Chapter Text
It stated out as a normal day, really. Little man had given them a tip, and they were going to sneak out for their new job. They hadn’t even left the Undercity, however, when a massive flash of blue enveloped the four children, teleporting them to a room filled with several other people. There were several rows of seating, ranging in all different levels of comfortable.
Powder whimpered, confused and frightened as she held tight to Violet’s hand. “Vi,” she whispered “what’s going on?”
Her sister did not have an answer, instead, she led the group to a row toward the middle, Vi sighted a double seat. It was next to a (kinda pretty) girl she did not know, but she wasn’t about to abandon powder. She put herself between her sister and the stranger, and motioned for Claggor and Mylo to sit down too, only to hear a very familiar voice.
“Vi? My gods what are you all doing here?” The worried voice of Vander questioned.
“Vander!” Powder shouted, reaching her arms up to give him a hug. He smiled, completing it.
Vi watched his concern reappear, after a moment, she spoke “uhh yeah… big bright light. Heard some weird noise, and all of a sudden here we are!”
Vander sat himself down next to the double seat, setting Powder down beside Vi, and patting her head. "None of you are hurt though, yeah? that's what matters here" Claggor and Mylo nodded, seating themselves right next to Vander.
In the row behind them, there were four more. Two scientists, and two council members. They each politely introduced themselves. Viktor, Jayce, Mel, and Heimerdinger. Jayce busied himself with talking to Caitlyn, instead of any of the people he did not know. Everyone in the room slowly became acquainted with each other. It was at this moment that a new, masked figure showed themselves at the front of the room.
They took a breath slowly, before beginning to talk, "Hello everyone, I'm sorry for the out of nowhere meeting, but I am here to warn you of the future, which is where I come from. You can call me Six. It is in this theater that I will show you the futures each of you have in my world, in hopes that you will heed my warning and save the future of yours. Any questions?"
Nearly everybody raised a hand, but Six knew she would be caught soon If she didn't hurry, she only had time to answer a few. She turned her masked face to Powder, who had a shyly raised hand. Six pointed to her, "yeah you first".
Powder slowly put her hand down, tugging on her own sleeves she began to speak "the way you talk... like its all a bad thing.. does something go wrong?"
Mylo scoffed "yeah obviously dipshit. What do you think we're all here for?"
Powder blushed, tucking her knees to her chest, next to her, Vi glared "Are you kidding me Mylo? can't you shut up for one goddamn second? is that so hard??" she said as she hugged her sister close. Ekko sent him a glare, "Yeah Mylo leave her alone man!"
Six cleared her throat, sending a glance to Mylo "I'm not gonna let you bully people here pal, get it together. And yes, Powder, lots of things go wrong, but can be prevented"
Mylo nodded, but stayed silent, accepting the sharp look from Vi, Ekko and Vander. Powder smiled a bit to herself, uncurling just a little bit. The adults in the back row watched the interaction curiously. Viktor smiled, they reminded him of the local children when he was younger. He put his hand down, his question already answered by both the children's interactions, but the reactions from his older peers.
Six decided that was enough, she had to hurry... she could get caught. "I don't have time for anything else" she said glancing at the pocket watch in her coat. "We have to begin now, starting with Violet, Powder, and Vander." The lights in the theater dimmed, and the screen shone bright.
Fire and smoke was all that could be seen, the air red and dusty, and a shy voice was heard through the chaos.
"Dear friend, across the river, my hands are cold and bare"
there were distant explosions and screams could be heard, but the voice did not stop singing.
Vander and Vi shared a look, peeking down at a nervous Powder. This was before, not the future? Vi was confused, but did not comment.
"Dear friend, Across the river, I'll take what you can spare"
The Explosions and fire were clearer now, and people fell to the floor as they died.
"I ask of you a penny"
An enforcer shot at already motionless person, dead on the ground.
Caitlyn was shocked at the aggressive nature present in this one, clearly this enforcer was more violent.
"An enforcer?" she asked.
Vi looked in her direction, "Yeah, Shiny, pretty enforcers, who blow shit up. Isn't what you expected is it? that's because they only do it down here."
"My fortune it will be, I ask you without envy, we raise no mighty towers, Our homes are built of stone"
Two children could now be seen, the little one with blue hair covered her eyes, and sang to distract herself from the horrors that surrounded her. She peeked up at her pink haired sister.
"So come across the river, and find-"
Claggor and Mylo looked at the pair "Vi..." Mylo said distantly.
Viktor frowned, looking at the other adults next to him. "It is no surprise that those children come from backgrounds like this. This is the life of a Trencher."
Mel looked at the screen sadly, "They're just children..."
