A/N: This came out a little rushed. There's alot of things I'm not satisfied with but I'm too busy to do it. Maybe I'll edit it later during the weekends. But for now, Enjoy
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After previous days shenenigans, the gang was in high spirits till the next day. Ekko couldn't blame them. He hadn't had that much fun in a while. And treating the children of Zaun the taste of Topside is a win as well.
One day, he swore. One day, he's gonna make sure everyone has, not just a taste, but the whole fucking meal. From the lowest level of Zaun to it's richest. They're gonna have what Topside it having everyday, for the rest of their life.
But right now? He had job to do. A mine to explore and a story to derail.
*Clap*
He clapped again to make the fluffy-looking mushrooms glow again for a few seconds in the dark mine he was exploring. Stepping over some discarded tools that miners left when they escaped the mine in a hurry, years ago.
*Clap*
He absentmindedly clapped again when the lights dimmed enough. Finally, after about an hour of searching-this mine mind you, not counting the others-he saw a door on the end of one of the walls.
"Finally" Ekko breathed out. Slowly reaching forward to open it.
Insides were made out of wood. There decor was the same as the show he watched long ago.
'God, it's been over 12 years since I watched Arcane. I barely even remember the plot.' It was a lie. He still remembered it quite well. How could he not? With how much sleep he lose over it.
"Guess this is it." Ekko said as he looked at the piece of paper and tucked it in his pocket. Frankly, it took him too long to do this. He could make an excuse about not knowing when did Vander wrote the letter but he knew it would be a big fat lie. It was because he was indecisive before canon came knockinb through Benzo's store. That day, the decision was made for him. He needs to meddle with the plot.
"Now for the hard part." Ekko sighed in part disbelief. Finding Vander's mine had been the easy-if time consuming- part. The hard part is... finding Silco and giving him this letter.
"I'm gonna have to kill people again aren't I?" Ekko asked the empty air, ruefully. Glancing at the stone ceiling as if it can gave the answers.
"Welp! Blisters and Bedrocks Ekko. Blisters and Bedrock." He reminded himself as he made his way up to the lanes. He got a kingpin to find and he already had an idea of who to ask.
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Ekko stood in an alley with half a dozen of people around him. His face was relaxed. Unlike the other occupants of the alley.
"Well!? You want to talk. So Talk!" Sevika is a tall woman. Standing at 6 feet 1 and muscular in a way that it did not affect her feminity(much). But still making her look intimidating. A total amazon as the people from his old life would say.
If weren't for her constantly scowling expression, you could even call her beautiful.... maybe. He's sure there are alot of Sevika fans out there.
"Silco. I want to know where he is." Ekko said simply. Making Sevika tense and her scowl even more fierce. The goons around her shifting nervously. Fearing it might came to a fight. Ekko had a reputation among the lanes.
A reputation only Vander's people or... the Barons' people would know. The Hound's attack dog. Ekko is one of the two reasons people that are uncontent with Vander didn't dare to make a move on his kids. The first being of course, Vander.
Ekko was always around the kids. Nearly every job they did had his shadow. And he did so in a way that Vi or the others never felt like they were being babied. How did he do it? Well he never made it obvious that he was looking out for them, just that when trouble found them, those who tried rarely made it out alive.
But considering the crippling injuries Ekko left those who lived? Death is a mercy. The lanes are not kind to the weak.
Ekko looked at the various men and women gathered around him. Taking an extra moment to look each of them in the eyes. All looked away. Only Sevika held his stare with her own glower. Before finally looking away and replied.
"*Hmph* So Vander finally had enough of his old mate sniffing around and send his dog after me huh?" Sevika ruefully chuckled as she count her chances.
She had half a dozen men and women hardened by years of experience in the lanes. On the other hand, she had an affront to nature's order as an opponent. She glanced back at her companions,
'Shit no weapons larger than knives.' They could box him in but his back is already at the back of the wall. He can jump off from it at anytime. She saw him do it plenty of times in his youth. And he only got monstrously stronger with age.
Ekko just evenly stared at her, unaware of the thoughts brewing in her mind.
"No. I'm here on my own accord." The response making Sevika blink.
"What business do you have, seeking Silco?" Sevika asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing serious. I just want to meet Powder and I's old babysitter again. Just felt like it." The last reply made Sevika blink. This one just want to make her strangle the little shit in front of her.
The thing is he wasn't lying about what he said. Silco used to babysit them when they were younger. Vi was old enough that her parents let her run around so it was Powder and Ekko, who were left in the man's care.
His parent weren't overly close with Vander's little gang but Benzo was. And his parents were close with Benzo. That's how he met Powderand Vi all those years ago.
You can imagine his shock when he found out it was Silco who was going to be looking after him and Powder during their little 'playdates.'
'I gotta admit. It was quite satisfying to see the shock on another's face.' Ekko thought. Feeling as if Karma has shined down from above just this once to share his feelings with another. Ultimately, Sevika shook out of it.
"That can't be all the reasons boy. What are you playing at?" Sevika growled as she took an aggressive step forward.
Ekko shook his head." You're right. It isn't. But that's all I'm willing to say. The rest isn't your business. Frankly, it isn't even MY business. It's personal. To him." He finished.
"So what's it gonna be?" Ekko asked with a provoking smile. There was a beat of silence, nearly unbearable to those who are not Ekko and Sevika. After contemplation Sevika smirked and took a deep breath before giving her answer.
"...."
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In the lower levels of Zaun, just above the Sumps is where Silco, the kingpin made his base. The base was underground. With a sea view making it possible to look into the chemically corrupted water and it's mutated sea creatures.
