Arcane Fanfic: Rumors

[kaffy_r]

Title: Rumors
Author:  kaffy_r 
Fandom: Arcane: League of Legends (Netflix animated series)
Characters: Vi, Vander, Powder, Mylo, Sevika, Ekko, Marcus, Original characters
Words: 4,378, per AO3
Edited by: My beloved  dr_whuh;
Summary/Author's Notes: Under cut to avoid spoilers for folks who haven't seen it, but might do so.
Disclaimer: With the exception of one original character, all characters here are the properties of Riot Games, Fortiche Productions, Alex Yee and Christian Linke. I intend no copyright infringement and take no coin. I just love all the characters.

***   ***   ***

Summary: "Hey, have you heard?"
"Say, did you know?"
"It's going around."
In a timeline where Powder's monkey bomb doesn't destroy her family, conversations over the years might cast some light on what the future for her, and for the Undercity, could become.
Notes: I love Arcane with a great passion, in part because it's character-driven tragedy done well, in a transcendently beautiful animation. But part of me also couldn't stop hoping for an alternate timeline, in which Powder didn't kill off those she loved, and didn't wind up with Silco. So I wrote one myself, called "Falling Down, Rising Up." I thought that would get it out of my system. It didn't. I kept wondering what would go on in The Lanes and in the hearts of the people there - especially the characters we love - as months and years went by in that timeline. I'm a sucker for stories told through conversation alone, hence the format for this exercise. I hope you enjoy.

***   ***   ***

(Three days after an explosion levels a building in Piltover)

"Did you hear? There’s something new that the Pilties are playing with. I hear it’s some Academy kid playing with fire … yeah, stuff that the Council’s skittish about. At least that’s what Alice told me this morning. 

"Yeah, my Alice. Who did you think I was talking about? Okay, so just shut up and listen; it’s juicy.

"She cleans the main Council floors with the night shift, and she was on the fourth floor, where the councilors have their private offices. It’s normally quiet as a tomb at night, she tells me, but last night, she heard two, maybe three people arguing. The little guy — Heimerdinger? Is that his name? Yeah, him — he was actually yelling at the Medarda woman. Giving her some kind of history lesson, Alice said; talking about how he’s seen how magic can destroy the world, or some such.

"Alice, she loves to pick up news from the Pilties; she’s better than any news rag, as far as I’m concerned. And she says there was someone else talking, too, at least when he could get a word in edgewise between Medarda and the little guy. She says he sounded young. Young and stupid, Alice says, but I’m not so sure. 

"Huh? Why? Because from what Alice tells me, this kid, this Academy kid, he’s the one playing with something magic. Alice couldn’t figure out much from what he said, but it’s like mixing machinery and magic, maybe. That’s what was pissing Heimerdinger off. 

"And I figure if they do mess around with magic, it won’t go well. Not for topside, and sure as hell not for us. I know a couple of people who came to Zaun a few years ago, more fools them, outsiders who’ve seen more of the world than I’ll ever see. They’ve seen magic in use, or at least they boasted they’d seen magic in use. Neither of them ever wanted to see it again. 

"Oh, come on; you know that healers do their own thing. Not sure I'd even call what they do magic, you know? 

"Look, it’s my turn to buy a round. What’s your pleasure? I got paid today, and I've got at least enough to wet your whistle before I head home. Alice doesn’t have to be at work tomorrow, so we’re going to have some time together."

***   ***   ***

(Three years later) 

“Sheriff, the rest of the Undercity’s running smoothly. There’s nothing wrong in those areas Silco controls. Like you said, he keeps his trenchers in line. It’s The Lanes I’m worried about.

“Well, maybe not worried. I mean, the head guy there, the owner of that bar, The Last Drop — big guy, looks like he could take you apart with his bare hands. Vander, yes, that’s him — he keeps the peace. But his people are … I don’t know, they’re … you know how all the Undercity assholes are about the law; they all hate us. But most of ‘em are smart enough to keep their heads down, mostly, and that’s just fine by me, right?

“The ones in The Lanes, though, they don’t act the same. They’re quiet, too. But they don’t move out of our way quite as fast as trenchers in other neighborhoods. 

“And a lot of them, they look my men in the eye. It makes me nervous.

“I’ve heard that this Vander and Silco have history, and maybe if we could figure that out, we’d get a better idea of how to handle The Lanes, like you have with Silco and the rest of the Underci— 

“Oh, no sir, I’m not saying that, not at all.

“I know they’re all criminals. You wouldn’t, of course you wouldn’t. I just — I thought …  I’m just reporting, sir. Yes, you’d know better than I do what’s going on down there. 

