She is dead. Of all the bullets that she dodged, it was this one that got her. Before the bullet exited the barrel, I was whispering a prayer for her to wake up and move. It was in her ability, she could do it, as I've seen her do many times before. But this time, she just lay there. As her eyes dimmed, I slowly fell into silent shock. She broke her promise to always be there. The recoil of my rifle made the scene feel unreal, as if the deed was done by another person. But I did it. I executed the traitor that broke the prosperity between Zaun and Piltover. I killed the monster that slaughtered our entire family. I should feel relieved, but there is nothing in me anymore. There is no purpose for me, beyond maintaining the position of Commander. Being the figure of prosperity and resilience that Zaun needed to rise from despair and strive towards greatness. Tightening my hands around my rifle, I feel the cracks splintering in the wood. A gentle hand lands on my shoulders.
"Stay with me, Commander Owen," her voice calls to me. Turning to my right, I see Councilwoman Kiramman beside me. Her sharp right eye softens slightly when she acknowledges my position. We've stood together when building Zaun and prepared Piltover to accept Zaun as an equal. Guilt fills my heart as I now realize that I unintentionally replaced Powder...Jinx with Caitlyn. After what that monster did to our family, it was the moment when everything fell apart. Vander flew into a rage, but not the rage that we all thought we remembered. It was rage turned inward, grieving depression. That grief, as I've come to understand, was from his past with their parents. He couldn't stand to attend the funerals, as his sobs could be heard from within the Last Drop. In his mind, he had failed Connol and Felicia. The insanity of Jinx and the murder of our siblings broke him completely. His last days were filled with drowning himself in the depths of every bottle he could get his hands on. Silco dropped everything to console his brother. He never abandoned him, even when the past resurfaced, and I had to rush to prevent him from destroying what little family we had left.
"We need to recover the tags of the fallen." I stoically stated as I held my gaze on the last ghost of my past.
Caitlyn called my bluff and turned me towards her by my shoulders. I didn't realize how relaxed I was. Usually, nothing could move me unless I wanted to move myself. But the last glimpse into the past is now bleeding profusely from the head. Seeing her dead, the woman who I have loved and hated, dead, there are no words. There is nothing but a void that no amount of resilience can conquer.
"Lean on me, Owen, let me be your strength." Caitlyn whispers as she glides her warm, greased, and grimed hand over my cheek. She's good at what she does, both at commanding people and at inspiring them. There is another skill she has mastered from the Wolf, the guile of intrigue. Using her watchful eye, she can detect weaknesses in her targets, be they friend or foe. Unless it is to serve a larger purpose, she never misses. It has served her well. Watching her move around between the crippling relationships of the two cities taught me much. However, I could never maneuver as efficiently as she could. Caitlyn has undoubtedly saved my life on more occasions than I am aware of.
Lifting my hand to meet hers, I allowed my body to relax for a moment, and that was all she needed. Even Caitlyn's eye couldn't catch her movements as Jinx rose and blitzed me from behind. A sharp pain penetrated my left side, her fingers slicing through my flesh like a bundle of knives.
"NO!" Caitlyn bellowed as she scrambled for her rifle to save my life.
Jinx took me to the ground, and we rolled and wrestled. In the end, she achieved a half nelson, holding my neck with her arm and securing my torso with her legs. Caitlyn struggled to calm herself while reloading. Using me as a puppet, she twisted her hand in my side, making me flail in agony until I landed back, facing Caitlyn. Eventually, the pain grew too great for me to fight back. My body fell limp on the cold floor.
Caitlyn readied her rifle and aimed for Jinx's head. As I feel my blood leaving me, Jinx whispers in my ear. "I will always be with you."
Monster. I don't use that word sparingly. She's a monster for a reason, and monsters don't die. Regardless of the pain, I fought back. I fought as hard as I could. My fist slams against her shoulder as she hides her head from my strikes.
"Let him go, NOW!" Caitlyn bellows as I hear more footsteps all around me.
"Commander!" the voices of my soldiers call out to me as I hear them load their rifles. Any one of them could fire at Jinx, but they have all seen what she can do. The veterans survived her tactics and have been in my position before. The moment she hears the pop within the barrel, she'll move, making the bullet either crash into the concrete or into the victim.
