Find it so strange how in a show with so many great characters, somehow Silco is the one that I’m still thinking about (besides Jinx, of course).
Like, this guy had a full-blown arc that was completely overshadowed but literally everybody else's in the show, and is also the most important for the ending.
He’s a manipulative, murdering, drug lord who doesn’t even seem to care if children are used in his experimentations with Shimmer. He willingly threatens people’s lives and even the lives of people’s child.
He let a cat get eaten
He’s the direct cause for a widespread shimmer drug epidemic in his own city, an doesn’t show a single care about that.
So clearly he doesn’t care about the chaos ensuing around him so long as he stays in power and successfully gets his way with the upper city. He does whatever he needs to to get what he needs.
He also doesn’t care about the chaos Jinx brings to the table unless it directly affects something he’s working on. He knows she’s cracked and brittle, and that she’s incredibly traumatized.
I think he sees himself in her-- betrayed and abandoned and traumatized by it. They both fear betrayal again-- especially Jinx in her unstable emotional state.
He lets her do what she feels she needs to do. he doesn’t even grow angry when she stabs him repeatedly with his eye poke...thingy.
He doesn’t even grow angry when she shoots him...kills him.
He assures her that he would never betray her-- something she doesn’t trust anyone about. And you can tell in the way he says it in this intimate moment that he means it.
He has nothing to gain by saying this. He’s dead either way.
And even more, knowing he's telling the truth, he was willing to lose EVERYTHING he ever hoped to achieve with independence and an end from the uppercity's tyranny for this one girl he cares for like a daughter.
EXACTLY the motivation Vander had for the same things.
He doesn'y gain anything by saying this, either.
He says these things because he knows because of his own and Jinx’s betrayals and abandonments that this is what she needs to hear in order to find herself.
The last time, she killed her family and was abandoned by her sister (not entirely, but you get it). She was taunted for being imperfect while she was younger, and told that she could be fixed by Vi currently.
He tells her that he wouldn’t betray and abandon her in his last breaths after she fatally shot him, and then tells her she’s exactly how she’s meant to be-- perfect. Something no one has ever told her. They’ve always wanted to change her in some way, and he accepts her wholeheartedly and loyally despite everything he had hoped to achieve with the uppercity and being shot by her.
This is what gets Jinx to accept herself as Jinx.
And he’s the only voice she hears when she chooses her path.
He wasn’t redeemed at all since him and Jinx aren’t some good vs. bad situation. Not even his character is redeemed.
What he is is exactly who Jinx needed her whole life while being exactly what the undercity was practically destroyed by. And honestly, he’s pribably the only type of person who could wholeheartedly accept Jinx in the environment they’re in.
He’s the very epitome of a villain who has a big soft spot which just so happens to be more important than anything else to him. And he gets killed by her, and doesn’t blame her for it.
And I just find his arc so brilliantly done in the grand scheme of things.
When all you have of me is love, give me away. When all that’s left of us is memories, share me with others. I will always be here. I loved you completely and you loved me just the same. That’s all we need.
TW: Parent death, strangulation, angst
🌕 🌖 🌗 🌘 🌑 🌒 🌓 🌔 🌕
YN winced in pain as her mother added another neon blue symbol to her brown skin. The color vibrant due the power behind the magic symbols. Her mother hummed in response to her pain, but continued as she was almost done. Her mother lifted YN’s small hand and moved to needle in the final two symbols, one on the backhand and one on the palm of her hand. As her mother rubbed in a lotion to the fresh skin. The blue symbols that shined from the intent of their magic began to fade and look like regular tattoos.
“Is it over Mommy?” The seven year old turned her head and asked. Their floor was uncomfortable against her front side, but YN had to lie on her stomach for her mom to tattoo across her shoulders and down her arms.
“Yeah baby, it’s all over now.” Her mother smiled and gently played with YN’s curly pigtail. The dark curls bouncing between her fingers. “I know it hurts and stings at the moment, but the pain will go away soon.”
“Why do I have to get a tattoo mommy?” YN asked.
“Because these symbols are a part of our family. From mother to child it will always connect us as a family. It’s our history and our power. These symbols…” Her mom ran her finger tips over the symbols. “These writings are magic. One day you will use them to protect yourself. And one day you will pass this onto your children.”
