to rebuild—7
*looks away as i hand u this*
ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3, ch. 4, ch. 5, ch.6, ch. 8
“you’re doing what? with who?” khane lays on shoola’s bed, toying with a puzzle mechanism in his hands, brown eyes lit up with interest at his aunt’s words. “how many times have i tried to bring you down for the same thing?” he smiles to himself, seeing as his speculations are coming true.
shoola’s towel is over her chest, stare on the mirror in her bathroom. slowly, she rubs moisturizer into her rich brown skin, the sweet fragrance mixing with the dissipating steam following her shower taken just a few minutes ago. the scar on the right side of her face as well as the base of her neck holds her focus, hands running over the sites of old injury with a light massage, a special salve applied.
she thinks, maybe i shouldn’t. regret arises with the idea, knowing she is expected by sevika. concerning gatherings outside her home, she has only carved herself out of the supposed safety of her abode to attend council meetings and the only most necessary of invitations that are fundraisers and attendance to university—both having dwindled significantly since the incident. in lieu of these thoughts, her inner voice speaks up again: this is necessary; not in an obligatory manner at all.
shoola rolls her shoulder back once, stretching out her body with the motion. the words from khane, having registered moments ago, beam in her mind like a message that needs a reply, the lotion rubbed into the last of her unmoisturized skin as she conjures her reply.
“a night out…with a friend.” shoola leaves the bathroom, the softness of her slippers caressing her feet while she pads to her closet a few feet down. she rolls her eyes at the scoff that emits from khane in response, her hands still rubbing together just to feel the sensation of her skin with the lotion on.
khane sits up on the bed, interest in the puzzle departing to get into the thick of it. “and which friend have you suddenly decided to accept an invitation from after” –he feigns a count on his fingers despite being out of shoola’s view– “centuries?”
shoola’s airy laugh floats through the contents of her room, her fingers brushing over the garment she's examining. by the tone of his voice she can only fake a wrong answer to who he’s alluding to, her thoughts shifting to the individual easily. “can’t i just…go out? if i was all tucked in for the night you’d be on another rant about that.”
“this isn’t a rant. i asked a question—that you are unsuccessfully dodging by the way.” khane juts his lips a bit as he smooths his thumb over the metal device in his left palm. “how you feelin’?”
looking over a white off-shoulder top, shoola nods to the choice before answering, “i’m feeling the best i can. i…sevika is…nice to be around. different. i need that.” the last words are a bit quieter than the rest.
“yeah? even if she gets on your ass about the council?”
shoola sets aside the top and begins to search for a bottom. “well she’s right every time with every point. her agitation and anger aren’t misplaced; that is the least she could do.”
khane hums. “so you like being told off i guess.”
a flowy pair of black pants catch shoola’s interest, her hand reaching to take the garment from its place before her left hand smooths over the length of the fabric. her thoughts put together the full outfit in her head before khane’s pointed statement loops through as well. “i think you should point your gaze to your own matters with rekia.” she finds her undergarment next with ease, slipping on the soft fabric, thumbs tracing the waistband.
“you don’t have to tell me.” khane grunts softly as he stands up from the bed, joints popping softly. “maybe i should invite ‘em. so we can spy on y’all. then i’m going to tell mama and pa—hell the whole family’s gonna hear about it.”
“i doubt my personal life is of any interest the way you’re making it sound,” is shoola’s reply, her words clearly spoken with a smile. “and it might be ironic to say considering the fact that zaunites track my every move when i’m down there–”
“they do–”
“but i don’t need anyone else…watching. and i truly doubt sevika favors that idea.”
khane tightens up at that thought, pocketing his handheld puzzle. though he expected that was who shoola is going with, her vague attitude has finally dropped, meaning she is warming up to the fact as well. his sly smile is hidden as he actually considers taking rekia to the same bar and doing a little lounging, a dash of drinking, and a smidge of specified people-watching.
exiting her closet, shoola comes out in her outfit, her chosen shoes held by her right index and middle finger tucked into the heels, free hand smoothing over her torso and sides. she walks over to her vanity and takes a seat on the plush seating. “that shut your mouth right up—does sevika scare you?”
