My entire body hurts, and no one wanted to help me. They didn't help Vi either, which serves her right.
"Why do you have to be so good?" she whines as she lies on her back. Her muscles are burned out from trying to surpass the mentor.
"Because I learned from the best." I proclaimed as I sat up, then collapsed back to the floor.
"Just like me, huh? Vander is the best boxer in Zaun, but you didn't need to be told that," she boasted. "Who taught you grappling?"
Memories of a beast falling on top of me, then, nothing. That doesn't make sense. The wilderness doesn't have beasts. One would have to travel for miles to find a creature that crawls. A creature of that magnitude that can do all of that. But what did it do? It definitely didn't maul me, I'm still alive. When I tried to dive deeper in my memory, I started feeling repulsive, sick, and lightheaded.
"Hey. Hey!" Vi's face appeared in my sights. "You okay?"
No, I'm not. Why do I feel nauseous whenever I think of...whatever that was?
"Hate to ruin this for you." I said, while trying to keep myself together.
"No. No. It's fine." Vi assured me.
"We'll pick up lessons tomorrow, okay?" I insisted.
Vi nods. "Yeah, sure."
As I stood to walk towards my bed, I could feel Vi's eyes follow me until I lay down. What should I do? Confront this...unease? Or continue to avoid it for the lack of a proper plan to unmask the filth. If I'm going to change Zaun for the better, I have to change myself. The filth must be cleansed.
Vi taps my ribs. "You are always the last one to wake up."
She stands over me, softly smiling with her hands on her hips.
"You almost missed breakfast," she stated with a smirk on her face.
The aroma filled my nose. Looking down, there is a wrap on my chest.
"Who put this here?" I asked as I carefully grabbed it and sat up. The heat instantly intrigued me, along with the soft texture. "What is it?"
"It's just beans and beef," she informed me as she sat next to me.
"Huh. It's as big as my forearm. Trying to fatten me up?" I asked as I took a bite.
"Well, I mean, you could use some extra pounds on you." Vi expressed herself honestly.
Can't argue against that. Every meal they served me gave my body permission to fill up more. My bones are starting to gradually disappear from view. Hair began to grow on my head, just like everyone else. Even better, my eyes were less buggy than usual.
"Extra pounds, huh? I could use all the pounds I can get at this rate." I said between bites.
"I can't imagine going days without eating." Vi commented as she picked at her nails.
She's just making conversation at this point, what is she hiding?
"Me either." I countered truthfully.
Vi raises her brows in surprise. "You ate every day before?"
I'm halfway done with the wrap. "I used to eat fish on good days. When they aren't biting. I eat the bait I used to fish with."
"Bugs?" she guessed.
"Sometimes worms too. I avoid the centipedes. Some people tried to talk me into it. Tried it once." I shook my head in disgust. "Never again."
Vi took a while to reply. "Glad to know you have standards."
I'm down to the last bite. "I should start eating whatever you eat. Maybe then I'll have your iron body, more or less."
"HA!" Vi clutched her stomach as I finished the wrap. "You'd have to work at it, little guy."
"Anyhow, I'm assuming that we've been abandoned for the day?" I guessed.
"You don't have to use that word. Pow Pow and Ekko took Mylo and Claggor to the dump." Vi informed me as she looked closely at my head. "Hm, your hair is growing in."
"They went dumpster diving without me." I placed my hand on my chest. "I'm hurt."
"We can have fun without them." Vi insisted as she leaned into me.
She's being surprisingly playful. What is she up to?
"We sure will." I pulled at my shirt and took a whiff. "Make them regret leaving us behind. But first."
"Bath," she stated as she patted my leg twice.
"Bath." I confirmed.
Vi is patient enough to wait for me upstairs.
"Owen, Vi. Come over here for a minute." Vander ordered, he sounds serious.
"Yes, sir! Sir." I mock saluted as we approached him in front of the counter.
That got him to smile and relax on the stool. "Silco led me to Singed's laboratory. It's empty."
