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

IV - To Me, Only Me

***

You wake up, not knowing how long you've been unconscious. There are four thugs crowded around you, looking like they're planning to loot you. You blink rapidly as they look like the four thugs Vander saved you from, after rubbing your eyes you realise these are completely different people. As far as they knew, you were dead seconds ago. You stand up and see an opportunity to run away, they look slow so you can escape but you stand your ground. You put your hands out to play defensive as you plant your feet into the concrete.

(Violence/Blood Warning)

One runs at you but you use your knee to move their face up to eye level, you grab him by the ears as you violently headbutt his nose. His blood pools on the ground and you walk to him,  kicking his knee backwards. He kneels on one leg as you hold him by the collar and repeatedly punch his jaw until his eyes begin to flicker. You throw him back to the ground, his blood pooling around him. You turn and see the other three, two of them run after your ferocious act but one pulls a knife. You reach down to the ground and pick up a metal pipe: "Come on..." You catch your breath "Mother... fucker" Spinning the pipe around your hand, you make the first move by running at him. You hold the pipe sideways to deflect his knife. It stops him for a second, but as you swing your pipe he dodges and moves his knife in two swift motions. One down your jaw and the other one up. Creating two large scars trailing towards your neck. You kick him back, he loses his balance before you take out his knees with the pipe. He drops the knife and puts his hands up in a pathetic final attempt to survive.

His shaky voice echoes through the street: "Pl-please! You've done enough, I've learnt my lesson!" 

You think letting him go is the right move but as you start to lose grip on the pipe, you remember Vander's conversation: "Put your hand on the ground"

He knows what you're about to do: "Please, please I-"

Your voice is cold: "Do it or your brains will splatter across the dirt"

His face goes from one of fear to horror as he trembles while putting his hands on the ground. You raise your pipe before bringing it back down, breaking both his hands. He lets out a horrifying scream but you just drop the pipe by your feet and walk away.

***

You find yourself walking around in the night like a zombie, your face still dripping your blood, your hands the blood of others. You find yourself back at the Last Drop, like you're tied to this place. You considered turning around and leaving but know you won't survive in this condition.

You tremble inside, Vander sees you from behind the bar and drops what he's doing. He runs to you, trying to make sure you're okay: "Wh-what happened?"

You scrunch your nose as you look at him: "Fuck you" His face goes pale as he knows why you're saying this. 

He tries to speak his peace but is cut off by a group of people yelling about how they need to "fight back". While he's distracted, you make your way to the basement. No one's here yet so you patch your scars up and wipe blood off yourself.

***

It wasn't until an hour later Vi walks in, she sees your scarred face and runs to you: "We've been looking everywhere for you! Claggor said you ran off after hearing Vander talk to an enforcer. Where'd you get those scars?"

You speak slowly and ignore her question, you haven't rested in hours: "Vander was visited by a high-rank enforcer at Benzo's"

Vi looks slightly startled: "What? Why?"

You don't raise your head but do make eye contact with her: "Top-sides trying to use our little stunt as an excuse to invade. They want to make a deal with Vander that no one was supposed to know about."

Vi searches for any hope: "But he didn't take the deal, he told them to go... to go home?"

You don't respond. She hears your silence and begins hyperventilating. She turns to face the door but you speak before she can: "Don't run, it won't work"

She stops in her tracks before crumbling next to you on the couch: "I can't believe him, that ASSHOLE!" She slams her hand onto the coffee table in front of you.

The door opens, Vi looks up while you keep your gaze forward. Vander's somber face looks at the two of you: "The others have gone to bed..." 

Vi cuts in: "I don't wanna talk to you right now"

Vander sighs before speaking: "I was never going to turn you in, you know"

You speak up now: "But you're handing in your people"

Vander looks downward: "I just had this argument upstairs"

Vi yells at him: "And that tells you nothing!? Maybe they're right! Maybe we do fight back!"

Vander speaks in a moderate tone like he's reflecting as he speaks: "We crossed that bridge before, it killed too many people"

Vi has a face of disgust: "You think I don't know that? I lost my parents!"

Vander tries to rebuttal but you cut him off: "Just forget about that deal, Vander. It's out of your hands now." He sighs but knows you're right, he nods and turns around to go to leave. Before leaving, he asks one thing of you: "I wouldn't tell the others if I were you"

Neither of you replies but know he's right. Once he leaves, there's a moment of silence before she breaks it: "You don't think he'll turn us in, right?"

You see her concern and respond accordingly: "No, no I don't think so"

She can't stop thinking about Piltover invading, it's clouded her mind and it won't stop: "We should get some rest"

You nod before leaving to go to sleep. Vi stays in the basement, thinking about what would happen to everyone if they invaded.

***

You sit on the side of your bed thinking about today's events. The image of the thug begging you not to kill him is a prominent feature. You rub your sore knuckles before lying down for the night.

No amount of rest could prepare you for tomorrow.