Multifandom Oneshots

arcane ~ the next day (hurt/comfort) ~ jinx & silco

A/N : I just finished episode 3. This fic would take place the following day after that ending. Also, Jinx will be referred to as Powder in this fic (though I know she becomes Jinx after a time jump). Also FTM!Silco because I said so

Silco never saw himself in this position.

Adopting a kid, let alone that of an old friend he had just murdered? The thought had never crossed his mind. And yet, he found himself carrying the small, blue haired girl to safety once she had cried herself to sleep in her arms. She was so angry and upset, she didn't care that she was now in the care of the enemy. Silco couldn't help but feel a bit of empathy for the young girl.

The next morning had been a bit of a haze. Part of that was the lingering mix of fumes still flowing throughout a lot of the fortress, another part was just that everybody was tired. Silco allowed his array of guards to take it easy, only occasionally requesting their services for more simple tasks. They were appreciative of this free time, because it gave them more opportunity to interact with one another.

Silco woke up early. He had always been a bit of a light sleeper, especially ever since his near death experience. As calmly as he liked to talk about it, it had still been incredibly traumatizing for him. So, waking up when the sun was barely up was normal for him.

He got himself a plate of breakfast and also got a plate for the young girl, who was sleeping on a small cot in the corner of his room. Midway through silently eating his meal, he saw the girl wake up and look around, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"Good morning, little girl" he said softly. The affection still felt weird coming off of his lips, but he endured it. "Where am I?" she asked, though she didn't sound remotely afraid. In fact, Silco couldn't quite pinpoint any emotion in her voice, except maybe a slight melancholy.

"Do you not remember what happened yesterday, little girl?" he asked. It was a genuine question, and she seemed to understand that. She took a moment to respond, but then nodded as she fully remembered all that had happened. She no longer seemed angry or upset though. I mean, she obviously still had those emotions, but she had tired herself out of feeling them the previous night. Now, she just felt numb.

"I have a name, you know" she said after a moment. Silco nodded, swallowing a bite of his food. "Care to enlighten me?" he asked with a small, slightly forced smile in hopes of getting the girl in brighter spirits.

"Powder" she said, returning a weak smile. "My name is Powder"

"Well, Powder" Silco said, keeping the smile on. "My name is Silco. I have breakfast for you here at the table" he gestured to the empty chair across from him, which had a small plate of eggs and toast in front of it. Powder took a deep breath and forced herself off of the cot. It took a lot of mental strain to do that, and Silco felt a bit of pity forming at the bottom of his stomach as she sheepishly walked over and sat across him.

She didn't feel particularly hungry but still forced herself to eat a bite of her toast. "If you're not hungry, you don't have to eat it" Silco said, an uncharacteristic gentleness in his voice as he watched her poke at her food. She looked at him, something hopeful in her eyes. "You won't be upset with me?"

"I'm not a monster, Powder" Silco said with a small smile. "It is clear you are going through a rather... Emotional time. So, no. I won't be upset with you over some eggs and toast"

Powder gave him a grateful smile as she silently put her fork down. Any other time, she would've scarfed it down (partially because she loved a good meal, partially because she was used to food being a bit scarce and feeling some guilt if she didn't finish it all), but she was too depressed to have any real appetite at the moment, and Silco seemed to get it.

"I remember back when I was a young girl, much like you" Silco broke the silence that had begun to form. Powder gave him a confused look. "I only realized I was actually a boy when I was a bit older" he clarified, hoping she understood what he was talking about. Her face lit up in realization and she nodded. "Yes, anyways" he took a deep breath. "You remind me a lot of how I was"

"What do you mean?" Powder asked cautiously (a part of her was still afraid of the older man). "I was happy back then" Silco explained. "Joyful even. Then, when I was older, I got betrayed by one I considered a brother"

Powder solemnly looked down at her plate. This story sounded awfully reminiscent of what had happened with Vi, and it was hitting a little too close to home. But... It also made him trust the man sitting in front of her a little bit more. Maybe her and him weren't all that different after all.

"I was so angry" Silco said, though his face held no anger. Maybe a bit of sadness or even grief, but whatever anger he was talking about no longer seemed present. "I hated him for it. I still had respect for him at the time, don't get me wrong. But I hated him so much. He was my closest friend... And he hurt me"

"Like Vi" Powder spoke up. Silco stopped in his rambling and looked down at her. It took him a moment to remember who this "Vi" person was, but once he did, his face softened into a small, sympathetic smile. "Yes, Powder" he said softly. "Just like Vi"

"The point I'm making" he continued after a quiet moment. "Is that we both have a fair bit in common, you and I" he gestured between the two of them. "And we have a lot to prove to the world at large. Do you want to prove yourself, Powder?" he held out his hand, mentally prepping himself for the idea of physical contact that wasn't violent or completely manipulative.

Powder hesitated. Her head was still a little bit foggy, and a part of her wanted to go back to sleep. She also felt a little scared about the idea of shaking hands with the enemy, but... She realized that she didn't really have anyone else anymore. Vander was dead. Mylo and Claggor were probably also dead. And, Vi... Well, Vi didn't matter anymore.

She shakily took his hand. "Yes, I want to prove myself"

Silco chuckled darkly. There was something a bit sinister about it, but it also was weirdly... Comforting? Despite the fact that this man was basically a walking and breathing red flag, she found comfort in his presence. She even found herself laughing alongside him as a part of her sanity fundamentally snapped.

She was the bad guy now, and she loved it.