Vi didn't appear as shocked as I am. If Singed is a chemist of any worth, for him to clean out his entire lab is nearly unthinkable. Lab equipment is irreplaceable. You would have to start all over from scratch. The only way for that to be possible is for the vagrants to...
"No..." I whispered dejectedly.
Vi and Vander turned to me, expecting me to explain what's on my mind.
"There haven't been many vagrants around, huh?" I brought up.
Vander's face fell into deep concentration. "It is strange. They all wouldn't have moved to Piltover, the Council won't tolerate it."
"Where else could they have gone?" Vi asked.
"What about below?" I pitched.
The two grew silent.
"What makes you think that?" Vander asked as he crossed his arms.
"There's no other place for someone like Singed to go. Below, he has complete control over his equipment. It's dark and isolated, except for the vagrants that followed him. Protecting him." I scratch my head. "Perhaps he finished his product, and that kid is his test subject."
"The kid that you three nearly...hurt yesterday?" Vi still struggles to approach that subject. "Are you sure you aren't using that as an excuse for nearly getting whooped?"
I smiled. "I'm pretty sure."
Vander exhaled. "Getting too old for this. Alright, we'll take care of it. You two, have fun, but not too much fun."
That was his way of telling us that he wants to be alone for the rest of the day. I've noticed that a few days out of the week, the Last Drop is closed. He and Silco would be inside, looking over documents and planning. I want something like that one day. A place to call my own, so I can start drawing plans and further Zaun into something beyond my expectations.
Vi threw her arm over my shoulder and pulled my head into her.
"I see what Pow was talking about. Your face gets so serious when you space out like that." Vi observed.
We are walking without a destination in mind. Everyone is still working on repairing Zaun from the Crime Baron purge. However, there are still punks that are trying to make a name for themselves. They do just enough not to have Vander pay them a personal visit.
"People love to butt in my private time with my mind." I complained as we continued walking, keeping watch for a few familiar faces.
"Aw, I thought it was our special day," she whined.
"You're right, I should pay more attention to you. In fact, despite all that we've been through, I hardly know you." I realized.
We began walking up some stairs towards a seemingly abandoned house. Without discussing it, we head towards it.
"Come on, you know me," she insisted as she kicked in the door.
"Correction, you know me more than I know you." I walk in behind her.
The house had been abandoned, from what I'm guessing, during the nights of the Crime Purge. Useful stuff is still in usable condition. Although I wonder, why hasn't anyone moved in yet?
"Okay, what do you want to know?" Vi asked as she looked around the living room.
"What was your worst fight? You can probably guess what mine was." I leaned against a wall.
Vi grows quiet for a while. Her eyes bounce frantically around the room. Surprisingly, she avoids eye contact with me as she searches. Then it occurs to me that she's stalling.
"Never mind. Wanna head upstairs?" I pointed towards the stairs with my thumb.
"Huh? No, no. I mean, yeah, we can go upstairs." Vi stammered.
I lead the way. When we made it to the top, we were greeted with a near-barren room.
"That's disappointing." I said monotone.
Vi smiled half-heartedly. "Why do you want to know?"
I walked down the hall and checked every room. "Death scares you."
"Wha-Whoa! Doesn't death scare everybody?" She asked as she followed me.
"By the way you act? I would think that you're fearless." I said as I shook my head, silently wanting to find something interesting in here. We made it to the end of the hall. There is an open window that I nod to. Vi jumped through with ease, and I followed her. Afterwards, we climbed to the top of the room and lay side by side.
"Fearless," she laughed at the idea. "It's for you all."
I look over at her. "My hero."
She laughs and playfully slaps my chest. "I'm serious. You all backing me up makes me brave. And I love you all, that makes me even braver than I have to be."
"Yeah, I can feel the love behind every punch and slam." I discern.
"Good. In that sense, I got more love to give," she giggled.
"By the way, that was a skillful way to dodge the question. I can learn a lot from you." I was exposed.