"Shhh, I'm here," she whispers as she gives up on torturing me. Pulling her hand from my side to hug me.
Her raspy voice smooths out to her formerly youthful tone. The force of her hug lessened to a comfort that I've grown to yearn for. My body also shifts from a grown man in agony to a young boy in further agony. I'm in an unfamiliar room. Medical equipment surrounds my cot. Coughs of other wounded people echo off the walls. My room is small, enough room for a grown adult to stretch their arms comfortably. A thin blanket covers my body. Only a few spots of blood bleed through. In the dim room, a single candle keeps the room from being consumed by darkness. The faint glow of the soothing scented candle illuminated the left side of Powder's face.
"Where are we?" I asked and winced as pain erupted from my left cheekbone.
"Zaun's first public hospital," she informed as her eyes bounced from one bruise to another. It still smells like Zaun. Glad to know that I'm not the only one who is pushing to make a change around here. Zaunites are continuing to build and innovate, starting their own businesses. I need to remember to thank the owner. This place should be running solely on my electricity. It'll do everyone here some good.
My eyes grew wide as I remembered passing out. "Where is Claggor?" I asked as I sat up.
Powder placed her hand on my chest and pushed me down. "He's standing outside, keeping watch, please don't do that."
She shouldn't have been able to push me like that. I must have been beaten harder than I thought.
"Does Vander know?" I asked, as I dread standing in front of him after what I did.
Powder's eyes are glued to her hand.
"Powder?" I croaked as my voice weakened. Her silence is filling me with a dread that I thought I would never feel again. Vander's threat still lingers in my mind. "If you go through with this, you will lose more than just your family." Somewhere along those lines. I reached for her hand. She then slowly drew her gaze onto me.
"What were you doing down there?" She asked in a voice so low that I would have missed it if I weren't reading her lips.
"We've been offered a police force." I disclosed. Her brow furrowed as she met my hand.
"What? Why?" she asks as she tries to think of the reasons herself.
"To secure our independence. By policing ourselves—"
"It's an army," she interrupts me as her glare deepened.
"I was getting to that," I said.
"Owen," she warns as she tightens her grip, and it hurts this time.
"Okay, okay. I'll stop." I relented, and she release her grip.
Turning her head towards the door, she internally debates whether or not to speak her mind. Her expression softens as she turns her face back to me. "I had the dream."
I stared blankly at her.
"Yeah," she nods. "That dream."
My eyes began to sting.
"Powder, that isn't me." It is my turn to squeeze her hand. "I would never do that to you."
She brought her other hand to hold mine tighter. She knows I'm lying. We both know the truth. That future is our reality. It's becoming clearer day by day. Every decision we made to avoid that horrible world breathed life into that world and turns it into our future. It's going to come, no matter what I do.
"I know, Owen," she lied for my sake, and that hurt me even more. A hot streak of liquid ran down the left side of my face and into my ear, but I don't care. Lowering her head to my chest, she positioned her ear directly over my heart. I lift my other arm over her head, and she releases my hand to grab onto my shoulders.
"Please stay with me, don't turn into that thing." I begged. Was that fair to ask? Because it didn't feel like it. In return, I would have to promise to never become a Commander, and look what happened. I might as well become a Commander tomorrow to throw Fate the cosmic finger. Things are moving too fast, and it's all because of me.
"I promise I won't mess this up, I promise," she assures me as she nestles against my chest. Her tears soaked through my bandage. Did I just pull a Mylo? Did I put her self-esteem in the spotlight? Why can't you control your mouth, Owen? You spent your life tearing people down with your words, making them dance to your taunts. For once, use your words for something useful for a change, don't YOU jinx her.
I inhaled through my nose and exhaled through my mouth. "We'll be okay."
"Really?" she asks as she sniffs loudly.
With a calm mind, I replied. "Yeah, I mean, think about it. We are young, and the future is the future. We are adults at that point. Not even young adults, but grown."
Powder lifts her head, and I can see her eyes again, red with a redder nose.
"We still have time, it's ours to take." I said that as if I had a plan.
"What do we do with it? We're just making things worse," she complains, as she is correct.
"We go back to being kids." I suggest as Powder's eyes widened.
"Really?" She lifts her head, and finally, she smiles, showing me the girl I met the very first time we worked together.