YN didn’t really understand what it all meant, but trusted her mother regardless. Just like she promised, the pain went away and her skin felt like it was back to normal. When she felt better, YN sat up and looked around for a specific book her mother had written, one about herbs and their properties. When she finally found it YN got up to leave, asking her mom to go out and play.
YN ran to find her friends. Of all the places they could be, the pier near the pilt was the most obvious choice. YN’s tiny feet padded up and down across the ground quickly till she found the person she was looking for. Silco.
YN had met Silco 8 months ago. When the skinny boy was getting harassed by much older kids trying to get off on bullying a smaller, younger kid. YN hated seeing people like that get what they wanted. So when the largest of the group raised his fist to strike the skinny boy, YN threw an empty bottle at his head smashing into a million little pieces. The other two goons turned their heads to see the small girl with curly black hair up in pigtails and holding an empty beer bottle like it was a sword.
“What the hell you little bitch?!” The one screamed and turned to grab her. YN backed slightly, scared of this large man that looked ready to kill her. And he might actually have killed her had it not been for Vander.
The older boy came down from a roof like a guardian angel, beating and chasing away the bastards who tried to hurt his brother. While he did, YN walked up to the skinny boy to check if he was okay. Though he was a bit apprehensive at first, YN learned the name of the boy she defended, Silco. It was the day she gained three new friends. Silco, Vander, and Benzo.
“Silco!” YN shouted and ran up to her friend that sat against a shack on the pier. She smiled and made her way fast to him.
At the sound of his name, Silco looked up from the image he was drawing in the dirt. He smiled and put his stick down. Silco was always happy to see the girl, she was a close companion to him. Someone he could share his love for knowledge with. Though he and Vander were brothers, them against the world, but Vander was never really interested in books like they were. Benzo was a friend, but he was like Vander. More brawn than most.
“Hey Silco!” YN sat next to her friend.
“Hi YN. Did you bring me a new one today?” Silco smiled and excitedly asked his friend.
YN nodded and pulled her new herb book from her lap. Silco scooched closer to her and grabbed the book from her offering hands. They both leaned on each other as Silco started to look at the pages.
“I saw mommy putting all these facts and bits in here about what each plant could do. Some are really good at healing. This one here is supposed to help calm you down if you put it in hot water.” YN explained whilst pointing at her favorite pictures.
“Thank you, YN. This is a really nice book. It’s also really valuable. Think of all the things we could do with this when we’re older.” Silco mused and ran his fingertips over some of the images.
YN got distracted when she saw Benzo and Vander walking up from where they were. With a kiss on the cheek to Silco YN ran over to Vander and Benzo to play. YN liked reading with Silco, he was one of her bestest friends, but YN also loved to hop on the posts of the pier with Vander and Benzo.
“Vander! Benzo! You guys wanna play on the pier?” YN bounced on the balls of her feet.
Vander loved hanging around the young girl to play. He loved when they would stare at the sky while they played, talking about what life would be like going topside. Living like those rich people having pets and food in surplus. Benzo liked exploring with YN when they hung out. Finding all the nooks and crannies they could squeeze their bodies into. The age difference between them didn’t bother the quartet enough, Vander and Benzo being 11, Silco 8, and YN 7. When you lived down where they were, you found friends and family when you could. Bonding so that you could stand against the world together.
Silco stared at YN as she and Vander began scaling across the poles on the pier. Wishing he’d have her attention as Vander claimed it.
~~~10 years later~~~
YN’s blood pumped fast through her veins. The 17 year old laughed at the burning warehouse she and Sevika had left burning behind them as they ran from the scene. It was a usual occurrence of the two friends fucking around with enforcers. Sevika loved to stoke the chaotic tendencies of her friend, finding amusement when they hurt enforcers. It was YN’s idea for her to seduce and find her way to their private mining warehouse, where they stored the materials from the lanes that were found in their oppressive mines, then Sevika would follow and burn it all to the ground.
The two were never caught. Always being either too fast, or too strong for them to be grabbed. Or YN would poison them with a prick of a paralytic herb she found. Either way, YN and Sevika were trouble makers. But not the only ones. The undercity was growing restless and unhappy. People everyday were making lives for the enforcers harder and harder. Talks of revolution floated around. Which of course, YN knew, Silco loved.