Vi inhaled sharply, surveying the area around her. Powder too, looked around nervously. Fire crackled, and Vi held Powder's hand tighter.
A man looked in their direction. His hands held gauntlets, and his bearded face was grim. Vi hid Powder behind her, looking around wildly, then pointing to herself. The man, Vander, winced, looking in the direction of their fallen parents. Vi began to hyperventilate, trying to stay calm, for powder, but ultimately failed. Powder looked at her sadly, he face dirty with ash and tear tracks, and having nothing to say. Vi fell to the ground in despair, yelling into the smoggy distance. Sobbing as she clutched Powder tight.
Vander dropped his gauntlets, and picked up the lost and tired girls. Vi lay on his shoulder, looking at the remaining enforcers, and the pristine buildings of Piltover.
She glared, and Vander crossed the bridge.
The adults looked nervously at the two children in front of them. Violet had her hands around her little sister, who held the hand of Vander.
"Im sorry for your loss" Viktor said.
"Its okay" Vi's raspy voice replied as she wiped her eyes, " 'was a while ago"
"Enemy : Imagine Dragons begins to play"
Stone statues of Vi and Powder are shown, then Jayce with a (Not so mysterious) glowing orb, then the many councilors, and viktor with a book, a wall engraving of Caitlyn, a statue of Heimerdinger, Mel infront of a window, Vander cradling mini statues of Vi and Powder, with a scary looking man behind them.
No Vander thought, It can't be
A person in front of a bright green explosion, wearing a sharp, owl like mask.
"Woah!" Ekko and Powder said at the same time.
Caitlyn with a rifle, an oddly familiar blue haired woman, and Vi with Gauntlets fighting.
Vander sighed, Looking toward Vi. She caught his eye "Hey! I haven't done anything yet! this is future Vi's problem"
"Mhm" vander let out a groan, "Please don't hurt my children" He thought to himself.
The screen cut to Vi, scaling the side of a building.
"come on! we're almost there!" she shouted to the group below her. "Hey powder! Come take a look!"
they looked over the city
"Its nice getting above it all huh?" Vi asked, smiling. An airship passed over their heads, moving towards the Council Hall.
"One day," Powder began, "I'm going to ride in one of those things"
Vi smiled at her sister, cradling her tight. Vander smiled.
"And one day," Mylo said "I'm gonna shoot one of em down" he pointed hand guns at one.
Vi glared at him, shoving past him and taking the lead.
"Vi, are you sure about this?" Claggor asked, "Look, If we get caught, we're-"
Vi sighed "We're not gonna get caught."
"Doing what?" Vander asked, glancing at all of his children.
"I dunno!" Vi shouted, "This is the future! now stop asking questions, I wanna watch!" She bit back playfully.
"We'll be in and out before anyone notices" she said, jumping onto another roof.
They came to a much steeper set of buildings. Vi sighed "Alright everyone follow me, just dont look down"
She quickly jumped from one surface to another, motioning for her siblings to join her.
"Impressive" Heimerdinger mumbled"
One by one they each jumped, Mylo, then Claggor, who had stolen a cupcake he spotted on one of the balconies. "Couldn't we have just walked there?"
Vi shook her head, "Gotta stay out of sight for this one" She looked up, her petrified sister still stood on the opposite roof. Breathing heavily.
Mylo scoffed "Called it" he jabbed "This is on you Vi"
Claggor sighed, "Ill go get her"
Powder looked embarrassed at all the eyes on her, it made her uncomfortable, she tugged on her hair to make the awful buzzy noise-feeling go away.
Vi grabbed her arm "Its okay Pow-Pow, knowing you, you'll figure it out" she reassured her. "No more hair pulling or hitting okay?"
Powder lowered her hands, then lightly smiled up at her sister "Okay Vi"
Everyone else in the room smiled, and Caitlyn spoke up for the first time. "You're a good sister" She said.
Vi blushed, "Thanks I guess"
"No!" Vi insisted "Powder, look at me, What did I tell you?"
Powder's face of fear turned more determined, "That.. I'm ready"
Vi nodded, "That's Right, So?"
Powder took a deep breath, jumping from the roof, to the balcony, then to the opposite building. She nearly made it perfectly, but began to fall backwards. She shrieked, but Vi Caught her wrist.
"Thanks" Powder said.
Vi smiled pulling her up.
"Told ya" she nudged her sister. Everyone smiled, and Vander ruffled her bright, pink hair.
The group shimmied around a thin ledge, and Claggor panted "What if Vander finds out we're all the way up here?" He whined nervously.
"Look around you" Vi said frustrated, "Do you think anyone topside's going hungry? Besides, this is exactly the sort of job Vander would have pulled when he was our age"
Vander sighed "Vi.." He said in a warning tone.