"It seems to be the only answer at this point." I reasoned as I held my hand on her cheek.
She lifts her right hand to hold mine. "But what about your business?"
"I'll work something out with Sevika and Silco, they'll understand once I've explained things." I hoped, but given how things are going, it's out of desperation.
We just held each other, not wanting anything to change. But we both know the obstacle that we need to overcome.
"We have to talk to Vander at some point." I decide as I struggled to sit up. This time, Powder helped me.
"He is going to be pissed," she said as she sat next to me. I will never get over hearing that sweet voice saying vulgar words.
"I'll take it, since it's my responsibility anyways." I determine, as I looked around the room, to see my jumpsuit and boots at the foot of my bed. "Um, do you mind?"
Thankfully, Powder is as quick as a whip.
"Oh yeah, sorry." She promptly shot off the bed and stiffly walked out of the room.
Having a moment to myself, I stood to my feet. Testing the motions of my limbs and core, I'm surprised to feel that I'm not as beat up as I look. Finally, I have a decent mirror in here. I'm getting pretty strong, I hardly recognize myself. A bald-headed bag of bones to a, dare I say, handsome young boy. All I have to do is to heal from all the black and blue surrounding my face and body. I could do without the knot at the side of my head as well, I don't remember how that happened. I don't even want to know what my back looks like, I'm sure the other two will tell me all about it. After I clothed myself, Powder, Claggor, and I made our way back to the Last Drop. Seeing Vander's back towards us gave me the chills. He never gave me the impression that he would ever fall for the bottle. But here he is, an unopened bottle to his right and a tall glass to his left. As we walked towards him, his motionless figure gave us the impression that we could sneak past him. However, this time, I don't want to run from my consequences.
"You two go ahead, I need to speak with him alone." I said in a low voice, trying not to stir Vander.
"Are you sure? I mean, I've never seen him like this before." Claggor states, as his concern is genuine. He was here longer than I was, so I can trust his word.
Thinking for a moment, I've come to a decision. "Stay behind the door and listen in. If things get rough, I'll trust that you'll do the right thing."
He nods. "Okay." I feel thankful that I entrust him with so much responsibility.
Powder grabs my strap. "Owen," she whispers. "I don't like this."
"He can't see you now, not after that dream." I insist.
"What? What do you mean?" Claggor asks as his gaze shifts between us.
I held my hand up, signaling for him to let me think. "We can't take that chance. He's drinking, that's all the sign I need."
She looks towards Vander, who popped open the bottle and starts pouring.
"Powder, please trust me." I request as I reached my hands out, and Powder met me halfway.
She gave me a quick hug. "I'll be right behind Claggor, just in case."
As she pulled back, she gave me one final caress of my cheek before Claggor took her towards the basement door. She walked to the right side of Claggor to avoid any possibility of Vander seeing her. It's just me and Vander now. The eerie silence made this all the more ominous. He's been shouldering a lot of stress ever since taking me in. Honestly, I feel guilty not trying to make things easy on him. Judging my next course of action, I took measured steps towards his left, trying not to startle him.
"Thanks, Owen." Vander said as I froze in my place. I'm about an arm's length away from him.
"About time I'm getting some credit around here." I said with false levity. I'm afraid to sit by him. I don't want to see his face. He's always been strong in my eyes. Seeing him like this, it's unnerving.
He turns towards me with surprisingly clear eyes but with a face twisted in frustration and confusion.
"I can't get drunk. That's why I bartend, it's easier for me," he began to explain as he abandoned his bottles.
I released a breath. "Good, you had us worried there."
"And you have us all on our collective toes, constantly holding our breath for the next stunt you'll pull," he continues as he displayed his supreme ability to quell his anger. Maybe I've overlooked that critical detail, I've been challenging his ability to control his rage.
"I'm trying to—"
"Owen, stop. Just stop." Vander sternly asserted.
Flinching at his visage, my words lost their power. My eyes searched around the room for an escape.
"Look at me, Owen," he demands as he stands to his feet.
With great difficulty, I raised my eyes to meet his.
"What you've told me before, about that future you've dreamt of, it makes sense," he disclosed.
My eyes widen at this realization. He's been having these dreams too?
