Chapter Text
This can't be happening. You think to yourself as you stand before the Dean.
As you were getting ready for class earlier that morning, you were startled out of your routine by the sound of loud banging on your door. When you opened it, you were shocked to see it was campus security. They had asked you to come with them and they escorted you to the Dean's office. Immediately you had a sinking feeling in your stomach, you hadn't spoken with the Dean since you first got accepted into Piltover's Academy of Music and Arts. As you walked the halls you couldn't help but shrink into yourself with the number of stares you were receiving from the other students. You could hear whispers as well but couldn't make out what they were whispering about. When you finally arrived at the Dean's office, that sinking feeling you had earlier grew when your classmate/rival, Auroa, exits his office.
Since day one she's hated you. Not because you wronged her in anyway, but because you're from the Undercity. Shortly after Vander died you got accepted into the Academy. You had been ecstatic at the time because things in the Undercity were changing and not for the better. With Vander gone, Silco had taken over and basically undid everything Vander had done. Between that and losing your friends you didn't feel the need to stick around. You made sure to work your ass off to prove you earned your spot at the Academy, but there were some, like Auroa, who felt that people from the Undercity didn't deserve a place at the Academy, or Piltover for that matter. She would always try to undermine you, but you always rose above it. Though now it seems she finally found a way to undermine you permanently.
"One of your fellow students has accused you of using Shimmer." The Dean started, you're taken back by his statement, but quickly composed yourself.
"I have a feeling I know who my accuser is. I've never touched the stuff, you can have me tested if you want." You retorted back.
"That won't be necessary, as we speak now we're having your room and locker searched." The Dean says as he leans forward interlocking his fingers.
Just then two more security guards enter the Deans office and place two vials Shimmer on his desk. They tell him they found it in your locker and leave the office. You look down at the vials with wide eyes then look back up at the Dean, who has a disappointed look on his face. "Sir, I swear those aren't mine. Auroa has had it out for me since I first got here..." The Dean raises his hand to silence you. He stands from his desk and picks up the vials, he inspects them for a moment before discarding them in the trash bin beside his desk.
"Effective immediately you are hereby expelled from this Academy."
This can't be happening. You repeat.
"I'm very disappointed in you. We gave you a chance to better yourself and this is how you repay us. Pack your things and leave, if you're not gone from the premises in an hour, you will be dragged out by Enforcers." The Dean says with a finality to his voice.
You want to say more, but you know it'll be pointless. The Dean's already made up his mind, so you turn around and head back to your dorm. The security guards that escorted you earlier are following close behind you. Luckily when you walk the halls this time there empty, so you won't have to suffer any further embarrassment. When you finally make it back to your room, you see the disarray campus security left it in. You then go over to a loose floorboard and lift it up, letting out a relieved sigh, the money you had been saving up was untouched. You had gotten a job at a local coffee shop shortly after moving here, if living in the Undercity taught you anything it was to prepare for anything. You secure your money in the bag and find something casual to wear. Where you're going, dressing up in the fancy Academy uniform will only get you in trouble. You look around your dorm room one last time to make sure you have everything you'll need and leave. The security guards escort you to the Academy's entrance and watch to make sure you leave. You glance at the Academy one last time and spot Auroa sitting by one of the windows, she looks down at you with a smirk on her face and you give her the finger before leaving the campus grounds.
Before heading to your destination, you go to the coffee shop to let them know you'll no longer be working there. Now that you've been kicked out there's nothing really keeping you in Piltover. While you had been saving money, it's not nearly enough to actually live here on your own. You then head over to the subway and purchase a one-way ticket, the trip over to the Undercity isn't very long. And the moment you step onto the platform you let out a heavy sigh. "I can't believe I'm back in this shithole."
Since you moved topside you never stepped foot back in the Undercity, and now that you're here you hardly recognize it. Everything's changed, the shops that were here before have either been replaced or completely torn down. There's more homeless on the streets, and everywhere you turn someone is smoking Shimmer. You eventually make your way to the Last Drop, it's changed too, but it's the only place from your childhood that's still standing. Plus, you could really use a strong drink. Taking a deep breath, you step inside and head straight to the bar. Since it's still morning hardly anyone is here, which you're thankful for. You order whiskey and start nursing your drink. While you do plan on getting drunk, you still need to figure out your next move. You're gonna need a place to stay, and you're going to need a job. So, you ask the bartender, and he gives you a list of boarding places, but as far as jobs go, he suggests the Shimmer trade, or the brothel neither of which sounds like a good idea. You down the rest of your whiskey and ask for a second.