As Sevika and YN found good enough distance from the scene, both caught their breath before laughing out loud.
“You.. you should’ve seen… the look on that fuckers face when I pricked him. He froze and fell over like some weak little bitch.” YN breathlessly laughed, hands on her knees as her curls fell over her shoulders.
“Oh I saw. It was hilarious when you snatched the pussy away before he could touch you.” Sevika returned the laughter.
YN stood up straight and threw her arm around Sevika’s shoulders, the two sauntering away to get some food and drink to celebrate. That is until Sevika winced in pain, causing YN to see the cut along her arm. Fuck.
“You’re hurt.” YN stated.
“Yeah. I must’ve cut myself on some glass when I broke in. It’s nothing.” Sevika tried to push it off, but YN was having none of that.
“It’s a deep cut. Come on. I’ll fix it back at my place before it gets infected and you end up losing an arm.” YN pulled her friend toward the direction of her home, not taking no for an answer.
Back at her place YN had stitched her friend up,and was looking for a pain relief salve. During the last few months, the girl had gained a reputation for being a skilled healer down in the lanes. She had a natural talent and skill for fixing people up. She was able to find available cures for most illnesses, due to the nature of the patients' living conditions and the right mix of medicine and homeopathic treatment.
YN sent Sevika home as she cleaned. Hearing rustling from her mother’s room, YN went to go check on her. She was still sleeping, which was best. The past few years saw her mother grow increasingly paranoid about topside. About how the topsiders hated her for practicing magic and were going to kill her because she got away the first time. YN knew her mother used to live in Piltover before she was born, and that she had to flee because of their fear and hatred for magic. Her mother was convinced that the council was still after her. YN didn’t know what to believe. Sometimes she resented her mother for going insane, for leaving her in mind but not in body, for being a burden. YN loved her mother, but also felt trapped by her.
With a sigh and a kiss to her mother’s coily hair, YN got up to leave. She wanted to visit Vander and Silco before he ran off to wherever Vander went.
The walk to their apartment was easy. The air, though polluted, still cleared her mind as she focused on who she was excited to see. But YN could tell if she was more excited to see Vander or Silco. Hopefully, only Benzo was there. HE was always easy to talk to and laugh with.
Silco answered the door to the apartment, smiling at seeing his friend.
“Hey Silco. Mind if I come in?” YN smiled, her brown cheeks stretched in a grin.
“No, it's fine. What’s up with you?” Silco watched her sit on their crappy couch. He never changed with how much he enjoyed talking to YN. Catching up was a highlight for him, as he could watch her smile and rant all night long.
“Oh not much. Sevika and I burned down an enforcer warehouse.” YN mentioned casually. Getting a laugh out of his surprised expression.
“Really? And you didn’t get caught?” He asked. Silco knew YN was capable of taking care of herself, but he was still worried about her.
“Never do. Besides, we're not the only ones. Word is lots of people are ready to do some crazy shit to enforcers.”
“Oh I know. It’s exciting isn’t it? Finally, the city is getting ready to push back. The dream of a new nation might be realized in our lifetime. The lanes being free.” Silco mused next to the girl. Eyes on her curly hair, switching to her dark brown eyes and slight lines of her tattoo across her shoulders.
“It is exciting. Just like Van and I used to talk about. Where is he by the way? I know he isn’t working now.” YN looked around a little eagerly for their friend.
“Him? Vander joined some fighting pits. He goes there to earn extra money.” Silco said as casual as he could, trying to get an angry reaction from YN.
“What?! That fucking idiot! Is he trying to get killed?!” YN stood up in anger and began pacing around. “And don’t claim what I’ve been doing to this! I try to make life hard for the enforcers, he’s out there letting himself get exploited violently to what?! To prove he’s some strong man?! Doesn’t he care what would happen if he got hurt?! Doesn’t he know what that’d do to us?!”
YN hated the fighting pits. She thought they were exploitative, violent, pits of despair. People got beaten to death there. And the thought that Vander could die made YN sick to her stomach. If he died she’d never see his face again, hear his voice, feel his hand hold hers. YN didn’t want to admit if these feelings were legitimate or not, but she felt them nonetheless.