Vi let out a deep breath and scratched her fists. I allowed for the silence to hang in the air, applying pressure to her conscience. Having my speculations, I'll reward myself with a treat if I'm right.
Vi swallowed before she spoke. "I...beat a kid to..." she took a few deep breaths. "...to death..."
That treat is starting to taste a bit sour but still appetizing.
Turning my head towards her, I asked. "You want to talk about it? I can talk about my record all day."
She turned her head and shot lasers at me.
"If it makes you feel any better." I pressed on.
She closed her eyes and tried to suppress her smile. As she returned her gaze towards the sky, she opened her eyes again. Her smile melts away.
"It was when I chased that guy down." She wipes her face. "After I cornered him, he fought desperately to escape."
"Like a cornered rat." I added.
"Yeah," she nods. "After I dealt with him, I knocked him out. His sister came screaming at me from behind. She was holding something sharp, so I grabbed her wrist and slammed her against the house." She sat up and clenched her fists. "She just wouldn't let go. I kept slamming her hand against the wall until stuff from above came down. It—it was so fast—it happened so fast."
I sat up and crawled next to Vi and pulled her into me.
"She just wouldn't let go," she whispered as she broke down. "I took it out on that guy."
"You were afraid." I assured her.
"I just kept hitting him," she said between sobs. "I couldn't stop."
Vi pressed her face against my shoulder. Being cried on is a new sensation, I don't enjoy it. That treat is not on the menu. I have options now. Lecturing her won't end well. Assuring her might push her down a dark path. Trust can be a valuable thing to hoard. Seeing Vi like this is unexpected. I want to protect her from Zaun, knowing that I can't. Vi being able to destroy with her bare hands is a valuable gift to nurture. For my future plans to flourish, I need her to cross that line, and I'll cross it with her.
"It will change you." She slowed her sobbing and looked at me. "Every time it will change you. It sure changed me the first time."
Vi sniffed. "When?"
"There was a beast of pure depravity who taught me everything I know about grappling." That feeling is back. "All of our sessions were dedicated to fighting his advances. Repelling his hands and other invasive instruments." Vi's eyes sharpened. "It took an entire year for me to put him down." I shook my head. "It was, for the lack of a better phrase, a stroke of luck that I managed to do it."
"What did he do?" Vi asked as she turned her body towards me.
"It was so intense, I was exhausted every day. I don't remember." The feeling is growing more fierce by the second.
"Owen...why do these things happen?" Vi asked as I could feel her frustration rising to a boiling point.
I grab her hands. "As ugly as life can get, it makes us stronger when we survive. And when we return to conquer, it makes us even stronger than before. Now, I might sound like a power-obsessed monster, but I think it's time for good people to hold power for a change, don't you?"
Vi nodded as she sniffed.
I wipe a tear from her eye. "The future I want will not reflect my nightmare, and it sure won't reflect the past. I won't allow it. I need you, Vi, I need you all."
"Hey." Vi began to pull herself together. "I said it before, I'll always be here for you."
"That's good to know. But I'm pretty sure that this is the first time you said that." I recollect.
Vi pinched my cheek. "Don't ruin the moment."
"Okay, boss." I replied.
Vi wiped her face. "Let's get back to the Drop."
I thought for a moment. "Vander needs to be alone for a while longer. This Singed guy worries him. And it should."
Vi slowly nods as she thinks about it. "That makes sense, just hope it doesn't get too serious."
"We'll stop him. There are more of us than him. We aren't the only ones working. Let's take a walk." I began to stand.
"What do you mean?" Vi asked as she stood too.
Walking over the edge, I looked for the best route to the ground, then dropped down on platforms, on a stack of rotting boxes, and finally, rolled onto the ground with splinters in my arms.
"That looked like it hurt." Vi called down as she somehow followed the same route but decided to drop from the platform level and land into a roll.
"It did actually." I confirmed as I stood to my feet.
Unsurprisingly, Vi popped to her feet, as fit as ever.
"You still have a lot to learn about choosing your falls," she critiqued as she started pulling out the splinters that her meaty fingers could grab.