"Never seen you around here before, you new?" He asks as he pours your second drink.
"No, just been away." You answer as you take a sip of the whiskey.
"Welcome back." He says before attending to another patron.
You can't help but scoff at him. This wasn't home, not since Vi and the other's died. The Undercity wasn't perfect, but at least back then it felt like home. Now, it was only a shell of what it used to be. Just as you're about to take another sip you hear the door burst open and the sound of a familiar voice demanding a bottle of whiskey. Fuck. You think to yourself. That voice belonged to none other than Sevika herself. She had once been loyal to Vander, but after growing tired of Enforcers attacking the Undercity, she turned her loyalties to Silco. The last thing you heard before leaving was that she had become he's second in command. If she sees and recognizes you it could mean trouble. You used to hang around here back when Vander ran the place. Calm down. You tell yourself. You were just a kid back then, there's no way she remembers you.
"Hey, don't I know you?" Sevika questions. During your internal freak out she managed to make her way beside you.
So much for not recognizing you.
"Not personally, but I use to hang out here back when this place was under the old management." You respond honestly. There was no point in lying. The first thing you learn growing up in the Undercity is how to pick out a lie.
"You're one of Vander's old brats that use to run around here." You lift your glass in response. "Yeah, last I heard you moved away topside." Sevika continues while glaring at you. "What's a topsider like you doing back here?"
You feel the glares of every single patron present at the bar. Suddenly the place doesn't feel so empty anymore. "Things didn't work out." You start to explain. "I just came here to have a few drinks then I'll be on my way. I don't want any trouble Sevika." She merely chuckles at your statement. She then opens up the bottle of whiskey and takes a few gulps of it before turning her attention back on you.
"You know, you remind me of your mother back when she was pretty." You clench your left hand into a fist, already knowing where she's going with this. "She talks about you sometimes after I've had my way with her. She may be getting on in age, but the way she..." You slam your drink across her scarred face before she can finish that sentence. Your mother may be a whore, but she was still your mother, and you didn't need to hear about her activities. Especially if they involved Sevika.
"Leave my mother out of this." You say firmly. She merely smirks back at you, and it's at that moment you realize you fell right into her trap.
She takes a swing at you with her mechanical arm, that was new, but you manage to dodge it. You pick up an empty stool chair and swing it across her back. Sevika grunts out in pain and turns around to face you. You place a few well-placed punches on her ribs and face, you're briefly taken back to a time when Vi would start fights on the streets, when suddenly Sevika grabs hold of you and throws you down on the floor. The wind is knocked out of you, but you don't have time to recover because Sevika is on you. You try to get her off you, but she's a heavy woman. She chuckles at your efforts and pins your hands above your head. "Topside's made you soft."
"Admittedly, I am a bit rusty." You grunt out.
"You should have stayed up there, you don't belong here anymore." Sevika says as she uses her mechanical arm to keep your hands pinned, and raises the other to get ready to strike.
"It's a bit early for a bar brawl don't you think?" Both you and Sevika look up to see none other than Silco standing by the entrance, with...wait a minute, that can't be.
"Powder?" You question unsure. When that explosion happened four years back, you had been told everyone had died. Yet here's Vi's younger sister alive and well standing besides Silco of all people.
"Her name is Jinx." Silco corrects firmly.
You give him a confused expression. Jinx was a nickname Mylo had given Powder when they were kids. Said she always brought bad luck anytime she came along for a job. "Ok, Jinx what are you doing here? Where have you been? I heard you had died with everyone else." You ask. Jinx makes a motion for Sevika to get off of you. Once she does you stand up to face the young girl you use to watch over when you couldn't go on jobs with everyone else.
"Well as you can see Songbird, I'm alive and well." Jinx says with her arms spread open. "As for your other questions, I've been here with Silco, he's been looking out for me since Vi left me." Before you can ask what she's talking about, she asks you questions of her own. "What are you doing here? I heard you got into that fancy school you applied for."