“I’m sorry I wasted your time. I’ll go back and make my regular report. It’s … huh?

“The kids? Which kids? There are a lot of street rats down —  in general? Or in The Lanes?  Oh, around Vander’s place? Oh, sure, I can tell you about them. Yeah, he’s got a pack that hangs out at the bar. I’ve heard trenchers call them Vander’s kids. 

“A pink haired girl. She’s supposed to be the oldest. A couple of boys, don’t know much about them. Well, one of them’s mouthy, but the pink haired one’s pretty good at slapping him quiet when our guys are around. 

“And a little girl. Blue haired, maybe 13? She looks like she’s as old as my boy, so yeah, 13. The other three kind of protect her; my guys hear she got hurt bad a couple of years ago in some kind of fall.

“I’ve run into her before, or at least I’ve seen her a couple of times with the rest of the pack. She’s a little creepy.

“What do I mean? I guess … she’s so little, she’s the youngest, but there’s something about the way she holds herself. She’s one of the ones that looks us in the eyes.

“Okay. Right. Yessir, we’ll keep an eye on the place. And I’ll tell my guys to keep watch on those kids. 

***   ***   ***

(One year earlier than the Enforcer’s report to Marcus)

“Look Powder, you need to be careful skulking around those neighborhoods, the ones outside The Lanes. It’s safe here, but that’s because of Vander. Outside The Lanes, there’s a lot of Shimmer in the streets, junkies looking for money to buy more. They’re skanky, but they’re dangerous. 

“I don’t mean you can’t do it. I just mean you should take me or Vi with you. Or Claggor. 

“Especially now. I heard stuff the other day that made my skin crawl. You never saw Deckard when he’d swallowed that purple shit … I'm hearing that Silco’s witch-doctor, or whatever the hell he is, is making different kinds of Shimmer. Some is okay, I guess; Silco’s supposed to be selling it to doctors and healers, even medical types up top, so it must be able to, I don’t know, help sick people or something.

“But he’s been making other Shimmer stuff, too. Stuff that can maybe change the way you look and think forever. Like, I’ve heard he uses some of the junkies to experiment on, and they get growths all over themselves, even worse than they used to. And if someone can’t get ‘em off the stuff, it grows and grows, and they die.

“No, I don’t have the slightest idea why, do I look like a newspaper? Except I hear it’s even a higher high than the original stuff and there are addicts out there willing to do whatever Silco or Sevika, that turncoat bitch, tell them to do, long as they can get a taste of it. Man, you wouldn’t get me using that shit. I’ll stick to booze.

“I know, I know, calm down, I’m not really drinking. I’ve got Vander keeping an eye on me, don’t I? But when I’m older … yeah, booze for me, and if there’s anything purple in it, I’ll pour it out.

“Gah, that’s not the point … I got all sidetracked … The point is you, and you being safe.

“I know you can protect yourself, that’s not the problem, God, you can be so annoying! Look, I know, alright? After you talked Ekko into finding you a gun — that moron Georgio shouldn’t have let it go, but you know Little Man, he can convince people to jump off a building these days … but that’s the problem, see?

“People with guns always think it makes ‘em invincible. And people who are good shots, they’re even worse about it. That’s you, Powder.

“You really like that gun, but someday, you could shoot someone, and maybe not someone who deserves it. Or maybe someone decides they want that gun, to use or to sell to get money to get Shimmer. Either way, you don’t come out on top.

“So let’s make a deal, okay? If you want to go exploring, or spying, or whatever it is you think you want to do in Silco’s part of town, can you do it with one of us? Me or Vi? Can you make that promise? C’mon, promise me. Promise, Powder, or I’ll tell Vander what you’ve — oww! What’s that for? You’re such a pain in the neck. That hurt!

“Such a pain — 

“Oh, for — no. Not a jinx. You’re not a jinx, you hear? God almighty. I’m sorry, okay? I’ll say it again; I’m sorry … as many times as you need to hear it.”

***   ***   ***   ***

(Eight months after the Piltover explosion)

“You can tell your boss that I’ll be glad to meet him. Here, at The Last Drop. With you. One more, if he’s that worried I’ll do to him what he tried to do to me. 

“Any time of day, Sevika. If he’s worried that too many of my people will be around, we can do it in the morning. Just him and me. And like I said, you and one more, if you want. My kids will be on premises, though, so don’t be surprised to see them measuring you and your boss.