"Big sister Vi, you aren't a medical professional." I warned as I began pulling out what splinters I could.
"That won't stop me from protecting you from yourself," she declared as she continued her efforts.
Protecting me from myself? She knows how to cut deep when she wants. At least she isn't as dull as I thought she was. Perhaps she has the potential to be as intelligent as Vander is, in her own way, of course. I need to keep that in mind as our relationship grows. Vi can see through my nonsense and won't hesitate to call out my self-sabotaging tendencies. That's going to be useful. I am far from perfect.
"There is a specialist I need to visit." I said as I grabbed her arm.
"Okay, where?" Vi asked as she used that arm to hold onto me.
I nod towards the direction I want to go, and we walk. On the path we walk, a guy with glasses is leading a group of kids. They're all holding either papers or books. The assumed teacher didn't notice us, however, there are a few familiar faces amongst them. One after the other, I began to see the kids that Ekko and Powder messed up yesterday. They saw me as well, their faces of disbelief are clear as day. One by one, I made sure they knew I remembered what they looked like and where they went to school. They are led into an unremarkable house, probably used as a school.
"What's up?" Vi asked as she followed my line of sight.
"Five of those kids were there with that mutated freak." I disclosed.
"They're going to school now. They're out of that life," she assumed as she began walking again, causing me to walk as well.
"They better be." I asserted as I continued to walk towards Zaun's private marketplace.
There are even fewer of the regulars now. Thankfully, there are Zaun loyalists who are too stubborn to move to Piltover. Others are still here for simpler reasons, it's too difficult to move at all. That's what bothers me about becoming a vendor, hitting that wall that you can't climb. I'd be an idiot to ignore that flaw in business. Always favor maneuverability. Finally, we made it to the usual spot of the herbalist. Once again, I am disappointed in the unfortunate reality of my situation. She isn't here. The woman who has provided me with life-saving ingredients isn't here.
"Who are you looking for?" Vi asked as she kept watch around us.
"My former provider." I got straight to the point.
"Providing what?" Vi asked as she focused on me.
"Everything that once made me what I am." I responded as I laid my hands on the counter of her former booth.
"What you were before, you're not anymore." She stood next to me. "You don't need whatever she sold, you have us now."
She laid her hand on my shoulder and tugged at me. "Come on. We'll go to the junkyard and meet up with the others."
I allowed her to pull me into her. We began walking, and with every step I took, she was right along with me. The thought of abandoning the raw ingredients that she grew herself in favor of trusting others is honestly frightening. Just by that feeling alone, I'm afraid of relying on my family too heavily. Whatever move I decide to make will come at a cost. And I do not want any of them to pay the price. What happened to Powder was a warning, even if it could be explained.
"Yeah." I nod wistfully. "That'll do."
Vi was more insistent on leading me on the walk there. And I understand. Knowing that my herbalist isn't there, just knowing that, took a strength out of me that I relied too heavily on. It wasn't long before I heard familiar murmurings from a distance. Their conversations bounced off the rusty scrap and shot up into the sky. Then I can distinctly hear Powder shriek, and then laughter follows. Soon, the rest laugh along with her. Vi looks at me, and we both start running. When we turned the corner into the junkyard, we saw Powder shooting at targets set up along the surrounding junk. Most were dismantled and broken Piltover contraptions. Mylo grabs her shoulders and spins her around, Powder shifts her feet to make herself spin faster.
"Shoot on 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!" Claggor announced as he was sitting in a vehicle prototype of some sort next to Ekko.
With eagle eyes and catlike flexes, Powder began shooting the targets in rapid succession. Although the targets varied in density, the power of that pistol put a good-sized dent in them, if not punched a hole straight through.
"Hey, you two!" Mylo waved us over.
"You all went dumpster diving without me! Shame on you all." I fumed with passion.
"But we didn't want to wake our boss from his beauty sleep." Mylo protested as he held his hand out.