"Yeah, I did but I got kicked out." You tell her, and she breaks into a fit of laughter. But that laughter is cut short when she suddenly starts talking to herself. You look at her concerned, and when she notices she fixes you with a glare.
"You should go, there's nothing here for you." Jinx says as she walks past you. You turn and watch her go, you're about to call out to her when you're interrupted by Silco.
"You heard her." You turn back to face Silco. "Go."
You glare at him for a moment before reaching into your bag and pulling out some money to pay for your drinks. You thank the bartender and exit The Last Drop. You didn't belong in Piltover and it was painfully obvious you no longer belonged here. So now what?
Later on, that evening you found a cheap crappy hotel to stay in. As you're laying down on the uncomfortable mattress you start going over your options. Going back to The Last Drop was out of the question. Powder, or Jinx, whatever she calls herself now made it painfully clear she wanted nothing to do with you. Not to mention Silco would probably have Sevika kill you if you ever tried stepping foot back there. You briefly consider going to your mother, but she wouldn't be much help either. She wasn't there for you when you were a kid, so what help could she be to you now. You close your eyes and start humming a tune. Music always relaxed you, it was the only thing you had a talent for.
Paper thin I waste away.
Caught up in an endless phase.
Trying to tell myself you'll fade.
While clinging to the mess we made.
Keep me waiting anticipating.
Keep me waiting anticipating.
You keep me waiting anticipating.
And now I know what I've been missing.
Cause I feel your body like a ghost.
Breathing in me everywhere I go.
Even when she's with me we're not alone.
Her hands are your hands wrapped around my throat.
"I forgot how good you were." You startle yourself into a sitting position at the sound of Jinx's voice. You turn towards the window and see her sitting there, unfazed by your reaction.
"How long have you been sitting there?" You asks.
"Not long. But I've been following you since you left The Last Drop." You open and close your mouth at that, not sure how to respond. "How did you get yourself kicked out? I remember you working hard to get into that school, you hardly slept." Jinx asks as she leaves the window and approaches you.
"Some girl put Shimmer in my locker and reported me to the Dean." You respond.
"Why would she do that?" Jinx continues to ask.
"Because I was better than her." You simply respond. Jinx hums at this and joins you on the bed. You're taken by surprise when she lays her head on your lap, but you recover and gently start to stroke her blue hair. Just like you use to when she was a kid. "You grew out your hair, it's super long now. Must be hard to manage." You comment.
"You thought I was dead?" Jinx suddenly asks.
"Yeah, I was really sad. Everyone I cared about was gone, so the moment I heard back from the Academy I left and didn't look back. If I had known you were ok I would have tried to visit." You tell her.
She's quiet for a moment, you begin to wonder if you might have said the wrong thing. Just when you're about to apologize she speaks. "It's probably a good thing you thought I was dead." You stop stroking her hair for a moment before continuing. You wait patiently for her finish, knowing she has more to say. "It's my fault their all dead. Claggor, Mylo, Vander, even Vi. They had left to rescue Vander from Silco. I wanted to help but I didn't know how. Mylo was always calling me a jinx and I...I didn't want to make things worse. But at the same time Vi was always protecting me and for once I wanted to be the one protecting her. Do you remember those round crystals I stole?" You hum in response. "I got this idea that I could use them to help everyone, so I did. Only it did more damage than I intended."
"You caused that explosion?" You question softly in order to avoid upsetting her. She nods her head yes.
"When the smoke cleared, Claggor, Mylo and Vander were dead. And Vi...she was so mad at me when I told her it was me. I hadn't meant to kill everyone I only wanted to help, but she got angry with me and called me a jinx. Then she walked away, I never saw her again after that."
"Is that how you ended up with Silco?" She nods her head yes.
"Shortly after he took me in, I heard Vi died as well. You had already left for Piltover so he was all I had."
"I'm sorry." You apologize and Jinx looks up at you. "I shouldn't have left right away. I should have stuck around for a bit, then you would have had me too." Jinx suddenly looks at you with a surprised expression on her face.
"You don't hate me?" She questions.
"No. Powder." She gives you a pointed look. "Jinx, what happened was an accident. You couldn't have known what was going to happen. You were just a kid trying to help your older sister."