“I know. I know. I told him you’d be mad, but he was insistent. Are you okay?” Silco asked. Upset slightly at her reaction to the news.
“Its….its fine. Can you walk me home? I’d rather walk back talking to a friend rather than stewing in my thoughts.” YN asked. Unable to stay in their apartment anymore.
So both walked and talked their way to YN’s home. They joked and mused about the rising situation in the undercity. The conversation was cut short when YN noticed her door was askew. She ran inside calling for her mother.
The sight of her strangled mother made the girl nauseous. Her hands shook as she made her way closer to her mother’s body. Not believing that she was gone. Not when she had been alive just a few hours ago.
“M…Mommy?...Mommy?...” YN started to tear up and reached her hand out. Before she could touch her, a larger hand grabbed hers and pulled YN back to a chest. YN’s teary eyes looked up to see Vander. He later explained that he was in the neighborhood when he heard YN running to her apartment.
Vander held her tight against his chest as she began crying. Shushing and rubbing her arms, as they rocked back and forth. He kissed her forehead, picking her up bridal style so that vicars could come to take away the body.
“It’s okay chick.. It’s going to be okay…” Vander whispered as she cried.
~~~6 months later~~~
YN had been hunting down the enforcer that murdered her mother. Narrowing it down to one man. She was certain that it was this man, possibly sent by the council from Piltover, who lived in his nice house topside. YN wanted revenge, to avenge her mother, to atone for not being there when her mother was alone at the mercy of this man. Now she would get it. Her mother’s murderer had a young daughter, one he loved more than anything.
He took her mother, she’d take his child.
As YN made her way to the lift upside, she was stopped by the image of Vander blocking her way. He looked concerned, and she was in no mood to see or speak.
“What do you want, Vander?” YN bit at him. He noticed the bags under her eyes, her shaking hands, and the look in her eyes.
“I know what you’re planning to do YN.” Vander said.
“So what.”
“So, I know you don’t really want to do this. I know you don’t want to kill a kid.”
“He took my mother. He deserves to suffer. Why are you in my way?!” YN became more agitated. She just wanted to get it over with. If she thought too much about it, YN knew she’d back out. No, she didn’t want to kill a child.
“You kill this kid, and you’ll never forgive yourself. You will hate yourself for the rest of your life. Please YN. Please listen to me.” He placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Let go of me. I need to do this. Let go Vander!” YN tried pushing him away but he pulled her toward him. “Why do you care whether I forgive myself or not?! You’ve never cared when I hurt enforcers before, Why Now?!”
“Because, you kill this kid and you go to prison. Your grief will consume you and you will never be the same. I won’t let you do it. I won’t let you blame yourself or end up in prison. Not when I love you so much.” Vander said. Holding her close to him.
YN looked up at Vander, teary eyed, as they stared at each other. Suddenly the walls fell down and both kissed each other. Finally finding comfort with the other.
~~~3 years later~~~
YN wiped her hands on a cloth as she turned her back to the pregnant woman on the table behind her. Nowadays, YN was a well known medicine person down in the lanes. Writing several notebooks for herself on how to treat people from the lanes. With a final wipe across the ring on her left hand, YN turned back to the woman and smiled.
“You should take it easy these last few months. Try not to exert yourself, okay?”
“I guess I’ll just have to spend my days in bed then.” The woman joked. YN smiled back, gathering her things, she made her way out of the brothel and toward her apartment with Vander.
It had been 5 months since they tied the knot. It wasn’t a fancy affair, or an extravagant one, but it was simple and sweet. Having Benzo officiate the wedding, Silco as Vander’s best man, and Sevika as YN’s best woman. YN smiled wide and joyfully that whole day. Vander held her close, holding the woman he loved near to his heart. The rest of the world and all their troubles faded away as they were in each other’s arms. The night ended with them wrapped together dancing and swaying to the moonlight above them.
“I love you, Vander.” YN whispered against his chest as she laid over him, sweaty and tired.
“I love you too, YN.” Vander whispered against the top of her head.
YN blushed at the memory as she neared their shared home above an old bar. When she made her way inside, her good mood was gone as she saw her bruised husband sitting in their kitchen. She huffed and made her way to him, a visible displeased look on her face one he returned with a meek apologetic one.