“uh, is a fork found in a kitchen?” khane wanders the expanse of the bedroom, nearing shoola in his slow trek. “but it’s still one of her best qualities. sevika’s like zaun in that way—based on face value they’re a bit…y’know. then you dig a little and you have a soft, vulnerable individual.”
shoola applies a base of black eye shadow, laughing lightly in the middle of the careful swipes. “have you told them that?”
“when i’m in the mood to get told off, yeah. but you can definitely slide that comment in there and get off scot-free. since y’all havin’ breakfast and everything together now.”
blinking a couple of times, shoola angles her head from side to side, studying her efforts so far then giving a humored sigh and closing her eyes for a moment. “is this you just being ten feet deep in my business or a case of wiloh’s loose lips.”
a feigned moment of thought with a light hum comes from khane before he says brightly, “good fortune from both.”
next on the applicator is the golden hue, shoola’s response withheld for a minute as she focuses on applying eye shadow. during some point in her makeup application, her right hand develops a light tremor, her brush set down immediately as she tucks her hand under her vanity, squeezing it repeatedly to calm the trigger. “...good fortune for who exactly?”
khane finds himself near the pitcher of water, pouring a fresh cup and then bringing it to shoola, setting it on the corner of the gold-accented vanity. “me, myself, and i. i’m a big fan of whatever you two got goin’ on.”
shoola can’t help the tired laugh that comes from her before she murmurs a ‘thank you’ to him, left hand reaching to pick up the cup and take a couple of soothing swigs. “i think you’re bored and you need more hobbies.” as she sets the cup back down, her right hand is relieved from the tremors, and she picks up the applicator to continue putting on her eyeshadow.
“is that a nice way of tellin’ me to kick rocks?”
“not at all, but your foot is fitting nicely into the shoe.” she finishes off adorning her face, then places her faceplate on, standing up from the chair as she massages her lips together, making sure her lipstick is spreading evenly. even as she stands, she is in the view of the vanity’s mirror, taking a long look at herself, angling her face to study the entirety of it while she shifts her body to see how it all comes together.
khane looks at the clock and starts to gather his own things while he speaks up, “you look cute. get out of that mirror’s face and get to enjoyin’ your night.” he opens her bedroom door, slipping through the space before lingering for a second. “give sevika a hug and a kiss for me. love you, stay safe.”
certain thoughts already neatly tucked away, the playful words make shoola turn away from the mirror, the shutting of her door making her reply begin with a stammer before she calls out her own farewell.
-
sevika waits in front of the elevator, sights in a deep concentration to study the mechanism before them. they shift their stance, taking in a breath as they keep the overbearing thoughts to a minimum. their brown skin is tight with nerves, the heat surging through being a different sensation from what has been felt in the past few weeks. to pinpoint a main feeling would be a failure, the whirlwind of emotions letting sevika hover in a limbo.
the next descent of the elevator, sevika takes a subconscious step forward, their eyes darting from each person leaving the mechanism. they keep walking until the familiar frame of shoola comes into view, their gazes setting on one another, simultaneous hesitance in both of their next movements. sevika does their usual once-over, a bit of a repetition in the action as they admire the look shoola put together, the jewelry remaining focused on golden accents with matte black adornments mixed into them. they tilt their head, a faint smile on their face.
immersed in the sweet spice of sevika’s fragrance, shoola takes a moment to realize how close she is to them, the hairs on her skin perking up at the proximity while the blood rushes to her face. “overdressed, didn't i?” she adjusts the positioning of her top, making sure it is sitting right.
a soft hum comes from sevika as they shake their head, lips downturning a bit. “i don’t remember making a dress code for tonight. and you look good.” they motion their head toward the space behind them. “ready?”
“i am.” shoola catches their gaze and her chest constricts, her posture straightening as she watches them quickly look her up and down before turning and leading the way away from the elevator. she is graced with the sight of her acquaintance’s back, the fabric of the vest they’re wearing wrapping the expanse of their wide body just right; an unashamed dekko is given to sevika’s ass, the fitted material accentuating the curves. her stare raises as her face warms, sights landing on the nape of their neck, a visible growth coming to the undercut. the thought to touch and caress is quickly shooed away while she clears her throat, tugging at the neckline of her top again, her claws grazing her chest. she looks away to her surroundings, trying to gather herself with another aspect to focus on.
