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

II - I'm ready?

It's been about two years, your wounds have healed and you are free to leave, but you don't. You refuse to let them get too close out of fear it may hurt you if they go: you do this by avoiding physical contact, trying to see them as friends. But you know that isn't what you want and there's a part of your mind that sees them as family but the last time you let someone get that close was your mother. When she died, it struck you hard that you were alone with no father present. 

***

You were in the hideout with the others, Vi was holding a punching bag as she taught you how to hit, Powder was painting the stands in the shooting range, Claggor was lying down and throwing a ball at the wall and catching it again, and Mylo was out at this point.

Vi turns to Claggor as she holds the punching bag, her voice occasionally being cut off by being jolted from the punching bag being hit by you: "You been to Benzo's recently?"

Claggor catches the ball and turns to face her: "No, why?"

"Someones be-" She is cut off by you punching the bag particularly hard "-been asking about Ekko" She tilts her head to Powder, who was still too preoccupied to notice their conversation, Claggor looks over at Powder, instantly understanding what Vi is talking about.

"Ekkos doing good" He shrugs as he responds to Vi. Giving the sign that he wants to answer, he's just terrible at talking about this stuff so he tries again: "But Mylos going to Benzo's so maybe he'll hear from Little Man" The attempt to tease Powder was pathetic but didn't fail, as you see her pretending her ears didn't just perk up at the sound of Ekko's code-name.

In the split second you spent looking away, you realized that your tired arms eventually can't keep going, so you lean around the punching bag to speak to Vi: "Loose five, then we swap"

She nods as she lets go of the bag and you begin to unravel the bandages you were using to support your wrists before going to get some water. 

***

Meanwhile, on the other side of the lanes is Mylo at Benzo's with Ekko. Mylo was just trading some stuff at the front desk as he goes to leave though, Ekko calls him over: "Hey, hey Mylo"

Ekko pulls him around the corner: "I got a tip for you guys, it's a big one"

Mylo felt like he was out of his depths so attempted to get out of the conversation: "That's good but you should talk to Vi or y/n about that stuff"

Ekko is insistent about this: "Just listen to me, then you can report it back to the others and decide on whether or not you'll take it"

Mylo was resistant but begrudgingly agreed before being cut off: "Fine, tell me-"

Ekko spoke quickly like he was waiting to say this for years: "So a few days ago, this piltie shmuck walked in and bought a bunch of stuff, clearly had some cash to spend so I tracked him back to his place in top-side-"

Mylo cut him off instantly: "Hang on, Vander doesn't want us to go to the top-side"

Ekko, as per usual, has a response: "Just ask Vi! Besides, this was the kind of job Vander would've done."

Mylo doesn't respond.

"Okay, so here's the guy's address" He hands Mylo a drawing of a building with a balcony, the door circled and the street name scribbled at the bottom of the paper. "Just make sure you sell your scrap at Benzo's"

Mylo sighs before responding: "I'll let Vi know"

Ekko can hardly hold back his excitement, hopping on his legs, nearly clapping his hands.

Mylo slightly laughs at him: "Calm down, Little Man. I gotta get going"

Ekko waves him off enthusiastically, Mylo gives a slight wave over his shoulder before heading back to Vander and the others. Mylo was pretending to be far less excited than he truly was.

***

You and everyone else are in the basement, Vi and Powder are talking to one another, Claggor is clearing a smudge from his goggles and you're just staring into space. The quiet atmosphere is suddenly breached by the sound of Mylo running through the door: "Little Man gave me a tip on an absolute payday"

Everyone, especially Vi, turns their attention to Mylo as he explains the tip Ekko gave him. It sounds good until he says something that silences the group for a few moments: "his house is in the south of Piltover-"

He catches everyone's silence at his last statement. You reply after a few seconds: "Vander forbids us from causing trouble in top-side" Everyone else looks nervous about the idea but you look detested, going against Vander's word and back was something you couldn't dream of.

Vi speaks her piece, but she basically speaks for everyone as group leader: "This could be a chance to show top-side that they're not untouchable" You were shocked by the fact Vi was willing to disobey Vander. Powder was on board the second her sister was, though she clearly had her doubts.

You begrudgingly sit back and let them make their plan, they made routes to get to and from the apartment, they made sure to bring the right tools and the plan went on and on. It was agreed that you were going to scope out the escape route while they commit the heist. You agree as it keeps you the furthest from trouble. 

You all split back to your things, the thought of tomorrow's heist on your minds. Powder's the most, she looks afraid of jumping between rooftops: you nudge Vi to direct her attention to Powder: she sees and goes to console her.

You try not to eavesdrop but you can't help but make out a few words of Vi saying: "You're ready" and making her say "I'm ready?".  Their conversation continues for a bit but you don't listen in. Powder seems a lot happier about the heist after her sister's conference with her.