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

XIX - You Know You're Better Than This

She sighs, her heart hardened by the thought of Mylo's newly developed gambling issue: "Most likely, he's trying to earn enough to get out of the debt but he's only piling it up" 

She thinks for a second: "I could go pay his debtor a visit?"

Vander shakes his head rapidly: "No, don't dig yourself into his shit" She sighs, knowing he's right as she nods. "I'll think of something"

***

You wrap bandages around your hands, hopping on the spot as you get ready to throw your hands and legs. You hear the muffled cheering on the other side of the wall as bets are placed between you and your opponent.

Felicia watches you from behind: "I have a meeting so I won't be in the audience tonight, darling" She stands up "Don't forget to go to the Pardido afterwards, the tall hooded woman in the furthest booth" You weren't going to forget the client, something else would come up. 

She leaves the room, a few moments before the large gate in front of you rises. The crowd's roar grows louder as the yellow hue of light shines down on your face. "...the reigning champion, the Phoenix of Batsor!!" the announcer yells as you step out. "And on the other side... the one, the only..." The other gate lifts, revealing your opponent. He's smaller and nimble like you used to be, except he's older. "The Blitzkrieg Brawler!" His title confirms your suspicion, he'll be quick. 

"May the fight begin in three..." the announcer begins to walk out of the pit. "Two..." he sits on his throne in the audience. "One..." The announcer raises his hand in the air. You lock eyes with your opponent, his legs stance in a position to run to your left, but you switch out and head right at the last second. "May the fight begin!"

As the announcer drops his arm, letting it swing down as your belief is proven correct. The opponent dashes to your left so you prepare to defend your right. Your confidence only grows as he switches to your right but it's sorely mistaken as he leaps in the air and uses his other leg to attack your exposed stomach.

You clutch it as you stumble back a slight bit. You look back up with a daring glance, he doesn't react fast enough for your knee to fly into his jaw as he falls back but regains his footing quickly. 

***

Mylo stumbles into the Last Drop, he falls onto the bar as Vander sighs while making his way to him. "Debt only grew, didn't it?" Mylo just sighs with his head hung low, that's all Vander needs to hear. "We'll think of something, who're you in debt to anyway?"

His voice groans: "Iogran Mac" Iogran Mac was a known con man in Zaun. He had made money this way since before you'd been born.

Vander, pity on his face, pours him a glass: "I had some similar troubles when I was your age"

He puts the glass in front of Mylo, who sits up to inquire more: "Really?" He sips on the drink, hoping it will make the night better but it just tastes horrible: "Eaugh! What is this?"

Vander chuckles slightly: "Vinegar. You didn't think before acting so you just took a sip of vinegar"

Mylo checks the glass, hoping Vander's words were just lies but his worries are true as the potent smell of vinegar flies from the glass to his nose. "I see your metaphor"

Vander pours the drink away: "I and you know you're better than this, than I was. It'll all be okay"

For better or worse, their conversation is overheard by a very small man. His frail frame is covered by a hooded cloak as he runs out of the Last Drop.

***

On the opposing side of Zaun, in a large room filled with smoke, a meeting commences. Multiple rich men and women gather around the table as they face Felicia. In the centre of the table is a man decorated with war medals from a long time past: "Felicia, tell us how you're new mut's work is coming along"

Felicia for once doesn't carry a cigarette, she speaks in a formal tone: "They're obedient, don't show any signs of trying to go back to their old life"

The man nods approvingly. Along the table sits a woman, covered in jewellery: "What's your routine, to keep them in check?"

Felicia stands straight and clears her throat: "I have convinced them we put in equal effort and that I take more pay from the work"

A slim man wearing a suit sits on the far left: "And where is your employee now?"

She keeps her head straight forward: "In a pit fight, sir"

After a quiet discussion between them, one man turns to face Felicia. Iogran Mac takes a drag of his cigar before speaking: "You may be dismissed, Felicia"

***

You stand victoriously, the opponent's legs broken. It's not long before you're walking out with your earnings. "Pardido, a slim cloaked woman in the furthest booth from the door" you mutter under your breath.

As you rub your sore wrists, a small voice can be heard from behind: "y/n?"

You turn to see one of your scouts. Behind Felicia's back, you'd been hiring people to listen in on conversations at the Last Drop: "Bora, what's happened?"

He stutters a few times: "One of your brothers... Mylo? Yeah, Mylo has been put in some deep debt by a man named..."

You grow worried and impatient: "Indebted to?"

He bites his nails trying to think: "...Iogran Mac! Con man, I think" You toss him some coins.

Torn between the client and Mylo, you have to make a choice quickly.