Maintaining Resolve…
She was curled over atop Silco's desk while he worked, his ash tray in her hand while she subjected it to some nonsensical doodling with some old paint markers she'd found.
She could tell that he knew she was in a mood, but she found that he rarely pried unless he had some particular piece of advice to offer her.
Her bitter encounter from the previous night was still playing on her mind…
She glanced over at him while he licked the open flap of an envelope to seal it. He seemed to notice her eyes on him by the time he'd concluded the task.
He pressed his index knuckle to his lips, the way he typically did when was uncertain of something.
"…Would you like me to have somebody fetch the remaining portion of the cake from last night?" he offered.
"Oh— no, it's okay, I already ate it," she replied, lowering her gaze. "I don't feel hungry today, anyway…"
"Mm," he hummed, pensively. "Well… I'm… regretful that my efforts with our small celebration did little to lift your spirits, Jinx…"
She anxiously met his eyes again.
"No— it's not—" she stumbled, "I liked it, I didn't mean to—"
Not knowing what else to do, she clambered over to lean her head against his chest, wrapping her arms around him.
"I just— I can't explain it," she groaned, "all I could think about was them…"
He was silent for a moment.
"…Perhaps you should ask yourself this, Jinx," he finally said, lifting her off of him. "If they were to see you, now — this, the real you… what might they think?"
He used the tip of his finger to brush a stray hair from her face.
"…I don't know that they would even recognize this capable young girl in front of me," he went on. "I wonder whether they ever saw her, based on what you've shared with me about them…"
She thought of telling him about Ekko — her old friend had likely found her less than familiar for an entirely different reason…
"But…" she murmured, "what if I'm just… not enough, without them…? What if I need them, for when I mess up… and I can't fix it…?"
His gentle stare saw through her.
"Jinx— everything I've witnessed you create, witnessed you learn, all of the ways in which you've impressed me," he spoke resolutely, "you did it all on your own strength — your own talent. You didn't need them for any of it, and you never will again…"
Normally, she'd be reaching to her face to wipe away her tears in such a moment, but none came. In its place, she felt a different kind of feeling…
"You can steer your own destiny, Jinx," he went on. "Don't let your past convince you otherwise. You need not rely on anybody but yourself — you're so strong, and soon you'll know it…"
Something felt strange, all of a sudden — her eyes struggled to shut…
…
…
Everything was getting brighter…
…
…
Her head pounded…
…
…
Her limbs ached…
…
…
She wished she could blink…
…
…
"She's awake, boss…" a voice echoed.
The harsh light finally left her alone, and a set of hands released from her eyelids.
Relief…
Still, it all hurt…
A different voice sifted through her ears — a more familiar one… it felt like nails on metal…
"…didn't realize Silco even lets his daughter keep a supply… this some sorta special blend, or somethin', braids…?"
She dearly hoped he wasn't really expecting her to respond…
"…takin' it through a friggin' needle — pretty hardcore for a little girl… but I guess you ain't so little, huh…?"
She felt the strength to muster something — she spat a combination of blood and phlegm in Smeech's direction, causing the Yordle to snicker.
"Well— seems like you've gotten your faculties back," he said, pulling his own chair closer to where she sat tied up. "So, here's how this is gonna go, Jinx—" He pronounced her name in a mocking tone, as though it were any more funny-sounding than his own.
"Oh— should I say, firstly, congratulations to me," he blustered, "takin' down the kingpin's secret weapon — you know how many crews out there are afraid'ta even speak your name, you little brat? I don't even think I'll bother tellin' 'em it's all smoke — rather let 'em think that I'm the new big dog in town, knockin' off the likes'a you…"
She struggled against her binding, managing to reorient her hand such that her palm faced upward. She met his eye and made a point of flipping him off.
He smirked at this gesture also, but not in a way that portrayed amusement…
"Glad you still got your spirit," he growled. "I was thinkin' we'd play a little game, you and I — here's how it goes…"
She glanced around at her surroundings, finding little that might reveal to her where exactly she was being kept…
"Focus, braids—!" he squalled, clicking about her face with the metal pincers he had for hands.
"Know what?" he went on, "I just thought'a somethin' better — I got some questions that need answerin' ya see… so how 'bout this — for each one that you give me an answer to, I'll let you keep a finger…"
His awful teeth curled into a grin.
"…How 'bout, instead," she muttered back with a hoarse voice, "you stuff a sock in it, and I'll promise not to turn you into a puddle once I'm outta these ties…" She managed to force out a derisive laugh.
He slowly pressed once of his steel claws into her shoulder, and she had to grit her teeth together as it drew blood.
"First question, braids—" he pressed, "the Kiramman chick— where's the old man keepin' her? I know he's still got her…"
She gave a strained shrug.
"Beats me," she muttered. "Silco would never've told me anyway — he didn't like the way I was playing with her…"
She let out a small scream as he dug his claw further into her flesh and twisted, before removing it altogether with a flourish.