"I thought they were just nightmares at first." He wipes his eyes. "I could hardly remember them when I finally woke up. But seeing you change Zaun, I could see the man before my eyes."
He lowered himself to be level with me. But even on one knee, he's still a few inches taller.
"You've changed Zaun for the better every time you sat in that office, but I remained here. All I did was stand in this bar and watch you all move on, then something happened to Powder," he continues as his face shifts to haunting disappointment. "She did horrible things, and all I did was drink. I hid behind the bar and drank."
He just looks defeated, nowhere close to sad, just ashamed of himself.
"What you're doing right now, I might as well be stuck in that nightmare, because I'm living it," he said with eyes that I never want to have on me. It's the eyes that all my victims wore when I took my vengeance against them. All the thugs I've poisoned, ambushed, trapped, and tortured, they all had that look. He's afraid of me, of what I might bring.
"I'm sorry." I shake my head. "I'm trying to stop that future from happening."
He laid his hands on my shoulders. "You're growing up too fast."
I wipe my irritated eyes. "What do I do? I just keep making things worse."
"Let me be the father, let me shoulder your burdens," he requested.
His face is gentle this time, that look fading into what drew me to him in the first place. That compassion, it used to bring me pain because I've never known it, never felt it. But now, it finally feels natural, it's what I've always wanted.
I rub my eyes again. "What is this?"
I know what it is, but this feeling with it—am I sick? Did that doctor poison me?
Vander laughed. "Don't tell me you've never cried before."
"Only at good jokes." I said as I tried to fight back the tears. "I don't want to lose you. I don't want to be alone anymore, not again."
Vander pulled me into his chest. "I'm taking your responsibilities for now, understand? Time for you to be a kid again."
"But." I wiped my face against his shirt. "But."
"No more buts." He stood to his feet and cradled me. "You can be an adult when you turn 18, understand? I'm not moving on this."
Despite wanting to finish what I started, I can't just give up my ambition just yet.
"I'm doing this all for you." I look up at him as he makes his way towards the basement door. "You've given me so much, I just want to give you the perfect Zaun as thanks."
That's where he paused and took in a deep breath. I felt his chest expand and would have nearly pushed me out of his arms if he wasn't paying attention.
"Damnit, boy, you've gotten me all misty." He's losing the battle to remain the tough guy in every situation. But maybe, just once, we can set that aside. He sits down in a booth and hugs me again.
"I love you, Vander." I mumbled as my throat burned and hot tears ran down my face.
"I love you too, son," he confessed as he cleared his throat and rubbed my head.
He held me there, silently sobbing. I know why he wants to take control. That future seems unstoppable. Maybe fighting it through industry wasn't the answer. Maybe I can just relax and be a kid again. This time, I have to grow up to take back my position. If I try to sneak it away from him again, well, he's going to treat me like a man. That challenge is going to be too painful to recover from. I tried to remain awake, just to stay in his arms for a little longer, but all that crying tired me out, and darkness took me.
Waking up without a schedule feels unusually unnatural, which doesn't make sense. I used to not care about counting the days. Guess all that growing up changed me a bit too much. A series of rushing footsteps and banter startled me into sitting up.
"Finally!" Vi bellowed. "You're up." She marches towards me with a giant wrap of something in her arms. The rest of my siblings are deep in their own conversations. So many words colliding into one another, yet somehow flowing so well, that it made sense not to pay attention.
"Heads up." She turned to lay the wrap onto me. I reach my hands out, and it nearly tilts me over due to its sheer mass.
"You want me to eat all of this?" I asked in disbelief.
They collectively laughed as they ALL decided to sit against my bed, shoulder to shoulder.
"You're still a skinny kid, you can't be a man looking like that." Claggor states as he digs into his choice of breakfast, a bowl of watery sea creatures. They have all of their eyes and appendages.
I unwrapped the packaging and sniffed for evidence of mischief.
"Oh, come on, we made that one just for you." Mylo said as he chomped down on a bowl of beef-like meat.
"That's what I'm afraid of." I admitted as I nibbled at it. It's soft to the touch. So far, so good. As the juices entered my mouth, I was surprised to taste a pleasant yet familiar flavor.
"It has all the meats." Powder insisted as she enjoyed a bowl of noodles.
Taking her at her word, I relaxed and ate.
