so giddy suddenly. Was he that desperate to find a lead, to finally have a means to scratch the metaphorical itch he’d been feeling since the moment he was conscious. In short.
Yes. Yes he was desperate.
Or maybe just hungry
Maybe both?
****
Zoe wouldn’t let him come to the board meeting, not with the staggering amount of people and guns at the ready. Not that he minded. It was more out of precaution for them than anything.
And with good reason, Dracula thought.
He could definitely go for another bloodbath.
****
Zoe returned with a sour look and stomp in her step. She relayed to him the days events. Apparently the board was satisfied with the foundation but when one of them had broached the subject of Dracula’s location, Zoe had to stay tight lipped, least they treat her like she’s harboring a fugitive.
Dracula should really track down his lawyer.
Eventually one of the board members pulled her aside and delivered a tantalizing bomb in disguise. They claimed they saw right through her her attempts at denial and demanded she bring Dracula back in. They suspected she was hiding him somewhere and that she was somehow under his control-
Dracula laughed loudly at this part because let’s face it. It was ridiculous. Agatha would never allow it.
-Anyway, Zoe used her quick thinking and decided to strike up a deal with the board representative and-
“What kind of deal.” Dracula asked crossing his arms.
“I was just about to get to that part if you’d stop interrupting me.”
“Well then by all means, please. Carry on.”
Zoe rolled her eyes but continued.
“Basically they said they’d keep you a secret from the rest of the board and organization if you agreed to meet with their exc and exchange information regarding all things Vampire. They might also want to run some more test.”
Dracula pursed his lips, “So basically just another foundation/organization, we’re just cutting out the middle man, middle man being the -“
“Jonathan Harker Foundation, yes, also meaning we lose a huge chunk of our sponsors if we go through with the deal. The foundation is struggling as it is, I don’t know if it’ll survive another pay cut like this.”
“Yes, terribly tragic. Oh well, I see no other option than to proceed forward with the deal.”
“Of course you would say that, does my work mean nothing to you?” She meant it in the rhetorical sense but Dracula didn’t seem to realize.
“Zoe, if I make this deal there will be no more work at the foundation to do. You can simply just do so at this other organization.”
Zoe was about to comment that that wasn’t the point, that is was the principle, that her family and the Murrays had put so much-
“Zoe, this could be our one chance to learn more about what happened. I-I need to understand Zoe. After.” Here he took a deep breath unnecessary as it was, “after you made me realize that it was my fears holding me back and once I became aware of my circumstance after the incident I have this-this desire to understand what happened, this need to know why. It’s, It’s driving me insane Zoe. I can’t explain it. Just, Please.”
Some very old voice inside of Zoe told her she was being manipulated, but for some reason she didn’t care.
**
They agreed to the deal and plans were set in motion to meet with the excs the following day.
*****
Zoe can count on both hands the amount of times she has legitimately been nervous in her life; the past year she’s known Dracula making up at least half of them.
Still she shouldn’t be feeling as nervous as she was now, sitting in the lobby of a very nice, very posh building in downtown London. Dracula was sitting beside her, dressed to the nines per usual looking as cool a fucking cucumber.
Zoe suspected it wasn’t possible for him to get nervous in the same sense as she was. No fast pace beating of the heart, sweaty palms, or feeling the blood rush to your ears.
No, she suspected he didn’t have any of those symptoms.
******
When they reached the offices of the executives, Zoe assumed it would be the top floor. It was not.
The excs immediate reaction upon meeting Dracula was surprise, followed shortly by awe, and then finally disgust as it registered that this being killed people for a living.
Literally.
At least they all seemed moderately ashamed with themselves.
‘You’re one to talk,’ the old voice quipped. Zoe chose to ignore it.
*****
Every second they wasted idly chattering was a second more Dracula felt his brain wasting away. Weren’t these people supposed to be experts on all things Vampire? Weren’t they supposed to help him? Not the other way around. They asked all manners of questions, some teetering on the edge of rude to obscene, to downright idiotic and foolhardy. It was as if all information regarding vampires was the swill found in, what was it? The media? The television? Either way it was similar to the books of old that always portrayed vampires poorly.