"Ergh!— wrong answer, braids!" he sang. "How unfortunate that you'd stumble on the very first question, huh?"
He turned to where his lackeys were standing.
"Boys— fetch me somethin' narrow, from over there — a chisel, or somethin'… grab me a hammer, too."
Her eyes shot down to her bindings — she was sure there'd be some slack, somewhere…
They didn't take long to find the tools he'd requested — the chisel and mallet were both promptly brought to him, while he seemed to salivate over the prospect of finally being able to inflict some real pain upon her.
It was starting to feel like now or never…
"Are you fucking dumb?— nutty?!" she spat. "If she ain't still in the basement of The Last Drop then how am I supposed'ta know where the hell she's been moved?!"
"Listen, braids— if we break the rules of the game now, I just worry you won't respect 'em goin' forward— get me?" he taunted.
Her struggling was getting her nowhere — she needed something to cut it…
Cold steel graced the base of her middle finger.
"We'll see how you flip me the bird after this, huh?" he snidely muttered, raising the mallet over the chisel's handle.
She could feel her pulse thrashing in her ears…
"Wouldn't blame ya for closin' your eyes here, sweetheart — this is gonna hurt…"
It did.
A lot.
~~~~~
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~~~~~
The kid's anxiety was beginning to get to him.
If she'd just stop fidgeting and pleading at him with those wide eyes of hers, maybe he'd have a better chance at focusing…
'We ain't far, Blue… just… keep yourself in one piece…'
He wondered what the asshole creeps even wanted with her…
The smell of the sea reached his nose, as he came upon Wharfside.
The tattooed chick and her damned friends were back behind him somewhere… he hoped for their sake they wouldn't show up at an inopportune time and get in his way…
There were too many damn faces about the place — how was he supposed to find—
"Hey, kid—!" somebody called.
He turned. It was the woman with the metal arm.
"You did make it back," she said, "boss was under the impr—"
"—Where is the old man…?" he cut in. "I've gotta speak with him…"
Her expression grew curious.
"Yeah— alright… follow me, kid…" she replied.
He let her lead him, while Isha gave a sort of glower in the lady's direction.
They found him after a short while, barking orders at a group of his goons in a less than composed fashion. He ran a hand through his hair as he turned to spot them.
"Sir— he's back," she opened.
"Welcome—" he spoke sternly, facing him. "As you can tell, it's currently a picnic… I'm surprised that Jinx isn't with you — have you managed to run into her yet…?"
Garou shifted uncomfortably.
"Listen…" he began, "I got back to the bar— seemed like some sorta spill'd happened with some other gang… your lackeys reckon they took her…"
The old man's mismatched eyes slowly grew ablaze.
"I got no clue where to find these assholes…" Garou went on. "Your guy said 'Chem-Baron' or somethin'…"
"Which…?" He spoke in a low growl. "Renni…? Smeech?—"
Garou gave a head motion in response to the second.
"Yeah— that one…" he answered.
The man looked on for a moment, deliberating through his rage.
"…I know where he holes up, boss," the lady chimed in. "He's not as clever as he thinks he is..."
The old man came to a decision after a moment.
"I need you here, Sevika— take charge of this lot," he ordered. "Bring those men I just sent away back here — they'll come with me."
He looked at Garou and Isha, as the woman went off to do as he'd requested.
"When the time comes, leave the child in my care…" he said. "I don't need you holding back…"
Garou gave a gruff nod.
~~~~~
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~~~~~
"I… I need to go to her, Ekko…" Vi lamented to her friend. "Everything you've said… it just tells me that she needs me more than ever."
The three of them sat atop a rooftop, overlooking the persistently terrifying sight of military airships over the unlucky half of their city.
"There are more people here that need us, Vi — innocents, children… especially now with what's happened with Topside," Ekko argued, in a gentle but persuasive tone. "Silco's just gonna cut a deal with them, and us regular people'll be even worse off than before..."
He turned to Cheese while she thought everything over.
"We can make everything right, starting now— for your parents," he said to him, "you said Piltover took them, just like it did for the rest of us — they need justice, everybody that we lost…"
Cheese looked down, seeming to take his appeal to heart.
"Look… we're with you, Ekko," Vi finally replied, "but, Powder… she isn't lost, not yet… not if I can get to her… you don't understand— making things right with her was all I could think about for all of those years in that godawful prison… the nights I spent sick with worry that she wasn't safe, without me there to protect her…"
"I'm sorry for that… I really am…" he responded morosely, "but she's way past needing your protection anymore… the things she's done, she didn't do because she had to… she did them because she wanted to..."
Vi sourly shook her head, clenching her eyes shut.
"She's still my sister, Ekko…" she murmured.
He took a long pause before speaking again.
"…Look— that cretin you were walking with…" he muttered, "he's probably your best chance of finding her right now, if it's true that one of the Chem-Barons have taken her… they seem like they're in some type of relationship, or something, I don't know, so… he's probably got the best odds of finding her…"
Vi nodded, as her eyes welled up.