“Sorry love, I guess I was in over my ‘ead this last fight.” Vander tried apologizing. Flinching at the alcohol rag pressed into his bleeding cuts.
“I know you fight for some reason. All I ask is that you come back in one piece.” YN huffed as she began stitching up her husband. Her furrowed brows caused him to place his palm on her cheek, lifting her face to look at him.
“I’m sorry love. I truly am. I know you don’t like when I get ‘urt. But I promise it’s also for the cause.” Vander apologized.
“So more fighters were interested in what you had to say?” Recently after the fights Vander would talk about rising against Piltover and liberation from the yolk of their oppressors. YN supported him in his rebellious ideals, just not in his self-destructive ones.
“A lot were interested. People want to be free. One day I’ll give you the life you deserve.” He promised and rubbed her cheekbone with his thumb.
“I love the life I have with you now.” Both smiled and placed each other’s forehead together.
YN then stood up and began looking for something to eat. They talked about their days.
The mundane domesticity felt like a calming balm to the chaotic lives they were leading. YN being around to see sick and dying people, Vander fighting and clawing his way out of captivity.
“So, have you Silco talked about what you’ll do if you gain independence from topside?” YN asked as she began cooking. The routine of making food melted the chaotic thoughts in her head.
“Silco’s all for revolution, he just wants it by any means necessary. He asked if you were going to go to a protest down near the markets.” Vander responded as he sat in the kitchen with her, not covering up his obvious gaze on her ass.
“Eyes up hounddog. And I might, if only to make sure no one dies. It’s hard being one of the few non addict healers down here.” YN smiled and hummed as her husband wrapped his arms around her torso, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Am I allowed to be upset that you might get hurt?”
“Nope.”
YN stopped the food, and turned to her husband with a cheeky grin. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smiled as they swayed together. His hands started to wander up her sides as his grin became more suggestive. He kissed her neck and put her on top of the counter.
“Why *kiss* Don’t *kiss* Go *kiss* Take *kiss* This *kiss* Upstairs?” Vander finished off with a kiss right on her full plush lips, hands roaming around her body. Trying to entice his wife to their bedroom. YN kissed him back, tugging at the ends of his hair, before playfully pulling away and placing her fingertips on Vander’s lips.
“I would love to, but… unfortunately…. My husband is tragically injured, and because he made me mad. So now I’m going to rub one out whilst you make dinner~” YN teased and hopped off the counter. Sauntering her way to their bedroom, she threw a knowing teasing look over her shoulder toward her husband. They both knew that look.
“Oh you little-” Vander smirked and chased his wife into their bedroom. The rest of the night was a mess of limbs, kisses, and laughter. The couple falling into bed with familiar ease. Afterwards, YN rested her head on his chest, absently tracing the symbols on her shoulders in his skin, Vander rubbed her scalp with his fingers.
“Are you alright?” He whispered.
“I’m fine. You seem a little distracted.”
“It’s…’m worried about Silco. He’s getting violent and radical. Instead of the lanes being free, he’s talking about a new nation to rival that of Piltover.” He looked down at his wife.
“Isn’t that what we want?” YN asked. Looking right back at his gaze she felt warm and safe.
“I want the lanes safe. I want our home to be free from the yolk of Piltover. I don’t want to start a war and kill every topsider I see.” YN smiled at her husband. Placing her hand over his beating heart.
“You’re a good man. A good leader. Silco and you want the same thing in the end.”
YN smiled at her husband which he returned as they both brought their foreheads together, breathing in deep before pulling away. Vander put a kiss on her head as YN placed her head back over his chest.
~~~4 years later~~~
YN had been troubled as she walked along the undercity with her friend Silco. The last four years had proven to be more and more violent. Talks of rebellion now leading to more riots and protests in the streets. YN had been working overtime to fix as many people as she could. Her tattoos had started to glow more neon blue everytime she had to heal someone. YN found herself muttering small spells and intents as she wrote in several notebooks about what procedure worked and what didn’t.
Silco looked at his friend as she was focused on the ground. His own gaze on her face, lips, hair, whatever he could focus at the moment as he stared.