"So, what do you all want to do today?" Ekko asks as he chomps down on a baked loaf with meat in it. It almost looks like my wrap, but not as massive. I want to try that next time.
"You know, I want to build something." Vi disclosed. Understandably, we are all taken aback by her sudden admission. The idea of Vi building anything, rather than dismantling, is a welcome breath of fresh air. "But I want to do it mostly by myself."
"I can almost envision this going quite well." I said as I struggled to finish this massive wrap.
"Really?" She turns around to look at me.
I can't help but to notice how increasingly disgusting it is, to hear all of them gorging themselves to their hearts content. The price I pay to have a family.
"Yep, you'll live through it, that's about it though." I couldn't help but chuckle at my own expense.
"Oh, okay." She nods as she returns to her food. "Just you watch, you're going to beg me to ride on my rocket."
We all slowed down.
"A rocket?" Ekko asked as he's almost done with his food.
"That's right," she said as she finished her breakfast. "My mentor wants me to try something ambitious for my first project."
"But a rocket? That's incredibly dangerous." I warned, and they all turned to me.
"You don't say." Claggor was exasperated as he drank the last of his soup.
"I know it's hypocritical of me to say." I admitted as I felt my face heating up from all the staring.
"Very." Vi dismissively confirms.
"But you have to let us at least watch you, just in case." I suggested.
That's when a smile flashed on her face. Finishing her meal, she turned to me.
"I'll let you help me only if you finish that." She pointed at the wrap.
Looking down at the gargantuan, half-eaten wrap, I feel nearly full already.
"This is a bit much." I complained as I took another bite. My stomach wanted to push the food out of my mouth right then and there.
She shrugged. "I mean, if it's too much to ask..."
I swallowed. "I'll finish it, then I'll vomit all over you if I get sick."
"I'd love to see that." Mylo said as he handed Claggor his empty bowl.
"Ewww!" Powder whined as she stood up and took the bowls upstairs.
Great, she doesn't get to see me pick up nasty habits. I began stuffing my face. My loving siblings cheered and coached me at every bite.
"You know what." I pushed down a mouthful of chewed chicken...I think. Powder returned good, she needs to hear this. "I'm glad I'm adopted."
"Ohhhh!" Mylo held his face.
"My heart!" Vi fell on Ekko, playing dead.
"My everything!" Ekko screams as he's flattened by Vi's unexpected fall.
Powder steps over Vi and sits on my bed with me.
"I am too." She tears a piece of the wrap off, of which there isn't much left. "If you weren't, I wouldn't be able to do this."
She inches the piece to my mouth.
"Powder." My gut can't take this any longer. "People are watching."
"Open up." She waves the piece in front of my mouth. Laughter erupts from them all. Thankfully, it isn't mean-spirited, I don't know how I would have responded if it were. Who am I kidding? Of course I do.
I opened wide and would have chomped down on her fingers if she weren't so nimble.
"Almost, let's try again." She pulls another piece off, and the game continued until it was all gone. They all mock cheer as I lay on my side. Being full is a pain that I'm fortunate to feel.
"Why are you all so mean to me?" I solemnly rock from side to side.
"Because you're mean to yourself." Ekko answers as he drums my head.
"Don't you kids have school today? Or something?" I squeeze my eyes shut.
"Nope, apprentice privilege." Vi arrogantly express as she grabs my hand. Groaning, I'm pulled to my feet. The lump of meat is settling through my guts. "We are due back in two days."
"Madness." I proclaimed as I was marched towards the stairs.
"We have to collect most of the stuff from the junkyard." Claggor informed us of the obvious as we climbed.
"You know what would make this day nearly perfect?" I began to think of the person who should suffer with me, and lo and behold. Just as we opened the door and turned the corner, there she was. Not appearing out of place at all, Caitlyn stands, discovering the magnificent contraption called a jukebox. The bar has a steady flow of patrons who couldn't wait to get themselves a drink. Thankfully, Vander doesn't serve alcohol in the mornings. Instead, he serves smoothies until around 7 or so.
"Vi, it's our good friend, she's coming along." I walk towards her, and reluctantly, Vi follows.
"What? Come on," she complains as she tries to think up a way out of this.
"All I want to do is to get her in trouble with the rest of us, that's all." I admitted.