"I'll bring her back, Ekko…" she said, placing a hand on her old friend's shoulder. "I meant it, when I said we're with you — we'll come back…"
He avoided her gaze, looking on wistfully.
"If you come back with her, well…" he said quietly, "…we'll have to figure something out, but… I hope you do, Vi… I'll take you to meet the others— there are still some of us left, who call ourselves 'Firelights'…
She took his hand, giving it a squeeze. He clenched it back in return.
"We will— I promise," she assured.
~~~~~
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~~~~~
Silco watched the boy rip down the bolted-shut door with his bare hands and proceed to tear through the place.
The only issue — it was empty.
'Evidently the Yordle has more of a brain than you'd concluded, Sevika…' he mulled, irritably tapping against a piece of his coat's golden embroidery with his finger.
He held up a hand ordering his men to stand at ease, while he entered the decrepit den in which Smeech seemed to have formerly resided — where he'd moved his operation to, Silco had only a few guesses…
He let the child follow him inside, to determinedly search around. She almost seemed as intent on seeing Jinx found as he was…
"Garou—!" he called to the boy, gaining his attention. "The more you break, the less clues I have to go on…"
The boy grunted, but appeared to look past him.
"Eh— maybe you can ask them…" he curiously answered instead, balling up a fist.
Silco turned to spot a different Chem-Baron entirely than the one they were hunting…
"Gentlemen," spoke Chross to his men, in a pleasant-seeming tone. "We come bearing no hostile intent— kindly stand aside." He ventured by what was left of the door, flanked on either side by his similarly dark-spectacle donning henchmen.
"Silco—" he greeted, "news of your venturing personally into this side of town naturally piqued my interest — I'd have thought you'd have found yourself otherwise occupied, at a time like this…"
Silco straightened his coat before speaking.
"You know— I've been told, Chross," he replied, "that the Hush Company has eyes all about Zaun — I'd now rather like to use them, if you'd care to come to some kind of arrangement…"
Chross hummed amusement. "Who's gone and bit the feeding hand now…?"
Silco glared at him.
"I would actually guess that you well know, Chross…" he scowled. "Jinx never returned after the operation had concluded, you see..."
Chross tilted his head. "That should be no trouble." He seemed to peer past where Silco was standing, though. "As far as an arrangement, I regret to say however, that I'll not be willing to discuss any until that child is returned to my possession."
Confusion crossed Silco's face, as he turned toward the little girl. She'd seemingly taken to cowering behind Garou's leg since the Chem-Baron had arrived. The boy himself seemed to be readying for a fight…
"I'm not sure I understand…" Silco responded to Chross, in a low tone.
"Put rather simply," he replied, "her father owed the Company a debt, which he failed to fulfill before his passing — by law of collateral, that child is my property… she evaded us once before, and we'd falsely assumed she'd made it over the bridge…"
He seemed to shoot a look at his right-hand man, following the statement.
Silco shut his eyes for a short moment — they were all wasting precious time…
"How about this—" he countered, "if your information proves accurate tonight, you may have the child, and we can table a discussion for the expansion of your territory, to the exclusion of the other Barons — I assure you, there will be nothing left of Smeech's little cabal after we find him…"
Chross' gaze held on him for a moment.
"…Most equitable," he finally said, to Silco's relief.
He gave a curt glare toward Garou, urging the boy with his eyes not to do anything foolish in response to the deal he'd just made…
He followed Chross and the rest of them out of the building.
"The creature was lasted spotted finding refuge in Renni's camp, of all places," he revealed. "I can only conclude she's given him her safehouse beneath the chemtank armory, in which to do whatever it is he plans to do with his new captive…"
Silco scowled. "She'll come to regret throwing her lot in with him…"
"Strange bedfellows indeed, if you ask me…" he agreed.
"I'll say— your information lacks much assurance…" Silco pressed. "You're certain they'll be there…?"
Chross waved a hand dismissively. "She's rather unmistakable, that adopted daughter of yours, and, from what I'd heard, she'd lost a fair amount of blood on the way…"
Silco stopped walking — he certainly didn't appreciate the jab…
Chross seemed to regret it, after a moment.
"I have more, of course— infiltrating the place should be a breeze, with my knowledge of its layout…" he quickly added. "Approaching from the Alcove District would be wise, which, of course, is now easier said than done with Piltover's forces present…"
A commotion sounded, behind the two of them.
"Boss—!" one of Chross' men spoke up. "He shoved off, with the child…!"
Both of their henchmen resorted to blaming one another, while Chross turned to glare at Silco.
"You owe that one to me— I have a long memory, Silco…"
"Details, details," he muttered back. "I'm not one to weasel from a deal, Chross — your long memory should remind you of that…"
Silco looked on.
His anger at the boy would subside — her fate may well have been in safer hands with him, if it meant he'd get to her in time…