“Are you alright?” He asked. They both paused near their favorite place, the pilt.
“I’m worried about all these riots that keep happening. So many people are getting hurt and then they react with even more violence.” YN turned to her companion, noting the skeptical look on his face. “I want freedom from Piltover I do. But what if we cause a war? I don’t want to risk our people because the topsiders are unwilling to let go of their punching bags. But I also want to hurt them. I want them to feel the same pain I’ve felt. I feel like that makes me a bad person.”
YN picked at her cuticles, not meeting his gaze.
“You’re not a bad person. You have every right to want them to hurt as we do. You and I want the same thing, to create a nation free from topside rule.”
“Nations are never safe from their previous oppressors. We don’t have the same resources as they do. They have more guns, more trained people, more medicine. We have passionate followers, but that’s not enough. I don’t want to be responsible for someone’s parents dying.” YN ranted, not noticing Silco getting closer.
“We have you. You can make the best poisons I’ve seen, you’re amazing at healing people, and I know you know more about their illnesses than most do.” Silco placed a hand on her shoulder, finally making the two lock eyes.
“Where are you going with this?” YN asked.
“Make a poison for us. Spread it through their water and bring the topside to its knees. They will listen to us when we hold the means of their survival in our hands. We could control them. You and I.” This caused YN to slightly back away from him, but before she could pull away fully, Silco placed a hesitant kiss on her lips. YN pushed back and put distance between the two.
“No Silco. I am married, I love Vander. He’s your brother.” YN tried to reason with him.
“Vander may be my brother, but he isn’t willing to do what it takes to be free of topside. He wants to free the lanes. We want a new nation. Don’t you see that together we can be great?” Silco pleaded his case ro her, but she wasn’t having it.
“What did you and Vander talk about or do that made him so angry today?”
Before Silco could answer, they both saw Vander walking up towards them. His eyes held regret and fury as he stalked toward the two. Did he see Silco kiss her?
“Vander, love, please calm-” YN was interrupted when her husband handcuffed her to a pipe, then turned to Silco. YN knew that look, she had the same look when she was ready to kill for her mother. Silco understood that look as well. YN yanked off the cuff as hard as she could trying to plead with Vander to stop.
“Vander! Vander No! Don’t hurt him!”
But her cries were unheard as the two ran into the pilt.
Hours later, YN's arm was sore and her mind was exhausted. She’d been screaming for the two to stop and come back, but nothing happened. Soon her attention was brought back to Vander as he made his way back to her. He was wet and panting, his arm had a deep cut and his eyes looked troubled. YN felt her heart drop. When he released her from the cuff, she pushed him away from her in anger.
“You killed him?! Didn’t you?! Why?! Because he kissed me?” YN was crying. Her best friend, dead, was not something she ever conceived of. She didn’t want to believe it. Partially because if Vander did kill him due to the one sided kiss, YN would hate herself for the rest of her life.
“I killed him because he was willing to sacrifice thousands of us and them to rule a new nation. For power when all we wanted was freedom! He was turning into some blood hungry monster.” Vander tried explaining, but the emotions running high between them left the excuse on deaf ears.
“He was your brother! He was my best friend!” YN shoved her palms against Vander pushing away the larger man, who did little to retaliate. “I never want to see you again!”
YN screamed at Vander. Shoving him away for one final time before running off. As much as Vander wanted to chase her and never let go of her, he let her run. With the foreseeable future holding nothing but death, Vander thought it best to let her go.
~~~5 months later~~~
The stray food had been cleared out again. YN was certain that the food she’d been leaving out for a stray animal wasn’t getting eaten way before the small thing could get to it. Making YN certain that someone was scooping it out beforehand. But like usual for the past 5 months, she left out food just in case.
For the past 5 months YN had kept to her word about not seeing Vander. Living alone in her smaller place made it somewhat easier for her to run her medical business, since she didn’t have another person there. But her heart still ached for the silly mundane interactions that she and Vander would have as they made their way around their old place.
Sometimes YN and Vander would act like children again, by hopping in what little furniture they had trying not to touch the ground. YN made it a habit to pounce on him, knocking both onto the couch. She always ended up on top of him, placing kiss after kiss over his stupid smiling face.