Vi looked down, "Am I wrong though? That is the kinda thing you'd-"
"That's not the point" Vander grunted.
"Sorry" Vi said
"I'm going, are you with me or not?" Vi asked.
Claggor looked down, sighing "Vander's gonna kill us"
Vi scoffed "Only if we screw up- So don't screw up" She said, dropping to the balcony below.
She peeked inside, looking for anyone or anything alive that could get them caught.
"All clear" She called to the others.
Mylo was the first one down. He went to open the door, but found it was locked. "Who locks their balcony?" he scoffed.
Jayce looked up from his seat, and gave a cold look to the people in front of him "I lock my balcony"
All of the children inhaled sharply. "Oh boy" Vi said quietly.
"That's my apartment isn't it?" He questioned
Ekko looked up with a shy look on his face "uhhh maybe?" he shrugged, but it was clear that he knew the answer to all that.
"Lets just keep watching," Heimerdinger said "It is rather interesting, seeing all of this, I am curious to see how it plays out"
Powder and Claggor came down after Mylo, Powder immediately taking her place beside Vi. Claggor grunted "There's tons of enforcers down there" He said worriedly.
" 'Means were in the right place" Vi responded, "You gonna get that door open anytime soon?" She asked, turning to look at Mylo.
"Working on it" he grumbled, "Seeing as I'm the only one who Knows how to pick locks I suggest-"
He was pushed aside by Vi, who shot her foot out and broke the door open, she walked inside, Claggor and Powder following.
Mylo scoffed "animals" he mumbled.
They began to look around, amazed by all of the trinkets and treasures.
"Ya know Claggor? For once you're right" Mylo said, "We are definitely not supposed to be here" he said grabbing two little treasures on the table, and throwing them into their rucksack.
Thats how the process went for several minutes. Emptying drawers, searching bookshelves, in boxes and chests.
"Must be an inventor" Vi said, looking at a large chalkboard.
"Huh" powder said, looking around, then, she spotted something on a shelf. "Woah, I think this is a real Valdiani!" She picked up a little object, tapping the top, it opened up to reveal a little wooden solar system. She smiled.
"Oh yeah?" she heard Mylo say "What about this?" He said, pointing a strange object at her.
Unimpressed, she replied "That's a nose hair trimmer" Then returned to messing with the Valdiani.
Much to mylo's annoyance, everyone in the room chuckled a bit, beside Jayce who was still frustrated and nervous about someone breaking into his apartment.
"Keep an eye out for anything that looks valuable, Powder" Vi said, interrupting their squabble, "Before Mylo fills the bag with junk." She added.
Mylo's eye caught something glowing blue on the table, pulling some blueprints off of it his eyes widened. "Uhh Guys?" He said stunned.
Heimerdinger's eyes shot open, he turned to look at Jayce "What is the meaning of this? do you know how dangerous that is?"
Jayce looked defensive, "Its just a little project I'm working on"
Viktor looked intrigued, watching the screen carefully to catch any potential response from the glowing, blue, orb.
Claggor and Powder went to inspect the object too. Claggor looked worried. "Wait- Vi, how the hell did we find this place?"
She looked just as surprised as Mylo, "It was a tip from Little Man" she said.
"Oh was it now?" Vander said, looking toward Ekko. "Uhhh... No?" But his response seemed more of a question.
"Little man?" Mylo asked, in a seemingly astounded tone. Vi scoffed "Just leave it, Come on"
Powder looked at the group from down the hall, but continued exploring various rooms.
Faintly, Claggor could be heard talking, as well as Mylo "How can anyone have so much stuff?" Claggor asked.
"Simple," Mylo responded "Just get born Lucky."
"Actually" Jayce said "I worked hard".
Vi looked at him, Unimpressed. "Your talking to a bunch of undercity Trenchers, We don't get to the top like you can you overpaid bird of paradise"
He looked at her oddly "Bird of paradise?"
She looked at him with a blank face "Someone too busy looking like royalty and impressing women, saving barely any time for anything else at all. Other than building a bright and pretty 'nest' to show off with later on. Did I get that right?"
He blushed, a glare on his face, but said nothing more.
Vi smirked, "Mhm"
Powder walked Into a room, she looked around, humming, and occasionally picking something up. She looked down at a desk, finding two, delicious looking sandwiches. She picked on up, humming happily, and taking a bite. Her eyes moved from the sandwich to a propped up blueprint.
She put her sandwich down, pulling the blueprint away to reveal a shiny chest. She pulled it closer, grunting at the weight. Then searched the sides, pressing a button. The chest opened to reveal several blue crystals. Her eyes went wide, picking one up and holding it to her face.
