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

XIV - Bloodlust

"Oh Jesus, y/n can't feel the snow" Vander slams his book closed

Silco makes the connection that Vander made, if you had developed PTSD from that night, this will most likely trigger it. Silco leaps from his seat and runs for the door, Vander following closely behind.

***

You and Vi are running across rooftops to get back from Caitlyn's. You stop off at Benzo's to see Ekko, it's been a little while since you last saw him. You open the door and Vi follows behind: "Hey Benzo" 

Benzo was dusting off an old chalice that he put on the counter: "Oh hello you two! Thank god you're here, though I might bore myself to death" Vi goes to make conversation with him while you go find Ekko.

You open the door to the back, seeing Ekko stacking books on top of one another. He doesn't see you yet so you introduce yourself: "Hey hey, Little Man"

Ekko loses count as he sees you, he turns his head revealing a black eye: "y/n!"

You go to him and hold his head as you inspect the injury: "The fuck happened to you?" 

He laughs as he shakes you off: "Some guy tried to rob me the other day, don't worry"

"That doesn't make me not worry," You say "You put him in his place though, right?" Ekko laughs to himself at the memory of the fight as he nods. "Good man" you pat him on the shoulder. "When I was your age, I ran from four thugs. Got the shit kicked out of me"

Ekko cuts in: "That's how you met Vander though, right?"

"Yeah," you say, confused as you never told him this story

His smile widens: "Powder told me" It makes sense to you now. "How is she?"

"She won't shut up about you saving my ass with the rifle" You respond. "Like some sort of Boy Saviour," You ruffle his hair as you give him the nickname.

He chuckles to himself: "Can I come over soon? I haven't seen her- everyone in a while"

You get ready to leave before your final statement: "It's a bar, not a club. Just show up and she- I mean everyone will be happy" Your attempt to make fun of him for stuttering doesn't go unnoticed as a blush emerges on his face.

As you open the door to get back to Vi and Benzo, you hear Vi say: "Come check out the snow" 

You look out the window and freeze, as the snow falls, images from that fateful night flash in your mind. The train, Kara, Gang members, the horse, the frost biting at you as you trek, it all replays in your mind. You let out a hellish scream as you bash your head against the counter, knocking yourself out. The images don't stop but at least you don't have to look at the snow.

***

Silco and Vander go to Caitlyn's balcony while Sevika searches elsewhere. The sight of Vander and Silco leaping between the rooftops of Piltover harkens back to their younger years. They reach Caitlyn's balcony, Silco stands back, catching his breath while Vander knocks on the balcony door.

Caitlyn carefully opens the door: "Who're you?"

Vander replies quickly: "Vi and y/n's dad, where is y/n?"

Caitlyn opens the door, now seeing Silco but is too afraid for your and Vi's safety: "They left an hour ago, if they didn't go home then they might have gone to see that Little Man they talk about frequently"

Silco thanks her: "Thank you, Kiramman" He leaps off the balcony with Vander to get to you. Their pace only quickens as snow begins to fall upon them.

***

Vi had moved you to light on a couch they had in the back, they all looked horrified at the sight of you slamming your head against the hardwood. Ekko watches from afar: "They'll be okay, right?" 

Vi tries to calm Ekko down to avoid things escalating: "Yeah, they'll be right as rain soon enough" She can't help but blame herself, she feels as though she should've known that this would happen.

They hear someone step through the door, Benzo looks through the peephole. Sevika opens the door to the back before Benzo can get a good look at her: "What happened?"

Vi sees Sevika and tries her best to explain: "They saw the snow and- and it sent them into a frenzy. Before I could do anything, they began slamming their head against the counter until they fell unconscious"

Sevika looks at you with sympathy, she unclips her poncho and places it over your head before carrying you: "I'm going to carry them back home, cover me. It may be difficult to see in the snow"

In union, Vi and Ekko nod as they carry you outside. They all hope you don't wake up to the feeling of snow on your skin so this has to be quick.

*** 

Meanwhile, Claggor runs to Mylo and Powder: "Y/n, they- they had some sort of episode. They're probably scared to death. We need to find them"

Powder has a look of determination on her face as she grabs the staff and runs out the door with her brothers.

They begin their search at Benzo's. As they make their way there, however, five members of the orange-cloths emerge from the vail of the snow. Powder raises her staff and the others get ready to fight but it's no use. One of them is far too large.

The largest grabs Powder: "Get the fuck off me! Asshole" She tries to bite him but it doesn't get past his thick clothes. The other two are also grabbed by the rest of the group. 

***

Vander and Silco arrive at Benzo's they see Sevika carrying you and imagine the worst. Shakiness in his voice: "Are they... dead?"

Sevika shakes her head: "No, I think they developed PTSD and the snow triggered an episode" A sigh of relief escapes Silco, Vander looks at how glad Silco is.

Sevika is followed by Vi, who runs to Vander: "I didn't think, I'm so sorry!"

Vander tries to calm her down: "It's okay, there's nothing you could've done" 

Sevika carries you through the slushy white streets. She doesn't see the 6ft7" man carrying Powder under one arm emerge from the snow. He slams his hand to her jaw, she drops you as she flies to the wall, she can barely move. The other four walk out from behind, carrying Mylo and Claggor.

Everyone sees the scene and moves slowly. Vander puts his arms out: "Please, this doesn't have to be how it goes"

One of the gangers holding Mylo speaks out: "Yeah, it does"

The largest speaks: "Your kid killed our man's nephew. Only fair we take these from you"

Powder screams out as the gang member takes a gun from its holster, Vi leaps towards him but Ekko grabs the staff and slams it into his head.

The gang member doesn't lose the gun but does lose his balance: "Dumb move" He puts the revolver back to her head and pulls back the hammer, Vi watches in horror as the man prepares to kill her sister. Her horror is only replaced with a new one as the gang member drops the gun and Powder.

You reveal yourself as you lift the man in the air. Your hands penetrate his organs as you tear him in half. Everyone watches the gory scene as the man's blood and guts shower down. A horrified scream acts as his final breath. You feel the snow and blood tap your skin where you stand but the thought of Powder being shot overpowers your memory.

The other four men fall back, you grab one of them before they can run: "Tell your leader, that I killed his nephew, I killed his men, and I'm coming for him now. My bloodlust wants his head" Your episode hadn't ended as you gauge the man's nose from his face.

Everyone watches as you enact this alter-ego on the world. Vi and Ekko to Powder and make sure she's okay, Vander runs to Claggor and Mylo, and Silco gets Sevika back on her feet but he can't take his eyes off you.