YN hummed at the good memory between them as she got ready to go to sleep. The sound of creaking from her fire escape made her sit straight up. That sound alerted her to the possible food thief. That creaking was too heavy to be a small animal. So quietly she got up to see who it was. Stopping and holding her breath at the image of this dirty, skinny boy that was on his hands and knees shoving the food into his mouth.
“Do you want some actual food instead of scraps?” YN asked with a tentative smile. The small kid jumped and froze in place, eyes large as saucers. YN was quick to soothe him before he ran. “I won’t punish you, I promise. Let’s just get you some actual warm food and maybe a bed as well. Okay?”
The boy gave a quick nod, then ran past YN into her apartment. The woman smiled and began to put together some filling and warm soup. Smiling at the way he began to wolf it down, before holding out the bowl for more.
“You’re pretty hungry, huh?” YN asked. He nodded and slowed down this time so that he wouldn’t throw up. “Can I know your name?”
“Mylo.” He stated quickly. Not really meeting her eyes.
“Well Mylo, where are your parents? Why are you all alone?” YN asked very carefully, already suspecting the worse.
“My mom died when I was born. Dad died in the mines.” Mylo explained. His little hands out down the spoon, eyes getting slightly teary. YN cooed and sat next to him.
“Oh baby. I’m so sorry.” YN petted his hair. Pulling the boy into her arms for a hug. It was obvious that the 5 year old needed some affection and touch. YN couldn’t tell how long he’d been on his own, but she could tell it had been a while since he had a bath. So when he was done crying and eating, YN brought him toward her restroom for a bath. Which of course he objected to.
After a tiring bathing session, YN brought Mylo to her bed letting the boy get comfortable under her sheets as she tucked him in.
“If you want to leave tomorrow, then that’s okay. I’m not gonna hold you against your will.” YN ran her fingers over his hair, soothing Mylo into sleep.
“Can I stay with you? Please?” Mylo asked in a quiet voice. YN smiled and nodded, giving the boy a kiss on the forehead before going to go to the couch. “Please sleep here. I don’t like sleeping by myself.”
His shaky whisper compelled the woman to smile and get under the sheets with him. He cuddled up to her, falling into a comfortable sleep.
~~~1 year later~~~
The little boy in her arms was quiet, as YN made her way to her place . The child, Claggor, barely said a word as he held onto the kind woman who fixed his cut arm and offered him a place to sleep and eat.
YN smiled down at Claggor, masking her worry at what her boy Mylo would say or do. The last year with him had been fun and energetic. Once his anxious shell had broken, his mischievous nature had shone through. He loved to jump on the bed, he was a talent at hiding in small spaces then popping out to scare YN, and he had begun to show interest in some mechanical locks and how they worked.
It had been a game between them, for YN to pretend to not notice Mylo was hiding and waited for him to jump out at her. YN grinned with her lips pressed together at the thought of Mylo jumping out at her.
That’s why she was so nervous at bringing Claggor home. YN was almost certain that Mylo was going to be jealous of Claggor, since it had been just them for so long it was going to be an adjustment to accommodate a new child.
Once YN reached her door, she knocked to alert Mylo she was coming in. The sound made Claggor look up at the woman who returned his gaze with a smile. The door was swung open by her small boy who was excited to see her.
“Mom! Can we have-” Mylo’s sentence was cut short when he saw the slightly larger child in HIS mother’s arms. “Who’s that?”
“This is Claggor. He’s going to be with us for a bit. I want you to be nice and remember how scared you were when you first got here. Okay?”
Mylo didn’t respond. He stood off to the side as YN brought Claggor to the table, beginning to make some food for the boys. Claggor looked down at his hands as Mylo sat across from him, trying to gauge some type of reaction from the other. Mylo stared intensely, not really wanting to share his mom.
“How long is he gonna be here?” YN turned to Mylo after his question, eyebrow raised in a ‘try me’ way.
“He’ll stay as long as he needs to. Please try to be sympathetic. Claggor has had a hard time just like you. Okay Mylo?”
Mylo nodded and didn’t speak much for the rest of the meal. After YN washed both boys and got them to bed. Tucking both under her covers and kissing both on the forehead.