*The screen changes to Vi*
Vi sat in front of their rucksack, inspecting the haul of today. When she heard some clanging metal. Normally, she wouldn't be bothered, because everyone knew Powder tended to be clumsy. But this noise came from outside the apartment. She watched as a shadow made its way in front of the door, and started turning the doorknob.
She shot up, "Mylo!" she whispered, pointing at a wooden chair. He ran, placing it under the doorknob so that the door couldn't be opened.
She ran down the hall. "Powder! We gotta go!" Powder gasped, pulling all the crystals from the box and shoving them into her pocket. One managing to fall out.
She ran to Vi, and they moved back to the balcony.
Muffled talking could be heard from the other side of the door, as the man wildly tried to open it.
The crystal bounced on the ground glowing brighter every time it hit the floor.
Vi kneeled to grab their rucksack, the others waiting "I'll be fine just get back on the roof!" She ordered.
The glowing crystal hit the wall, cracking upon making contact.
It blew Up.
Just as Vi made her way to the door, the balcony exploded, falling apart and falling to the ground. She looked over the edge, making eye contact with one of the enforcers.
"Shit."
Jayce looked shocked, unaware that his project could blow up like that. Heimerdinger looked at him sternly.
"Perhaps we should discuss this at a later time" He whispered.
Powder whimpered while watching. your fault... the voices said your fault...
Vi noticed her sister's worry, she grabbed her hand, which had begun scratching at her arm. "Hey" she said "It wasn't your fault Pow-Pow, I promise"
Powder looked up at her sister, Nodding.
The horns sounded, and the group ran from the enforcers, cuffs being thrown at them from every angle. They ran down the streets, running across the bridge just as it started going up. One of the enforcers falling down.
"This way!" Vi shouted to the group, running down an alley. They each slammed into the wall as the ran, but did not stop in fear of being arrested.
They turned a corner, and Vi hit a pipe so smoke filled the alley, allowing them to escape safely. Mylo shoved them into an even skinnier alleyway. "Go go go!" He whispered urgently.
The enforcers couldn't find them.
Vi found a garbage shoot, pulling off the lid a waft of hot, smelly, air made its way up.
Mylo groaned "Oh, man, not again- I just got this shirt-"
He screamed as Vi kicked him in the back, sending him down the shoot. Powder followed, Then Claggor, and finally, Vi.
They fell on top of a garbage pile. Mylo groaned, pulling what looked like moldy lettuce off of his hair. "thought last time was the last time we were gonna do this!"
"Well this times the last time" Vi responded, completely done with the arguing. She sent him a look, but he didn't understand.
"Guys what was that? What the hell happened back there?" Claggor shot back.
They all looked at powder, who in turn, looked offended. "I don't know! I didn't do anything!"
Mylo scoffed "You could fill a damn library with all the things you didn't do!"
Caitlyn looked at Mylo, "Why are you so mean to her? She's just a child!"
Mylo grunted, "Because every time we take her anywhere whatsoever, something goes wrong, shes such a jin-"
Vi shot up, holding a knife she had in her pocket to his throat, pushing Powder behind her "Finish that sentence. I dare you"
Mylo looked away, knowing it was time to shut his mouth.
Vi sat back down, pulling powder onto her lap and playing with her hair. Vander shot a look at Mylo, then turned to Vi, holding out his hand. She rolled her eyes, putting the knife on it. "I admire protecting your sister" He started, "But we've been over this, don't hold knives to your brothers, its not nice"
She nodded, looking down "Yes dad"
He smiled, ruffling her hair.
Everyone who wasn't from the undercity looked horrified at the implication that this was something that happened on a daily basis. Ekko giggled at the looks of shock. Viktor simply smiled.
Vi looked to the group, frustrated "Guys, we just emptied a Piltover penthouse right under the enforcers' noses. So, If you're done beating yourselves up, let's get this home."
She pulled herself up from the sewer gate, They weren't quite in the undercity yet, but the enforcers wouldn't find them here. She grabbed powder's hand, pulling her up.
They made their way to another alley, interrupted by another group of children. "Nice haul?" one of them asked.
Mylo looked over his shoulder at the kid "You could say that" He snarkily replied, Vi sent him a look, but again, was not noticed.
"I heard there was some action across the river." He said, "Someone eh.. Someone really kicked the nest huh?"
Vi glared, but continued walking away, only to be blocked by two of them.
"But now.. You're tracking this mess of yours through my streets." the main one said.
"Your streets?" Vi scoffed, "What makes you think-"
"Listen, we don't want any trouble, okay?" Claggor interrupted, stepping in front of Vi.