“What did you think I’d call him? You’re your own person. You don’t call anyone master. You never called me that, why would I think you’d call Silco master? You left The Last Drop because you thought I looked weak, and went to Silco, because I guess you thought he was strong. 

“You still believe in him, right? Well, if he’s strong, he won’t be afraid to come here and talk to me about this poison — this Shimmer — that he’s flooding the Undercity with. 

“Oh, I know what he wants to talk to me about. Your people are having bad luck trying to sell it in The Lanes, aren’t they; no, that’s not a question. Your Shimmer pimps aren’t dead; no one’s killing them. They just come back to you with bruises and bloody heads. That’s more merciful than Shimmer, but I don’t suppose we need to debate that, do we. I suppose he thinks he needs to cut a deal with me. He’s welcome to talk about that.

“No. He’s got to come here. The last time I visited him, it didn’t go well. It certainly didn’t go well for Grayson or Benzo.

“I told him the truth, though.

“About what? He knows. Just tell him he’s still my brother. If he wants to be. At least for as long as he’s on my turf for this meeting. In the future? Try this on for size: his people — you excepted, Sevika, for old time’s sake — are a different matter. Tell him that. And you can bring me back word of when he’s ready to meet, here.

“See yourself out.”

***   ***   ***   

(One year after the Piltover explosion)

“Come on, you’ve gotta have figured it out by now, or are you so drunk you haven’t noticed?

“Yeah, yeah. Life deserves good booze. Life also deserves a few sober hours, buddy. But I’ll buy the next round, and we can be sober later, right?

“But my point … yeah, I’ve got a point — my point is that that Shimmer stuff hasn’t come into The Lanes for months. Neither have any of Silco’s goons. Why’d you think I don’t have to walk Alice to the Piltie stairs anymore? She’s safer on her own now than she’s been for ages. I can go to work myself and not worry about getting mugged. At least not by some Shimmer junkie desperate to get her next fix, or just so hopped up she wants to kill someone.

“It’s why I drink here at The Last Drop instead of over by me, at Elton’s. I like Elton, sure, and I drop in every so often, but Vander’s the proprietor here. And Vander’s the reason The Lanes are safe. Rumor is, he’s struck a deal with Silco — well, not a rumor really; everyone knows him and Silco sat down together a few months ago, to hammer out some kind of truce.

“Yeah, they did it right here, in The Last Drop. Think on that, eh? We could be sitting at the self-same table the two of them sat at!

“Okay, probably not; my bet is that they met in a back room here, out of sight. Both of them have got enemies and I figure they wouldn’t want to be too out in the open. 

“Actually, they’re enemies, too, but for some reason, Silco agreed to leave The Lanes alone, and to keep Shimmer out of our streets. Vander did that; he got Silco to agree somehow. And that’s why I drink here; I’ll give my money to The Last Drop because of Vander, and what he’s done for us.

“How’d he do it? Hell if I know. Although … hmmm … Do you remember the Day of the Bridge? It’d be about eight, nine years ago?

“Huh. No, I guess you wouldn’t. You’d have been in nappies and leading-strings back then — nah, just joking, just joking, but you probably were a little too young to really know what went on that day — and people don’t talk much about it now. Too painful, you know? But it could definitely have something to do with it. 

“Vander was already a leader here in The Lanes. And believe it or not, Silco was, too. Not sure how that started or where, but I remember hearing talk about Silco’s speeches, and Vander’s too, in the days before all those poor fools started the march. 

“Oh yeah, they had high hopes. They were gonna take Undercity problems and demands straight to the Council chambers. They were gonna make the Council listen to the Undercity — to Zaun; that’s when that name started being popular. Think that came from Silco, too.

“Maybe it would have worked. I don’t know. I don’t think it would have. Why would it have?

“Pilties hire us to do scut work, or cook in their kitchens, or make their clothes or clean their buildings, but they don’t like us, and they’re glad when we come back downstairs at the end of the day. Even the ones that live in their houses, their butlers and maids, get rooms in the basement or the attic, and no respect. Alice’s sister is a junior maid in one of the big Houses, and she’s lucky that she has a decent room at the back of the house.

“So why would they give a good goddamn about us? The marchers … I don’t know why they even tried, except that they listened to Vander and Silco.

“I imagine maybe we could have gotten across the bridge, though, and maybe even gotten some mid-level Council flunky to listen and promise to take the demands to the Council. Nothing would come of it, you know, but it would have been peaceful. Maybe all of us poor fools would have been able to turn around and come back home.

“But someone, or a bunch of someones, decided they were going to get all militant. Started with pushing and shoving the Enforcers when they wouldn’t let the marchers onto Piltie land at that end of the bridge, then throwing stones at them.