Dracula was half tempted to give them a live demonstration of his so called ‘powers’ just to get them to shut up, when he remembered he was in public, in a very public building in a very public city.
He decided he’d just have to show them another time.
Probably on their days off.
*****
Leaving the executive room was something close to fresh air, if he needed to breath. Zoe was walking a little quickly, rushing on her way to the elevator. When she paused mid step and rounded on him.
“Was that or was that not odd to you?”
“You mean because we just wasted thirty minutes of our time with a bunch of imbeciles who knew nothing of vampires whatsoever.”
“Oh good so we’re on the same page.”
Dracula held up his thumb and index finger. “I was this close Zoe, this close to ripping off one of their heads!”
“Calm down it wasn’t that awful.” Zoe turned back towards the elevator.
“You’re right, it was worse.” Dracula followed quickly in after her.
“Look. I’m not sure why but the whole situation just didn’t sit right with me, I mean they were our sponsors for Christ sake, how could they not be informed.”
“I don’t know Zoe and frankly I don’t care at the moment I just want to leave here as soon a-“
“Hold on, notice that.” Zoe pointed to the number of floors inside the elevator. “We’re not on the top floor.”
“I don’t understand.” And he meant it to.
“We’re not even on the excs floor, look you need clearance to go up further.”
“Zoe I don’t thi-“
“Shut up, somethings not right here.” Zoe looked around once before stepping back onto the previous floor. She motioned for him to follow. Reluctantly Dracula walked out of the lift.
Zoe glanced around for a few more seconds before deciding something.
“Do me a favor, see that mechanic over there.” She nodded to other side of the office. “Distract them for me will you.”
Dracula let out another small sigh before moving but turned back around briefly, “You know I expect something in return for all my trouble in helping you.”
“I’d expect nothing less. Now hurry up.” She whispered.
Dracula made his way over and grabbed the mechanics attention with soft words and gentle hands. Zoe rolled her eyes as she approached from behind. Ever the charmer. Silently she searched for the key card. Finally she spotted it on the tool kit off to the side, not even on their person. Too easy.
Zoe swiped it.
*****
Back in the elevator Zoe ran the card through a security reader and the lift gave a small jerk as it moved upward.
“My, my Zoe, I hadn’t had you pegged for a petty criminal.”
Zoe flashed him a grin. “Not a criminal, just a Helsing.”
Dracula let out a soft chuckle.
A loud buzzing filled up the space suddenly and Zoe once again tore around in search of her phone. She froze though when she looked at the screen.
Dracula didn’t need to be a vampire to see her tense. Instantly he was on alert.
“Zoe, what’s wrong?”
She glanced up at him briefly before looking back at the buzzing phone.
“It’s Jack.”
“...Lucy’s friend?”
At the mention of the girl’s name Zoe flinched slightly.
Dracula felt himself relax, Jack wasn’t a threat. No matter how much the kid wish’d to be.
The elevator doors suddenly slid open. Zoe seemed torn before placing her phone on silent and stowing it away.
“I’ll call him back later.” Whether she was telling him or herself that, Dracula wasn’t sure.
They stepped out and instantly Dracula wonder not for the first time if Zoe had some sort of sixth sense for uncanny situations. They were in another office, bigger, nicer and far more expensive than the one several floors down.
“I knew it, I knew something was off earlier, someone or ones is trying to keep us from something.”
“The missing puzzle pieces maybe?” Dracula questioned hopefully.
Zoe made a beeline to the largest office in the room.
“I don’t know why, but I feel like we’re really close to something, of discovering something big and - and it’s here in this office.” Zoe didn’t wait for him before stepping through the glass doors. Dracula, finding his curiosity piqued followed after her.
****
TBC
Part 3 **** Inside, the office was very pristine, a beautiful wooden desk with a computer and two files laying neatly to the side sat in