“you feelin’ alright tonight?” sevika slows and looks to their side, watching shoola abandon her position just behind them, the back of their hands brushing against one another. neither pull away immediately, the bit of comfort offered by the unintentional.
“mhm.” shoola nods. “how about you? i didn’t keep you waiting too long, i hope.”
“not at all.” sevika hears the incoming commotion before their body bumps shoola’s, right hand finding the small of her back while they let the group pass, their broad build pressed against her curvy, thick frame for a moment before they guide both of their bodies to the side of the street. they look back at who just trudged through uncaringly, bottling the holler to concentrate on the path to the bar. “you know how close i am to posting up rules for how to walk with other people on the same damn route?”
shoola is hushed, the firm touch of sevika’s hand building a desire she knows she has no business indulging in. when they look at her, she nods a couple of times, forcing a chuckle. “they were a bit close, yes. um…that happens a lot?” obviously, she thinks to herself.
bringing their hand back to their side, sevika notices the other’s rigidity, the presumed discomfort letting them know they need to think of particular actions before doing it. they return to their normal posture and start back on the path. “yeah, often.”
the rest of the short trek is enveloped by silence, more of a distance in between the two as they walk through the lively streets. an even livelier building is where sevika is headed, a nervous prickle bringing a light heat to their skin as they approach, hoping the environment serves to ease both theirs and shoola’s turmoil. they walk up to the door and open it, the muffled music no longer stifled, the clear notes ringing through the air. looking back at shoola, they tilt their head toward the inside once seeing her just stand there.
“waiting for an invite? or are you scared?” sevika has a ghost of a smile when they are given a pointed look, their gray sights set on shoola’s golden-gray eyes.
she steps forward. “i don’t think i’m afraid of much.” another step and she enters the tavern fully, the air a stark difference from outside. shoola ignores the stares and scans the room’s interior, taking in the decor with a light smile before finding sevika’s gaze.
“i can tell.” sevika’s left arm points to the bar and then a small booth in the corner. “your choice.”
even through the loud instruments, the deep, smooth tone of sevika’s voice reaches shoola, their slight lean to make sure they are heard making the councilor cycle through her thoughts a couple time before being able to respond. seeing as her mind structures a more intimate outcome with choosing the booth, shoola points to the bar, the claws adorning her fingers tonight carrying a fully black presentation with golden tips. “can you tell khane is scared of you?”
sevika’s visage lights up at that, a laugh quick to follow. “he told you that?” they follow her to the bar and watch her sit on one of the stools before moving theirs a bit closer. “and you’re just putting his business out like that? damn.” they meet the bartender’s gaze and wave him over.
“funny you say that considering he would be sat right next to us if i didn’t pry him off of his plans to follow tonight.” shoola examines the bottles lining the wall behind the bartenders. ultimately, she is unfamiliar with the zaun-produced liquor, mentally handing over her choices to sevika. when the individual behind the bar comes to take their order, she looks at sevika just when they look at her.
quick to read what shoola’s gaze conveys, sevika orders two shots of the same thing, chilled, small cups put in front of the two before a light brown spirit is poured into both. as she thanks the bartender, shoola slips in a request for a regular beverage on the side to accompany the shot, then she adjusts her position on the stool, thick thighs rubbing against each other while her ass shifts back slightly.
“i didn’t expect this bar to be the one you’d plan to go to,” shoola says, nodding her head and smiling at the bartender when he returns with a regular sweet drink. her gaze drops to sevika’s fingers tracing the bottom edge of their shot glass, a couple seconds of her stare bringing stray thoughts; quickly, she looks to her own cup and ensues aimless touching of the glass as well.