“Then some goddamn idiots used guns. 

“Yeah, I know. Stupider than a brick wall, but all charged up with the idea of ‘The Nation of Zaun’ … and they shot at the Enforcers. Killed some. 

“That’s when it all went to hell. Hell on the bridge. 

“The Enforcers just went crazy on us. Shot anyone they could get to. Men, women, even kids, because some of the marchers brought their littl’uns with them. Fools, damned fools ….

“‘Scuse me a minute.

“Yeah, sorry. Just needed to settle down.

“I don’t know how many bodies came home with us, and how many the Enforcers just dumped off the bridge into the river, but that was the end. Ended for me, anyhow.

“Except, I remember word was that that day, or maybe the day after, Vander almost killed Silco — ‘cause of course it was Silco that pumped the militants up on his own crazy dream. Vander had picked up the girls, when they went looking for their parents — they’d gotten separated in the crush, and I guess the mother and father were mowed down almost at the very last.

“So Vander picks up the girls, both of ‘em in shock, I’d imagine, and brought ‘em here to The Last Drop. Fed them. Comforted them. Gave them beds and warm blankets and such. And then he went looking for Silco.

“That’s why Silco’s got that bad eye of his, that evil eye. Vander couldn’t kill him, though, and Silco couldn’t kill Vander. They went their separate ways, all bloodied up, and never talked again.

“And that’s why Vander stopped fighting and started protecting The Lanes. He was done with fighting and watching people die for an imaginary country. 

“A few months ago, I hear Silco got it in his head again to try to kill Vander, after the explosion up top. That was one of the girls, see, either Vi or Powder, and Vander was under pressure from the Enforcers to hand someone, anyone, over to them. Seems Silco wanted to get back at Vander for his eye. To say there was a lot of bad blood doesn’t begin to …

“Yeah, enough of me reminiscing. There’s your story of how we marched, and how we failed, and how Vander and Silco split up and became enemies. 

“At least on Silco’s side they were enemies. Somehow Vander didn’t hate back. And so we’ve got the two of them together, and Silco agreeing to keep that purple shit out of The Lanes. And that’s good. But …

“... look, I’m tired. I want to go home to Alice. Here’s my coin for this last round. 

“Like I said, we never wanted to remember, and here I broke my own rule.”

***   ***   ***

(Six years after the Piltover explosion)

“I don’t know, Vander. I really mean that; I don’t know how you should respond to this man. I don’t know why you’d want my opinion, anyway.  I’m just your second-shift bartender, and I fight for money once or twice a month. That’s all.

“I’m sorry. I know, I’m sorry. I’m your daughter, too. I didn’t mean it to sound like that isn’t important to me. You and Powder are the most important people in the world to me. And Mylo and Claggor. We’re family.

“But — well, I can read because you taught us. But I don’t do much of that. I’m not up on what Pilties are doing, and frankly, I don’t care. The Lanes, this is my home, and I don’t much leave it, now that Silco’s got the rest of the Undercity. I’m not smart —

“Yeah, sure, okay. I’m smart. But … what is it that Allium says all the time? There’s smart, and there’s wise. She’s wise. I’m not wise. I’d rather punch my way out of trouble than talk myself out of it, no matter what you’ve taught us. 

“So I’m kind of honored you asked, but this one’s way beyond me. I’m glad Claggor brought you this rumor, but that’s probably what it is, just a rumor. And most rumors aren’t worth the air they’re spread on, right? That’s what you always told us.

“I mean, Claggor’s a lot better than most people are at being cautious about rumors, and figuring out what’s real and what’s not. It’s just … he’s got a handle on the air freight docks, all ears and eyes while he loads the ships. But this Talis guy isn’t the docks. And he sure as hell isn’t The Lanes. 

“No, you’re right about that. If he’s working with someone who came from down here, then that’s cool. And maybe it’s hopeful. But he’s on the Council, right? Isn’t he head of it? Can we trust anyone from Council? They’re the ones sending Enforcers down here, or if they aren’t actually ordering them to do it, they’re letting Marcus’s men stomp our heads, non-stop, and ignoring it.

“Huh. Well, that’s something. How he thinks he’s going to get cooperation from us, or any other part of the Undercity by appointing some freshman Enforcer as an official liaison is beyond me. What’s her name again? Kiramman? Is she supposed to get those uniformed jackboots to stop the head stomping? I’d pay whatever good money I have to see that actually happen.