"Hear that, Deckard?" one of the lackeys said, "They don't want any trouble!" he laughed.
"You know in my experience?" Deckard said, "Trouble finds you. Now, there's no reason this has to get ugly, how 'bout you share a little taste of your treasure there, and we'll call it even!" He said in a mock cheery tone.
Mylo got angrier "No, no, no. We worked too hard to-"
Vi pushed past him, holding the rucksack. "Just a taste?" she asked.
Decker looked smug "Just a -"
Vi Swung the bag over her shoulder, and hit him right in the face with it. He fell backward, groaning and clutching his nose.
Powder's face split into a grin "get him Vi!" She pumped her fist into the air.
Vi smirked, leaning back into her chair "See this is exactly something I see myself doing"
Caitlyn snorted "gods forbid you try a pacifist route"
Vi cackled, "now where's the fun in that huh?"
Ekko laughed, clutching his sides as his friends joked around.
Claggor and Mylo talked about the cool stunt in admiration, not that they would ever admit it.
Despite his frustration with his kids getting into trouble, Vander smiled, happy they were all okay.
Mel and Heimerdinger on the other hand, felt that there had to be some other way to get around this, that there didn't need to be a fight in the first place, Jayce mumbled about how this wouldn't have happened if they hadn't broken into his home, and Viktor just smiled, happy that these children were stronger than he was. He always had to just.. take it.
The fight began, Vi threw the bag to Powder, who curled up in fear against a wall, watching her siblings get beat up.
one of them got socked in the face, and landed right in front of Powder, he growled, pushing himself off the ground to chase Powder, who ran with the bag in her hands.
Vi fought Decker in the meantime, shoving him against a metal pipe, and kicking his back in, surely breaking several ribs of his. She spat on the ground beside him.
Claggor was shoved against a wall by another, and he fell to the ground. His hands found a pile of sand, and he threw it in the face of the goon. While his opponent was distracted, he picked him up, and threw him to the ground, successfully knocking the air from his lungs.
Mylo was shoved to the ground by his opponent, he shoved a leg out in an attempt at kicking his dick, but had no luck. Vi saw his predicament, finding a plank, she snapped it in half, brought it over her head, and whacked it straight in the center of the back of his head. The lackey fell to the ground, groaning in pain. She shoved her boot under his chin, bringing it up and dropping it. he groaned, staying down.
With one last kick to Decker's stomach, Mylo smirked, "this day's turning out alright after all!"
Decker stood up, a knife in hand. "wait!" he shouted.
Vi turned to look at the pathetic sight, walking over to Decker with a look of annoyance prominent on her face.
"wanna see how that ends?" she asked him. They glared at eachother, but as blood spilled down the forehead of a royally pissed off Vi, it was clear as to who had won. He looked over his shoulder, and ran for it.
She looked around for a moment, then worriedly asked,
"Where's Powder?"
"I forgot you ran off" Mylo said annoyed, "leaving the fighting to us"
Powder glared at him, "I would have just gotten in the way! Besides I was being chased, that's not my fault!"
"You get in the way no matter what we're doing, but conveniently you couldn't handle a fight?"
dejected, powder sunk into herself, wanting to ignore everyone around her for now.
Vi sent him a glare, but, yet again, he did not notice.
Caitlyn didn't know these children very well, but she had taken a liking to Powder, and was not a fan of the rude comments."Leave her be Mylo, she's done nothing wrong."
Mylo scoffed, looking back at the screen.
Powder ran, knocking over some crates causing the lackey to trip,
"Oh you little- " she did not stay to hear the rest. Running down the alley, she came to a dock, but upon turning the corner, noticed that it was a dead end. She hid right as the goon caught up, looking around for her.
she peeked over the corner, accidentally causing a wooden plank to fall.
Realizing that he heard her and was coming closer, she began to assemble one of her smokebombs. Pulling out a tin of nails she poured them into the little metal critter. she quickly screwed the lit on, and shook it a bit.
"Come on mouser" she whimpered "I need you"
and she tossed it on the ground, it rolled over to the lackey, and hit his foot.
Please work please work please work Powder thought crossing her fingers.
The lackey had a look of fear on his face as Mouser blew up, but not quite right. The smoke only went up to his stomach, and the nails didn't go everywhere.
Powder whimpered, shoving her face in her hands. She hit her forehead in frustration and embarrassment. She knew exactly how this was going to go. either she was gonna get the shit beat out of her, or she would find a way to get away that resulted in the loss of their loot.
Vi noticed her sisters distress, grabbing her arms to prevent any further hits she pulled powder onto her lap. the girl sat curled up against her older sister, and let out a quiet cry.