"He said you would hate me once I told you everything, that you wouldn't be able to look at me. Guess he was wrong." You figure she must be talking about Silco. "Do you remember that song you use to sing for me?" You nod your head yes. "Can you sing it for me now?" Jinx asks, making herself more comfortable on your lap. You lean back against the headboard and sing the same song you once sang to her when she was a kid.
I'd heard there was a secret chord.
That David played and it pleased the Lord.
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well it goes like this.
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, the major lift.
The baffled king composing Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
The next morning when you woke Jinx was gone. You figured she must have left the moment she woke up and went back to Silco. As you undressed and hopped in the shower you thought over everything, she told you last night. You were shocked to learn she was the cause of the explosion, and even more shocked to hear Vi had left her alone. It just didn't seem like her. You remember the girl being overprotective of her younger sister, hardly letting her leave her sight. You were the only other person besides Vander she had trusted to watch over her sister when she wasn't around.
You hadn't realized how lost in thought you were until you felt the water turn cold. You quickly washed yourself before turning off the water and exiting the shower. You grabbed a towel to wrap around yourself and a second to dry out your hair. As you exited the bathroom you jumped in surprise when you saw Silco standing in the middle of your room. He seemed slightly amused by your reaction. You then crossed your arms over your chest and gave him a scowl. "Don't you know how to knock?" You question him.
"I thought I would avoid getting the door slammed in my face by simply letting myself in." He answers coolly.
"What do you want Silco?" You ask.
"Jinx told me about your conversation last night." He starts before he approaches you. You straighten yourself up as he stops inches from you. "Did you mean you what you said to her?" You're slightly taken back by his question, until you remember what Jinx said to you last night.
"You were hoping I'd react negatively towards her, weren't you?" Silco doesn't answer, he just stands there patiently waiting for you to answer his question. "I was shocked by what she told me, still am. Especially the part about her sister, but yes I meant every word. I don't hate her; I never could."
He looks you over for a moment, most likely trying to determine wither or not you're lying. When he's done, he steps away from you. He's quiet for a moment, before he turns back around to face you. "Jinx had been in shock when she saw you, but the shock wore off the moment you left the bar. She was about to run after you to apologize, but I told her not to bother. That you'd only end up leaving her too the moment you learned what truly happened with your friends, hate her even, view her as a monster. But it seems I was wrong, for the time being anyway. Jinx isn't the same little girl you once knew, she's changed."
"I get the feeling you're the cause of that." You comment.
"I'm the one who picked up the pieces when her sister left her on the street crying out for her!" Silco shouts, startling you. Silco takes a moment to compose himself before continuing. "She's asked me to take you in, offer you a job."
"I don't want anything to do with your Shimmer operation." You state.
"You can work at the bar, serve drinks, wait tables." He offers, but you don't say anything. You're not exactly sure what to say. While you could use the work, you'd still be working for Silco. "I don't like this anymore than you do, but I'm doing this for her, so for Jinx's sake take my offer." You continue to remain quiet a moment longer before opening your mouth to speak.
"I don't like you in fact I despise you. I can't possibly imagine what Jinx sees in you that would cause her to stick around." Silco quirks his brow at your statement. "I just thought I should get that off my chest before I accepted your offer, and you became my boss." You tell him. He gives you an amused smirk then reaches into his coat pocket to pull out a bag of coins.
"Since you'll no longer be staying here, I took the liberty of getting your money back. As soon as you've gotten dressed and gathered your things meet me downstairs." Silco says as he places the bag of coins down on the table and walks out of your room.
A few minutes later you find yourself back at The Last Drop. Jinx is waiting by the bar, but the moment you and Silco enter she turns in your direction with a wide smile plastered on her face. She runs towards Silco and wraps her arms around him, thanking him for bringing me in. You watch as his hardened face becomes soft, and he returns the hug. You're surprised by the whole thing, it's then that you realize just how much he cared for her. You didn't see it before, but now you see it plain as day
A moment later Jinx shifts her attention towards you. She takes you by the hand and offers to show you to your room. She starts to go on about how much fun the two of you will have now that you're back. As she continues to go on you keep looking at Silco, whose gaze is locked on to you. While you weren't sure what the future would hold, you had a feeling things were about to get interesting.