“Still, I guess, if you want my advice, here it is; have a meeting with her, but ask Talis to come too. Tell him that better relations start with trust, and we can’t trust up top unless he’s willing to come down stairs.

“Uh, thanks, Vander. Not like I’m a genius, but if that helps, I’m glad I said it. You’ve probably thought it out already, so you probably knew it would get my vote. 

“Look, it’s about time for me to get ready for my shift. I’ll take over from Powder, and thank her for giving you a break. I hope she hasn’t over-poured everyone. That seems to be a problem with her.

“Hey, Vander; have you noticed anything odd about Powder recently? Not anything bad, just … sometimes she gets a look in her eyes that makes me, I don’t know … does this seem weird? It makes me want to put my arms around her and give her a big hug to remind her I love her. And to keep her from doing something. 

“Never mind. I think it’s all in my head, not hers.”

***   ***   ***

( Seven years after the Piltover explosion )

“Oww! Ekko, you’re pulling too hard! I should’ve asked Vi to come over. She always knows how to keep the tangles from hurting.

“No, no. That was a joke, I think. You do a good job with my braids, Boy Savior. One of the reasons I lo— I think you’re the finest Firelight leader around. The only one I’d live with, and the only one whose food I’ll eat. I mean you’re not only a rebel leader … hey, let me move around a little so you don’t have to reach so far; there, can you get the ends now? You’re not only a rebel leader, and almost as smart as me — okay, as smart as me — you’re a really good cook.

“What are we going to have tonight? I don’t mind leftovers of that stew you made.

“No, I’m not going to cut my hair. I like it like this; I like the weight of it when I move. These days I wear the braids up when I’m in the workshop, or when we’re on a job, so the mask covers most of ‘em. But when I’m here with you, or out feeling the wind and letting my body feel how to move my board just for fun — that’s when I like my braids free. 

“They’re my flag, Ekko. 

“Someday I’d like to flick ‘em right in Silco’s face. You know; right before I blow him to kingdom come.

“What? 

“No. No. I won’t. Not yet, anyway. 

“You done? You’re done. They look great. And they feel great, and that’s what’s important. 

“So, stew?

“Oh, for — no, I don’t want to talk about it. I told you I won’t, why won’t you just be okay with that?

“I’m going out, I don’t want to talk about it, don’t want to talk about me. I’m sick of me — 

“Stop it, stop it … no, don’t touch me —”

“Oh. 

“Oh, okay, that’s nice. That feels good. You’re so warm, Ekko. It feels good to be next to you. I’m sorry I yelled at you. 

“So, okay. What do you want to know? How I feel? Or how I think …  well, for me,  it’s a mix of thinking and feeling. About here under the Tree, maybe, and being with you, and the others, all the ones we’ve saved. And how I want other people to be safe like the kids yelling down there and screwing around and being completely annoying and happy.

“Look, I don’t talk about this with anyone but you, Ekko. Well, maybe with Mylo sometimes. He understands. But not with Vi.  She’s like Vander, you know? She hates Silco as much as I do, but she sticks with the truce. 

“I can’t. I can’t, Ekko. I go out in the dark and head out of The Lanes, to the rest of the Undercity. I see the kids begging for food because their parents don’t care anymore; I see where Shimmer gets sold. I see the purple stains where addicts have vomited the stuff out onto the streets. I see them on the ground, helpless to move. I’ve seen bodies lying there, sometimes for days before they’re picked up and trundled off to be buried or burned. They’re the ones we can’t bring to the Tree, Ekko. 

“We can’t bring them all here. We can’t. We can’t, and I want so bad to do it, bring ‘em here, and take care of them all, like Vander and Benzo did with us, you know, and —

“And I watch Silco, you know? He thinks he’s safe in his place half on top of the river and half underneath, so powerful, so big, so mean, and loving being mean because everyone’s afraid of him — he thinks he’s safe. I’ve heard rumors that he wants to expand directly up to Piltover. But I watch him, and Sevika, and all the ones who’ve gotten rich off Shimmer. 

“We Firelights, we do what we can, I know. I loved taking out that last shipment; it blew up so beautifully!

“Yes, I know I’m not supposed to be like that, but I did warn them, and they did get out, so it was only the ship and the Shimmer that blew up, which was absolutely fantastic, did you see what I did with my monkey bombs? Everything blew up so beautiful, so goddamn beautiful!

“He doesn’t know I’m watching. He’ll be really surprised. Really, really surprised. My Fishbone can be a real wake-up call — 

“Don’t look like that, Ekko. Don’t look at me like that.

“Please don’t look at me that way.

“I promise I’ll hold off.

“For now.”

-30-