“yeah? well i think what you had in mind is a bit more rough around the edges then this place.” sevika grabs their glass and raises it toward shoola. “to good health.”
shoola does the same. “and…to new friends.”
the edges of the cups kiss, shoola’s prompt finally processing when sevika’s lips meet their glass to take the shot, a small smile stretches across as they murmur, “to new friends.” they down the shot with a slight wince, tuning into her immediately as the burn in their throat is dismissed. shoola eyes narrow a bit as she swallows the shot, her opposing hand already taking a hold of the requested cup of juice and eagerly taking a small sip to wash away the bitter evidence.
a glimmer within their gray eyes, sevika chuckles at her drinking procedure, attention brought to shoola’s hand resting on her lap, the golden tips of the matte black claws scintillating when she moves a bit. “also…thought you’d like live music rather than some old, beat up jukebox.”
looking at the space around her, shoola notices the small area to the side where individuals and couples are dancing to the jazz, gesturing toward them with a slight angling of her head. “do you think i’d like dancing too?”
sevika takes the chance to give shoola a feigned once-over, lips jutting to the side a bit. “hmm. i can see you out there, yeah.” a scenario of shoola out on the floor dancing conjures in their mind as soon as the words leave them, their new companion’s presence and movements planted alongside their own, following the beats perfectly, bodies nearly touching while their hands are occupied in caressing one another’s. a quick blur applied to their loose imagination, sevika taps their shot glass while bringing their eyes they look at shoola’s empty one. by now the shot has settled into their system, another layer of warmth blanketing their skin. “should we have another?”
shoola takes her gaze from the band, still moving her shoulder to the music while she gives an affirmed hum, a soft clink emitting as her claws push the shot glass forward. “i usually like a simple wine, but this is good. i didn’t expect the aftertaste to be so sweet.”
sevika is about to go into the details of who makes the particular brew, leaning forward as the forearm of their prosthetic rests on the bar counter, a soft whirring projecting from the motion. their eyes flit to the entrance of the bar before the door opens, a few individuals trickling in, making sevika look back to shoola before focusing on the group trudging through again.
the advances sevika has made for the betterment of their community has unfortunately struck a chord in particular types of people who once thrived under what zaun was when silco and vander were at the forefront of taking care of everything. since sevika has seen the fault in both efforts and took it upon theirself to break the complacency of the position, flushing out the infrastructures that are truly rotting zaun from the core, it could only be expected that there would be such attitudes in response.
but in this moment, sevika is already agitated, having hoped for a night that took both shoola’s and their mind off the pressures of duties and working.
“i’ll be back,” sevika tells shoola, holding her gaze for a few seconds as they get up from the stool.
“oh. are you okay?” she tracks their movement, and looks to where they are heading, now noticing the presence of a few new attendees to the bar. concern arising in an instant, she continues, “who are they?”
sevika gets the bartender’s attention. “jamie, anything she wants on my tab.” their eyes say the rest of their order while their head motions to the guests that just entered.
“you got it,” jamie chirps, the task of looking after shoola already having been imprinted as soon as she arrived with sevika. his dark green eye tracks sevika’s movement before settling back on the first time guest.
a lingering look given to the lead of the group, kel, sevika walks past until they reach the door, opening it and waiting for him to follow them outside. never left alone in their efforts to protect what is being rebuilt, several guests that were already in the bar get up to back sevika, watching the gang follow them out as they accompany the group. the door closes behind them all and the band resumes playing, maintaining the light atmosphere that was once albeit a bit more tense with thoughts of what is occurring just outside.
shoola keeps her eyes on the door, brows furrowed while her chest constricts with worry. she knows well that sevika is more than capable of taking care of theirself in that manner of defense, yet there is a weird feeling in her stomach that urges her to make sure that factor remains; but she doubts her lessons in self-defense are a match for individuals that have been fighting for most of their lives.
“...you a drink?” the end of the inquiry reaches shoola, making her turn to the person standing near sevika’s seat. silver eyes set atop dark sclera’s stare burn into shoola, a polite smile on her face when she faces the stranger fully.
“i’m sorry, what was that?” shoola looks the individual up and down, her analysis transparent.
the stranger does the same, tilting her head toward the empty shot glass. she repeats, her accent thick, “i asked if i could get you a drink, councilor shoola.”
“oh, you don’t have to call me that,” shoola laughs airily. “and you can get me a drink if i can offer you one back…?” she leaves space to ask for her name without asking.