"We aren't going to—"
"Caitlyn! Long time no see." I greet her as I approach.
She jumped at the mention of her name. Turning around, she looks at me with wide eyes. "Owen? I heard of what happened." She looks over at Vi. "Hey, Vi," then back to me. "Sorry I couldn't visit you at all, my parents were impossible when they heard."
"Really? Who are they?" I asked, as she does resemble who I hope isn't who I think she is related to.
"She's on the council. It's Cassandrea," she disclosed.
That name means nothing to me. However, if I connect the dead giveaways, they look so similar and kind of act the same too, with similar posture also. This is a detail that flew over my head until now. The woman with the no-nonsense delivery and the accent—of course they're related. Definitely her daughter. How could I have overlooked this? She's my power play in the council without Sevika backing me up. And with Silco there, I doubt that he'll make things easy on me. Vi delivered a strong tap on my shoulder.
"Want to help build a rocket with us?" I asked out of nowhere.
Caitlyn's brows rose in shock at the proposal. "What!?"
Vi's hand cupped my mouth rather forcefully.
"He doesn't know what he's saying." She rubs my head. "Took too many hits to the head. Which is true, but not the point.
Pulling her hand off my mouth. "Okay. Do you want to ride a rocket AFTER it's done?"
"What!?" they both shouted in unison. That got most of the patrons attention. Vander looked over at us and grinned. Vi covered my mouth again and dragged me outside.
"Vi! I wouldn't mind if—"
"Not now." Vi moved her other arm around my neck but was too slow, as I beat her arm to my neck with my own. "Owen needs to learn a lesson."
"Geez, out in the open?" Claggor said as he strolled outside.
Moving my head, I managed to slip my mouth past her hand.
"Fine! Caitlyn, do you want to come to the junkyard with us?" I asked in a desperate attempt to save my neck as well as my head.
Vi froze and looked to Caitlyn, whose eyes were shifting between all of us. "Yes, why not?"
Finally, I slipped Vi's grip and scrambled behind Claggor and Powder.
"Working with you requires hazard pay." I complained as I rubbed my neck.
"Owen…" She took a step towards me, and I pulled Powder in front of me, as Claggor is too damn huge.
Caitlyn placed her hand on Vi's forearm. "Come on, show me what you've been working on."
Vi looked down at her hand, lightly pulled away, and shrugged. "Fine. Follow me," she grumbled.
Caitlyn gave me a weak smile as she followed after her.
"I will have my revenge." I whispered.
"Don't hide behind me next time." Powder wiggled free from my grip.
"Wait! You said you'll always—"
"Owen," she warns with her head tilted.
"Fine." I said with an audible groan.
She grabs my hand and starts to lead me along.
"Wait, where's Mylo?" I asked. Powder seems puzzled as well.
Looking back at Claggor, he seems to be wiping a tear from his eyes.
"I didn't want to ruin the moment, you guys are too funny." Claggor held a hand to his mouth as he continued chuckling to himself. "He's still inside."
I walk back into the bar to see Mylo and Gert getting comfortable together in a booth.
"Awww!" Powder held her hands to her mouth. "They're so cute."
I have options. I could either entertain this scene with a date of our own, or I can go dumpster diving. Impossible choices—why me?
Powder pulls at my arm. "Let's go play in the trash."
I look at her with tears in my eyes. "I actually love you."
"What?" Powder asked, dumbfounded, as I lifted her in my arms.
Claggor then lifts us both up and manages to separate us by sitting us on his arms.
"Just you wait, big guy, we are going to find you a special someone." I promised as he made his way down the road. "And you get to have your head and heart broken by them, it'll be fun."
Powder took her gloves off and threw them at me, which I caught. She looks at me with an expression that clearly says that I'm talking too much.
"Don't worry, I've already got my eyes on someone," he disclosed.
Powder gasped. "Really? Who?"
I threw the gloves back at her, and she caught them without looking at me.
"You don't have to answer her, not yet anyway." I insisted.
"Don't listen to him, Claggor." Powder encouraged as she swings her gloves at me.
"Don't listen to her, because I asked nicely." I said as I did my best to subdue her assaults.
"You two." He shook his head. "I hope we never change."
Sadly, Fate has other plans.