"shhh.. pow-pow, its not your fault, whatever happens its not your fault."
Powder cried "but it is my fault! I jinxed the job again." she sobbed and snuggled into Vi.
"It'll be okay Powder, I know it will, I promise"
Powder looked up at her sister, "You swear it?"
Vi smiled, kissing her forehead, "I swear it"
Powder nodded, settling down with only the occasional hiccup.
Everyone else in the room relaxed their tense shoulders, no longer holding a breath to make sure the child was okay.
Vi looked up at Six. "We can continue now"
Six nodded, resuming the spell.
The lackey chuckled, delight breaking out across his face, at the realization that the bomb did not work.
Powder backed up against the rail of the dock, and she figured out how to escape. Clicking the buckle on the rucksack, it slid off her shoulder and she threw it into the water. While the lackey ran to get the treasures, she ran behind him. A successful escape, but at what cost?
Powder hung her head in shame, as always, a Jinx.
"You did WHAT?" Mylo pushed her against a wall, angry and unforgiving.
"I'm sorry! I tried to fight him off with Mouser, but... she didn't work."
"Who saw that coming?" he sarcastically asked, raising his hand in the air. Powder looked at the ground, trying to ignore the comments.
"We never should have gone over there" Claggor groaned.
"Doesn't matter" Vi argued "The stuff's gone" she walked over to her sister, "Its alright, Powder. At least you're okay."
"Okay?? What about us??" Mylo shouted angrily "I get my face bashed in, and she just gets a pass??"
"yup" Vi responded.
"Every time." He sighed "Every time she comes, something goes wrong" He complained. "she jinxes every job!" he shouted, getting in her face.
Powder winced. She hated that word so much.
Powder glared at him, refusing to give the satisfaction of tears.
"Just drop it Mylo!" Vi demanded.
They reached the undercity.
*playground by bea miller begins to play*
The group wanders into the vile, gassy environment of the Undercity, passing several unique characters, stalls, shops, muggings, a brothel, and finally, The Last Drop, and t aking place inside, a tradeoff.
a man with many tattoos and a woman with purple face markings handed the skinnier, shorter man a bag, inside was money.
"wait a minute, this uh, this isn't what we agreed on so uh hehe"
"Well demand for your wares has dropped since we made our arrangements. This is the new value"
"Uh but- wait wait wait, we, Um... We shook on it hehe. Ten Thousand"
"Such are the risks of buisness"
"Ten!"
"Its a fair price, I think you should take it"
"No no no no no no no I cant do that- I cant do that!"
"Make your choice"
Vander overheard the heating argument, and made his way over the the group. "you folks need anything?"
"leave us"
"You sure about that? sounded to me like-"
"Piss off."
"Ah" Vander pulled up a chair "I think I know what you need"
"You don't seem to listen, barman-"
"A bit of advice. Don't threaten the guy who pours the drinks"
He gestures to the rest of the bar, all eyes available are on the group, a warning for the newcomers that fighting in Vander's bar is not tolerated or dealt with by a simple kicking out.
"So you're Vander"
"Hound of the underground, I expected something.... younger"
Vander took a deep breath from the pipe, "And we were expecting Traders that would honor their word, so I guess we're all disappointing."
"You've got us all wrong my friend, we were just... Negotiating"
"Now you're speaking my language, how about you just.. give Huck the rest of what you owe him, and I'll let you walk out of here in one piece"
Powder, still seated on Vi's lap, turned to Vander. "you have to teach me how to talk like that, I could actually hang out with you while you work If I could talk like that" Vi smiled down at her sister, starting to rub her back
Vander smirked, Ruffling her hair "We'll talk about it you rascal"
She giggled, grabbing his hand and turning back to the screen.
"Do we, uh... have a deal?" he asked, handing the pipe to the woman.
Taking a drag, she coughs, "This is vile!"
He shrugs "You'll learn to love it"
From across the bar, he spots his four children sneaking in, each of them with heads hung low or hoods on, he made eye contact with their leader. His face hardened. He looked at the newcomers.
"Welcome to the lanes" he said as he stood up and made his way to find his children.
*Scene change:Basement, children*
Vi plopped herself down on the couch, sighing and rubbing her temple, Claggor threw his goggles down, and Mylo kicked his feet up onto the table.
"Vander learns none of this" Vi speaks up, looking at the rest of the group.
"No worries there! Powder took care of the evidence" Mylo jabbed.
"I tried Okay?? You don't get it! you're older, you're bigger! It isn't fair!" she shouted, on the edge of tears.
"So stick with us! Take a punch or two!" Mylo yelled back.