“may,” she finishes. humming with satisfaction, may calls jamie over, his look between the two telling, but he keeps quiet, seeing no harm in the friendly interaction. ordering for shoola, may slides a few bronze cogs over the counter, turning back to her when they finish speaking to him.
“whatever she wants,” shoola tells jamie.
as he retreats to start making the drinks, may dips back into conversation with shoola, silver eyes running up the length of her body. “i didn’t take you as a patron of zaun’s businesses.”
shoola hums. “you just haven’t seen me around. but i’ve been back and forth for decades—i have some family that lives here. and…friends.”
“friends?” may takes a seat where sevika was sitting. “and one of them is supposed to be sevika, i’m assuming.”
jamie sets down the drinks in front of the two, lingering nearby as he hears his companion’s name. he takes out a rag and cleans the counter with no need to do so, the handmade decor lining his right eyepatch glinting with his movements. gaze darting to the door, he expects sevika to be returning soon, the next confrontation one he will be having a frontrow to.
shoola thanks him before indulging in the pale blue cocktail, a leveled amount of spirit and additional beverages mixed together bringing a satisfied expression to her face. hearing the pointed words from may, she takes the straw and swirls the drink. “one of them is sevika, actually. are you here to tell me something about my choices? you sound disappointed,” is the light reply, her shaved brows raised.
may takes a sip of her own drink, shrugging. “you seem like you’d keep better company around. not a drug dealing, child labor enabler.”
her fingers letting go of her straw, shoola stares may right in her eyes. “do you think piltover is above any of that? that i am a saint who has never seen or had a hand in other’s suffering?” she leans in slightly. “you think i don’t know? i can take a group of piltover citizens and a group of zaunites, tell them to hold out their hands and see that not a single one is clean; i could do it again and see the innocents. they are melded in these societies. there are some who sustain that role and continue to dirty their hands.” she motions to the door behind her where kel and his gang are being handled just outside of it. “and there are some who will choose to scrub them clean no matter the stains that remain. efforts and a change of mind—i see that and i do not care who i call my companion.”
the door of the bar opens; sevika wants nothing more than to sit and enjoy the rest of their night, a bruise forming on the right side of their ribs while anger shudders through their flesh—preferred company and a drink is a highlight in the near future. then they espy shoola’s engaged body language and their seat occupied, their gaze hardening as they start a slow march back to her. they know who is sitting next to her but can’t bring theirself to care much past recognition, mind in a slight daze.
shoola’s skin prickles and she hears the familiar thud of sevika’s boots, her body straightening as she brightens before glancing to her side and craning her head slightly to hold their gaze. but that was only with the expectation that they were already looking at her. instead, sevika has a hard glare on may, a slight quiver to their gaze as they remain speechless, breaths heavy and prominent through their nose.
may is mid-sip of her drink, her side-eye becoming a dead-on returning stare. larger swigs of her drinks are taken before she gets up from the seat to stand, the energy she’s getting from sevika enough of a prompt for her to leave and return to the back of the bar.
sevika watches her retreat, then looks at her seat before setting her stare on shoola, the concern in her eyes a layer of balm to their demeanor. they sit back down in a languorous manner, wincing slightly. they push may’s empty glass aside with their knuckles, the glass taken by jamie and replaced with a fresh cup of liquor for them, more than a shot poured into the short, sturdy glass.
shoola stays quiet, focusing on her cocktail and taking a long and hefty sip. when her lips detach from the straw, she motions vaguely. “that…happens often?”
a drink taken from their cup, sevika keeps her friend’s eyes within their sight, the burn a welcome distraction from their body pulsing with pain. they discard that inquiry as the topic of their conversation, placing humor to divert the obvious answer, “i leave for a couple of minutes and that’s who you replace me with?”
“no, i…i thought she was friendly. emphasis on thought.” shoola’s study of sevika’s state is constant, her position on her chair shifting to come toward them slightly. “and i don’t think i have any candidates to replace you.”
sevika’s emotions triumph over the spirits in their system, a welcome burning heat set to their face and body. they give a slow nod. “...good.”