Arcane: World Two - AU (Non-binary reader)

I - Nothing but my legs

y/n was only ten when they lost their mother, and father was a deadbeat, the city of Zaun was cruel and unforgiving and your case was no exception. For three years: you had nothing, you ran through markets, grabbing any food you could and hoping today wasn't the day you were caught. You slept where you could, this was frequently rooftops.

One night though, you're awoken by a group of four thugs: one had a knife and the rest looked like they didn't need one.

One of the thugs speaks, they sound like they are approaching adulthood but still have a sharp edge: "What ya got on ya kid?"

You don't reply, the fear puts your hair on end and seems to seal your mouth closed.

Another one of the kids speaks up, he gets on one knee, bringing him closer to your face: "Didn't you hear him? What ya carrying?"

You slowly stand, not ready to fight -you never had been- and look at the group: "Nothing" You ponder to yourself "Nothing but my legs".

You dash to the fire escape, running down the ladder you hear the group yell after you. Running was all you knew now, but this time it felt like life or death. Your feet hit the ground as you ran through the streets but you couldn't seem to shake them. You eventually reach a bar, there's a sign hanging outside saying "The Last Drop". You dash behind the building, hoping they lose you but you don't see the trash bag slumped over the ground. You feel your foot get caught and your cheek slap the hard ground, you look up and see the thugs surrounding you. As you try to get up, you hear one yell: "Little shit! Ruined my boots!"

Your head hits the wall as your stomach is kicked, your vision grows faint and you start to go unconscious. But as your senses begin to fall, you hear a door creak open, and a large silhouette in the doorway.

***

You feel the light pass your retinas as colorful hues dance: Brown, yellow, and an odd shade of blue. You feel a horrible pain in your stomach and head from being kicked, your legs ache from the running but you can feel bandages along your head and waist. Your eyes flicker open, you see a dim light hanging from the ceiling, you turn your head slowly and survey your surroundings with your damaged vision: You can feel your body resting on a couch, there are shelves and other couches, you can see a set of stairs, leading upwards towards a door. You don't let your vision hold you back as you turn and rise, it's painful.

You hear the door open, you look up at it and faintly see someone: they have brown hair and yellow/silver clothing. You hear them close the door and can faintly make out the sound of them running away.

Your body is still weak so you fall back onto the couch. You're eyes still open, you see a large man with a beard walk over to you. He reaches out to help you sit up, and your shoulders bolt backward out of muscle memory -you hated being touched already- but moving so fast hurt. He tries again, this time successfully.

He has a caring look in his eyes: "You were out for a while, kid" You don't respond, trying to understand what's going on. "Started to worry I had a dead child in my basement" He chuckles to himself.

You finally speak up, your voice hisses at first, it sounds like he's preparing to speak with each new sentence: "Where am I?"

"The Last Drop, my bar. Name's Vander"

You looked at his eyes, trying to see the catch to his aid but to no avail.

"I need to go, thank you" Your tired voice opposes his warm tone. As you try to stand, the world spins and you crumble back to the couch.

"You're not fit to go yet, stay here a while. Once you're ready to leave, no one will stop you" Vander has a fatherly aura to him that you didn't recognize and yet knew.

You look at the door as it creaks open, a child steps through the door. She has pink hair, bandages around her wrists, and a bottle of water in her hand, she looks barely a year older than you. You make eye contact but no words are spoken, she threw the water to Vander, who passed it to you. She stepped out of the room, but took another glance at you before going.

"That was Violet, Vi" Vander says before you cut him off by chugging the water. Sorrow attacks his eyes as he watches a malnourished child treat barely a litre of water as though it is an oasis from the gods.

"I'll bring you some more, and some food as long as you promise to rest yourself" He says as he stands. "Promise?"

Your instinct is to brush off the offer but you haven't experienced such hospitality in years. You hesitate before nodding. He steps out of the room, your head crashes onto the couch again.

***

A few days have passed, your injuries are still prominent but you can walk around. You've met the other four children, Claggor, Mylo, Vi, and Powder. You felt yourself start to get attached but the fear of losing them halted it.

You're fear of losing those you love constantly battled your fear of not loving.