"See? I knew you loved me too." We did our handshake, and Powder shot her last target, causing it to spin on its edge.
"Like a brother." Mylo insisted as we snapped to end the shake.
"Exactly what I meant." I proclaimed.
Mylo then pulled out a revolver and shot me in the chest. I threw my hands up dramatically and fell backwards.
"Betrayed, yet again." I then went limp and played dead.
"It's happening again." Powder said as she struggled to stay standing.
"Oh, the performance of a lifetime." Mylo said as he knelt down and started poking my forehead.
The moment of his 4th poke, I disarmed him and kipped up to my feet, then aimed at his chin.
"I see that I must avenge myself." I said as I pulled the hammer back.
"First off, that was cool. Second" he snapped into action, using his amazing agility to backflip into a well-placed shot at his back.
As he lands on his feet, he struggles to come to terms with what just happened. He slowly turned my way to see the sly grin.
"Oh, you are a comedian," he hissed.
"All thanks to you." I winked.
Mylo shook his head.
"Umm." Vi walked between us. "What's going on?"
"Once you figure it out, it's going to be funny as hell." I promised as I returned the pistol to Mylo. He accepted it with no further fight left in him.
"Where were you two all day?" Ekko? he asked as he ran up to me.
"Bonding, without getting punched in the face." I leaned on Vi's shoulder. "It was quite wholesome."
"Yeah." Vi then took my arm and lifted me over her and placed me on her back. "Real wholesome."
"Okay! Okay!" I swing my arms in an attempt to throw Vi's balance off, but Vi's grip is as strong as I expected. "I get it!"
"Um, Vi?" Powder's smile begins to fade.
"Vi! Remember your humanity! You don't have to do this!" I bargained.
"Oh, I don't know." Vi appears to be thinking hard. "Only the power of love can fix this."
Oh no, please no.
Vi placed me on my feet and got me in a loose one-arm headlock.
"You like my sister, don't you?" Vi asked. Instantly, Powder's face grew red.
"Now this is getting good." Mylo said as he stood next to Claggor.
"Yes, she's special to me, beyond special." I confessed as I tried to force my fingers between Vi's forearm and my neck.
"That's cute, how special." Vi pressed further.
"Vi, please." Powder reached her hand out and took a step towards us.
"Hold on, Powder, let him answer." Vi insisted.
"I would think that I proved enough of how much I care for her. Enough to chase the bastard down and nearly make him bleed to death in the street. I even left him to his fate in the middle of a mob. He may or may not have suffered because of that, but oh well." I further confessed.
Vi slightly loosened her grip. Looking at Powder, memories of that other world's Powder, who goes by the name Jinx, flashed in front of me.
"I care enough for her to change fate itself." I continued.
Flashes of future me loading the rifle and aiming at Jinx's unconscious head, feeling my finger squeezing the trigger.
Vi released me and slapped my back. "That sounds like love to me."
Oh boy, this is getting serious. The next thing I say can and will make or break the special bond we have for each other. I looked up at Powder, and she was just as hesitant to look at me. She approached me and grabbed my hand. We walked away. Thankfully, Vi is satisfied with what she has done. Our walk was a quiet one. We kicked up dust until we were far enough away. To avoid Vi from following us, we started walking towards Piltover.
"That was a bit much." I tried to avoid the growing feeling in my stomach and my heart.
Powder nods frantically. "Yeah, it was."
Our feet clanked against the ground of the bridge. We ignored the guards that patrol the bridge. For the most part, they didn't bother us. Merchants walk to and from Piltover. Families are crossing to and from as well. Who would want to move on from Piltover? We continued to walk in silence, brushing the bare skin of our arms together as we held hands. As we turn the corner of a building that shines too brightly for my liking, we are greeted by a vast park. It is the most dreamlike park I have ever seen, with so much green, strong trees, and flowers. People walk through it as if it's their natural right to do so. We are speechless. No one stopped us from entering the park. Families set up small gatherings of food and drinks. A group of kids chase one another across the field. Tall trees gave enough shade to cover a great distance of lush land. This is the kind of park that can only exist in dreams, but here it is, this is real. We begin to walk until we approach a tree of great beauty and health. The bark is of a deep brown and earthy, rich texture. Soft to the touch for tree bark. Its leaves are a light shade of green. They shield us from the sun that beams through, giving the various flowers around us enough rays to survive. We sat against the tree, just taking in the unreal sight of Piltover's best gift.