The base was under a warehouse that Silco bought under an another name. He was just outside of Vander's reach but close enough to stab him with a knife when the time came.
Today, Silco was in his desk, under the warehouse, inside the large basement. Where he shared space with another. The alchemy genius, Dr Reveck. After his exile from the academy, he had taken the name Singed, the man who will make Silco's vision of seeing topside burn come true.
Silco was watching the doctor testing the latest batch of Shimmer. A drug that would make you monstrously strong after consuming it. And just as monstrous in mental facilities. With a strong addiction added on top.
It wasn't actually as perfect as the doctor would say, Silco mused. But he needed topside scared. He needed topside to fear them. He needed topside to respect them. And Shimmer offered all of them. To him, it wasn't the best option, it was simply the least bad. After all, you can't make a nation out of addicts and druggies.
But Shimmer was the first step. The first step in Zaun's rise over the Topside. Silco was interrupted out of his musing by the door to the lab/office opening.
The man who opened the door was one of his most trusted. Covered in tattoos from head to toe with only the upper part of his face being clear. It was StrongJaw. Followed by a dark skinned woman with a mean mug, constantly scowling.
"Sevika? You're here early. Got something urgent to report?" Silco said as he picked up a contraption from his desk. It was a cylindrical thing with a needle at the bottom. He put it over his left eye, seemingly adjusting it.
"There's someone that wants to meet you." Sevika said, making Silco pause and put down the needle. Turning to look at the woman with both eyes, he asked.
"And?" Sevika hesitated before gesturing to the door. Silco looked at her for a moment before he gave a nod, deciding to trust her. Strongjaw and an another goon with spikey yellow hair opened the door at Silco's signal.
Silco looked at the newcomer unimpressed.
"You change your mind Sevika?" Silco asked without looking at her. Keeping his eye on the lanes' boy wonder. Who was keeping eye contact with him.
"This isn't about Vander." Ekko spoke up.
"No one said anything about Vander." Silco replied evenly, stifiling the spark of anger at the mention of Vander's name. Ekko just shook his head.
"This isn't about Vander. It's about what happened in the waters." Silco face broke into a firece scowl at that. Hand tracing the scars near the disfigured eye.
"So he told you about it did he? What's your game here? Heard a bad story about the man you look up to and you want to join the other side because how horrible of a person he is? Is that it?" Silco spewed with venom. Ekko just shook his head in negative.
"Honestly? I wanted to see my old babysitter again." Ekko added cheekily. Making Silco twitch. He didn't think the lad would remember him.
"And to give you this." Ekko pulled out a letter.
"For the record, you were supposed to find it." Ekko held out his letter. Making Silco stare for a moment. Before the man gestured his goons to bring it over to him.
Strongjaw stepped forward and Ekko handed the letter to him. The goon making his way to his boss. There was an uncomfortable amount of silence as Silco read the letter.
Before he turn his chair away.
"Leave... All of you."
Everyone in the room looked around confusedly.
"Does it also include me?" Ekko asked.
"I said EVERYONE!" He turned back a little to yell the last part. Before turning away again. His chair obscuring the view.
Ekko stared at the man's chair for a moment before turning back. Singed was already out of the room. The man can read a room like no other. Ekko looked but one last time before he use time skip in multiple successions to leave the Warehouse in a blur. Spooking those beside him.
Sevika just shook her head at his antics. The kid was getting stranger and stranger the more she knows him. She looked back towards the chair, currently hiding the ruthless man whose dream was to see topside burn and wondered if that chair face her way again, will it even be the same man.
Said man was left in his office with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company. He read the letter again. And again. And again. Before he tored it and put it in the trash. Pulling out a bottle from his drawer, he drank deeply from the bottle.
He traced his scar again, looking at the ceiling, Silco didn't know how long he was alternating drinking whiskey and staring aimlessly. But when the alcohol was gone and he was sober enough, he made his decision.
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A/N: Cliff-kun has something to say and decided to interrupt your reading.
Cliff-kun: The chapter ended here. No need to keep scrolling down
Cliff-kun: seriously? I said no need to keep scrolling down.
Cliff-kun: HA! I've got you. I made you waste your time. Now be a good reader and wait for the next update.
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Vander was closing up the last drop. It was nearly midnight. All the patrons are absent. The bar was quiet with only the sound of glass being rubbed squeaky clean being the noise.
The door opened making him pause before he called out.
"Bar's closed. Come back next day."
"Really? Not even for an old friend?" The voice made his froze. He dared not hope as he looked up. And sure enough, it was Silco, who looked like he been throigh the wringer. His hair disleveled. His suit is a mess and
"Were you drinking?" Vander asked.
"Just a couple... of bottles." Silco said as he unsteadily made his way to Vander. The man just watched at the brother he tried to kill in the river came closer and closer. When he sat down
"So you wanted to talk. Let's talk. Oh and pour me a cup would you?" Silco said. Vander just stared at him in bafflement before hope surged through him.
He pulled out two cups, pouring in both cups before handing one to Silco. He thought about what to say as Silco nursed his cup.
"I assume you found the letter?" Vander broke the ice first. Making Silco chuckle.
"Same old Vander." Always awkward when it's time to talk.
The night was used to open old wounds. Mend old bonds and make new promises. Promises for a better future. Wounds don't heal overnight. But it's fine. Because they took the first step to healing, forgiveness.
The greatest thing you can do in life, it's to forgive. Otherwise, you'll be surrounded by enemies with only you to lookout for yourself.