“I won’t be able to sleep here tonight okay? I’ll take up too much space and I want you to be comfortable.” YN smiled and closed the door, leaving a small crack just in case.
“don’t worry.. mom is great… it’ll be okay… you can trust me…” Mylo whispered to the boy.
YN smiled and got comfortable on the couch.
~~~3 years later~~~
YN paced back and forth in her apartment. Her anxiety left her two 9 nine year olds feeling the same anxiety coming from her. YN knew that Vander was going to lead a bunch of people from the lanes across the bridge and she just knew that something was going to go wrong.
The red smoke coming from the bridge confirmed said fears. The sky was filled with smoke, fire, and screams of people dying or losing loved ones. All she got from anyone was that the enforcers killed everyone they saw. Just as the screams got quieter and quieter, YN felt a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Vander must be… dead. Vander was dead and the last thing she said to him were words full of hate. And now he was gone. She never even got to say that she loved him one last time. YN’s pacing stopped when she turned her head to her boys who sat on the couch, scared about what was happening. Both curled into small balls of fear.
“Oh my loves. I’m sorry for scaring you.” YN sat between them on the couch and pulled both close, her brown arms wrapped them trying to soothe them as best she could.
“Are the enforcers going to come down here?” Claggor asked quietly. YN kissed the top of his head.
“No baby. They’re just gonna focus on the bridge.”
“Did you know anyone there?” Mylo asked, trying to distract his mind.
“My husband. I don’t know if he made it. I’m scared he didn’t.” Both boys hugged her close to comfort her.
As the explosions got louder, YN took both children to her room and tucked them away. Wanting them to be shielded from the apocalyptic scene taking place outside. This was one of the few times she closed the door to her room fully. Wanting some sense of privacy to let her emotions spill out. The pain of most likely losing her husband tearing into her soul open, causing YN to hit her knees and sob. The sound pulled the breath from her as she heaved and dropped her face to the floor and cried.
Her emotional breakdown was interrupted by the sound of knocking at her door. With apprehension, YN made her way to the door. Swinging it open to be faced with the familiar disheveled face of Vander. He looked tired, bloody, and was holding two sleeping girls. YN wordlessly reached forward and brushed back the blue hair of the smaller one. Stepping back to allow Vander in her place, the two didn’t speak.
“You can put them in my room with the boys.” YN said.
“The boys?”
“Long story.”
Vander did as she said. Afterwards making his way to her kitchen so YN could patch him up. They didn’t say much as she was focused on making him better. Both were too scared what would come out if they said anything, but also both were desperate to just holding each other because they just missed the other so fucking much.
“Where did you find them?” YN asked, finally breaking the silence.
“On the bridge.”
“Their parents?”
“Dead. They saw their bodies…”
“How many died?”
“Almost everyone.”
Finally YN stood up in anger, walking away so that he wouldn’t see her face.
“You’re such a fucking idiot!” YN growled out in anger, making Vander stand up in equal anger to her statement.
“I was trying to get liberation! I wanted to get the lanes free from Piltover. I-”
“If you died I would never forgive myself! I would hate myself for pushing you away that last time! I- I don’t want you to die!!” YN screamed and turned to him, showing the tears that ran down her face as she tried to hold them back. The same tears that reflected his own.
They both embraced. Vander shushed her as she sobbed and weakly hit his chest with her balled up fists.They rocked back and forth, trying to comfort the other.
“Please.. Please don’t die.. I don’t want you to go… I couldn’t bear it.. Please Vander. Please do this for me? Please don’t go away again. I won’t shove you away I promise.” YN broke down.
Vander pulled back and kissed his wife deeply. Tears and passion mixing from the pain of what they lost. The blame and pain from the last few years bubbling up from the fact that they missed each other. The fact they still loved each other.
The love shared between them was not an anchor, but a bond that finally got tied again. This reunion wouldn’t take the pain of losing so many lives, and the weight of guilt wouldn’t subside. But now they both had someone again to hold their hand, and be with them when it got worse.
My OC Ryn, I have not drawn her in ages. I love her sm
I am also working on some art for a youtuber, and when it is done I will share it here including the video I will be in. I am excited
I’m also trying to change my name, that my official artist name is just going to be Keinz. I won’t change the name of this blog but it will be my new watermark