"This is what I feel for you every day." I said without thinking. Another moment where I speak without awareness, but this time, I don't regret it.
Powder locks eyes with me, searching for signs of a joke that I typically do to ease tension. But there is no tension here. There is nothing but openness, finally I know what that feels like. A tear ran down her cheek.
"I don't know," she sniffed. "I don't know what I'm feeling."
"That's fine, Powder. We're too young to understand it anyways." I concluded.
"But, I don't know. It feels as if things are moving too fast," she said as she wiped her eyes.
"I get what you mean. What do we do? Fight it?" I asked as I scratched my brows.
Powder shakes her head and places her hands on mine. "I don't want to fight anymore. I just..."
I wait for her to answer, but she remains quiet. Bringing her hands to my forehead, I close my eyes and wait for her words. Instead, she brought her hands to the sides of my head and kissed my forehead.
"Make a wish." I said it as a reflex rather than an attempt to joke.
"I wish to be with you forever, no matter what I feel," she requests as I lift my head to look at her again.
"That sounds possible." I stated, being glad that it's well within my ability to achieve. I pulled Powder into a hug. She relaxes and allows herself to release whatever she's feeling onto my shoulder. As much as I enjoy the thought of being with her, I can't hide from the truth: we are too young for these intense feelings. If the past has taught me anything, it is that intense feelings often lead to ruin. This time, however, it will be the fuel I need to build a better Zaun.
"Anywhere I go, you'll be there." I stated it as fact.
I felt her head nod against my neck. Powder lifts her head and turns away from me.
"What's the matter?" I asked. Powder blew her nose in response.
"Aw, natural human syrup, save some for breakfast, I have something in mind for Vi." I disclosed.
"What?" She turned to reveal a cloth that she's using to blow her nose. "No, stop."
"It's thanks for starting this whole thing. You can't tell me that she doesn't deserve this." I argued.
"I know, but." She blew her nose again. "Just no."
"You'll keep it tucked away, nice and safe in your pocket, and give it to me once we get back, no problem." I suggested.
Powder finished blowing her nose and held the ball of cloth up. "This is going in the trash when I find one."
"Aww, no fun." I said.
"Really? No fun? I know what's fun." She stashed the perfect tool for revenge in her pocket, which I will pick, and took my hands to lead me behind the tree. There aren't as many people around on this side. A few, but not too many. We sat down and pressed our shoulders together, thankful that the grass was tall enough to cover our kneecaps.
"This is pretty fun." She kissed me on my cheek.
"I remember when you first did that. I never had the chance to return the gesture." I turned her head with my thumb and landed a slow kiss on her flushed cheek.
She giggled and brought her hands to her face and squealed.
"I want a kiss on my cheek like that every day," she eagerly requested through her hands. I can see the smile reaching her eyes.
"I can do that." I agreed.
Powder ran her hands up her head and through her hair. Impressive that she didn't get her fingers stuck in them. Then, as she stares forward, her mouth hangs in dejection. I followed her gaze not too far away, a tall girl approached us. The closer she got, the more details I could make out. She's a bit older, with solid blue hair that hangs to her shoulders. The closer she got, the more familiar she became.
"Hello. You two look familiar. Are you from the academy?" she asks. She kind of talks like Vander and Benzo, and like someone else. Same voice.
Looking over at Powder, she appears to not be taking this interruption well. I have to deal with this.
Standing on my feet. "Yes, we are. Have we met?"
Her blue eyes flashed wide in embarrassment. She reached her hand out to shake. "Sorry, I'm Caitlyn Kiramman."