"Can't you just be nice to me? for once? For once??" Powder looked at Mylo angrily. "I can't remember a single moment where you told me good job or-or congratulations! you just ridicule me all. the. Time! I'm so Tired of it!" Powder shouted, shoving her head in her hands and smacking herself.
Viktor noticed the signs, he had them himself. He stood up, taking a small cube from his pocket, he had made several, so this one would go to good use. He stood up, balancing on his cane as he wobbled to the row in front of him. He sat on the floor before Powder, he reached out and grabbed her hand, earning a glare from her sister who seemed unable to help Powder at this point. He gently relaxed her hand, and placed the cube in her palm. She looked down at it.
"what is it?" Powder asked.
"I call them klever. I use them when My brain has too much knowledge hitting it at once, it gives me something to focus on." He said, "Here, this is how you use it"
He pushed the four edges in on each other, and the solid metal cube bend into a clover shape. Then, he flipped it upside down, pressed on the middle, and it flopped back into a cube shape. during the transition from shape to shape it felt gelatinous, then turned back to solid metal. Powder's eyes widened, clutching the cube in her hand. She looked up at him, wipe her eyes. "Thank you" she whispered. He smiled, patting her shoulder, and slowly standing up.
"If you ever need help, just ask moy schastlivyy klever. Do you know what that means? It means my lucky clover. Because you and I are alike in many ways my friend, and I hope to be of help to you in the future as well as now, okay?"
Powder nodded, her eyes cast down towards the cube. He finally stood straight, cane in hand he began to walk back to his seat behind her, only to feel something grab his sleeve. He looked over his shoulder, and found Vi looking at him. "Thank you" she whispered, and he nodded. She released his sleeve, and he walked to his place. Upon sitting down, Jayce, next to him, whispered "That was a very good thing to do Viktor, she needed that"
He looked towards Jayce. "I like to build things that help people, that' s just what I do" he replied.
Just as they finished yelling at each other, Vander walked in, everyone averted their gazes. Vi blankly stared into the distance, Powder lay curled into her knees, Mylo stared ahead, and Claggor looked at his feet.
"Everyone alright?" Vander asked, walking down the stairs.
"Never better" Mylo replied.
"Good" Vander Began, "I don't suppose you can explain why it is that I'm hearing about an explosion and a foot chase Topside? Four children fleeing the scene." He sighed "What were you thinking?"
"That we can handle a real job." Vi explained, frustrated.
"A real job?"
"We got our own tip, planned a route, nobody even saw!" She shot back.
"You blew up a building!"
"That wasn't-"
"Did you even stop to think about what could have happened to you? Eh? To them?" He asked, pointing to her siblings, all of which looked away upon the gesture.
"Wow" Vi joked "Not even any help huh guys?"
"we know better than to intercept in an argument between you and Vander Vi! Its not you! " Claggor bit back playfully.
"Yeah, unless we're wishing for death" Mylo added, eliciting several giggles from the rest of the group.
Vi put her head in her hand, thinking.
Vander dragged his hand over his face, "Where did you even hear this tip?" and added "Well?" when no one answered immediately.
"We just heard it at Benzo's shop" Powder replied.
"From?" Vander questioned.
"Little man.." she meekly said.
"I took us there! If you wanna be mad, be mad at me" Vi added, angry. "But you're the one who always says we have to earn our place in this world."
"Thats not what I meant Vi" Vander said, looking to his daughter, "I hope you know that now."
She nodded.
"I also told you time and time again, the Northside's off-limits" He continued. "We stay out of piltover's business!"
"Why? They've got plenty! while we're down here scraping together coins! When did you get so comfortable living in someone else's shadow?" She shot back.
All Undercity eyes turned to Vi. Mylo started laughing "You're so dead!" he cackled.
"Pardon me" Mel interrupted. "but is that true? I knew that the Undercity is poor, but is it truly that bad?"
Vi scoffed, "Like some Piltie like you actually cares about our welfare"
Caitlyn looked very bad all of a sudden "That's derogatory, you shouldn't say that about someone, especially a councilwoman."
Vi looked at her incredulously "You do realize everyone from piltover calls us names on a daily basis? Trencher, Undercity filth or scum, they call us dangerous or untrustworthy or-or that we're useless, and nobody ever bats an eye, ever." she argues, "Unless you're from up top. All pilties are the same, cruel and uncaring towards those thought to be below them, I don't wanna hear it."
Caitlyn disagreed, but knew that now was not the time to argue back, instead, she should talk about it later when Vi is calmer.
"Okay" Caitlyn said, "I understand" and that was that.
"Everyone out" Vander said calmly, but it was only to mask his pure anger and fear. Once they all had left, Vander continued "Sit down."
"I'm fine-"
"Sit. Down"
Vi sat down, angry.
"Those kids look up to you." Vander began
"yeah I know" Vi said, rolling her eyes.
"You know, but you don't know" vander spoke, "When people look up to you, you don't get to be selfish."
"I'm not-"
"You say run, they run. You say swim, they dive in. You say light a fire, they show up with oil. But whatever happens, it's on you. Just like it's on me what happens to us down here. We make ourselves a problem for Piltover, and they will send the enforcers"
"So? Why answer to them? These are our streets. Someone should remind them of that." Vi argued.
"You're not hearing me. That path? This?" He spoke angrily, grabbing Vi's wrist and bringing her knuckles up for the both of them to see.
"That looks bad Vi" Powder commented "How far into the future is this anyway?"
"Well," Vi said, "Considering we were on our way to do a job in Piltover, with a tip from little man, and told to lay low, I'd say this is the possible future of today."
"woah" Powder said excitedly, then frowned "That means I would have ruined today." she mumbled.
Vi tapped the cube in her hands, sending her a look "You didn't ruin anything, c'mon now cheer up"
"Okay Vi"
"It's not gonna solve your problems. It just makes more of them, We're clear?"
He pulled a cork out of a bottle with his teeth, pouring it onto a rag and dabbing at her forehead. She winced, the sting of the cut making the cleaning feel worse.
"How'd you get this?" he asked.
She scoffed, "Some idiot was following us."
"On our side? who?"
"I dunno, he was after the stuff"
"And where is it now?"
"We lost it."
"All of it?"
Vi nodded. looking ashamed.
"Good. Nothing can tie you to what happened up there, you're gonna have to lay low for a bit, understand?" He asked.
"okay" She responded, admitting that that was probably the best course of action. "We're gonna be fine, right?"
"I'll take care of it." He got up, grabbing a bag, "Oh, you did put that idiot on his ass thought, right?"
She made a smug face, looking at him was completely enough. He chuckled "Yeah, that's my girl"
and he went Upstairs.
Taking a horn from Mylo, and taking Claggor outside, they left to go find Benzo's.
Outside, Powder was fishing through a garbage can, pulling out a little metal trap, probably for small rodents or street pests, she put it in her back pocket, and then remembered the blue crystals she still had to show to Vi. Excitedly, she jumped in place for a bit, wiggling her hands, she was finally useful for a bit! she happily skipped up the steps, shutting the door.
She made her way down the hall, to the bedroom, only to find Mylo talking to Vi, she stayed in the door frame, curious but not intrusive.
"She's a problem." Mylo said.
"Mylo I'm really not-"
"Do you even remember what was in that bag?" He threw his cloth scrap ball against the vent "The biggest payout we've ever seen and she just lost it!"
"She made a mistake."
"Name one time she hasn't"
"She's young!"
"Oh don't bullshit me. You were twice the person at half her age!"
"You know what Mylo? You're right. There's a bunch of things Powder just can't do"
"You don't have to tell me twice!" He laughed.
Powder backed away from the door, and for the first time today, allowed the tears to spring from her eyes. Clutching the gems in her hands, She ran away.
"Why would I say that? There's no reason I would-"
"No" Powder replied, moving off of Vi's lap, to the opposite end of the chair. "I get it"
"Powder I don't-"
"Just drop it Vi, I don't care"
Vi looked down, she never thought that, or anything like that, ever. Why would she say it now?
Caitlyn looked over to Vi, "I'm sure we're missing something" She said, "We just haven't seen it yet"
Vi looked at powder, fumbling with her Klever "I hope you're right. Gods I hope you're right"
"Like complain about everything."
"what?"
Powder looked up at the screen.
"And brag nonstop"
"Okay, Okay, I see where this is going" He threw the ball again.
Powder Wiped her eyes.
She caught the ball midair "Pick fights with the group when we need to focus?"
"Vi I-"
Powder looked over to Mylo, who looked embarrassed.
"And tell strangers on the street that we got a nice haul?" She threw the ball on the ground.
"I-I didn't mean to-"
Then back to Vi, who was looking at her with a teary smile.
"Powder's my problem, okay? Your problem is never knowing when to shut up. But I'm gonna help you with that, Ready?"
She backed up pointing to her eyes "You see this look on my face? This will always mean its time to shut. Up."
"But-"
Point.
"I-"
Wild and aggressive pointing, with a sharp glare.
"Ugh"
"I told you pow-pow" she looked at her sister, "I've never thought of you as a burden, and I never will. I promise"
Powder lept at her sister, hugging her tight and sobbing into her chest "I'm sorry I doubted that" She whimpered.
Vi pressed a kiss to her head. Six observed the whole thing.
Perhaps that's enough for today.