Inside the dimly lit Last Drop, Vander and Benzo, Vander's long-time friend, shared a drink in an otherwise empty bar.
"He's taken a liking to the young lad," Benzo shrugged, his pint of ale sloshing around as a faint smile tugged at his lips. "The clockwork book from Powder came from their Old Hungry adventure."
Benzo chuckled deeply, taking a swig. "I guess stupid sometimes does pay off, aye?"
"Ugh," Vander shook his head, gaze cast down at his drink. "I thought that boy would keep them out of trouble... It hasn't helped in the slightest."
"They're kids," Benzo replied gently. His tone carried a layer of compassion, his gaze steady and understanding. "You can't stop them from getting into trouble. But you made the right call placing Orion with them. From what I hear, he's bailed them out of a sticky situation."
Taking a drink of his own, Vander sighed, "Aye, that he has." Pausing for the moment, however, Vander hesitated before weighing his words, speaking slowly. "Something's off... with the boy. He's getting help from..."
Creak-Creak
The sound of the bar doors opening interrupted their conversation. Vander and Benzo turned, freezing in disbelief. Vander's mug slipped from his hand, crashing against the counter and spilling out across the counter. Benzo slowly rose from his seat, eyes narrowing.
"Sil-" Vander started but was cut off by Benzo's deep growl.
"Silco! What are you doing here?!" Benzo bellowed. The grip on his pint tightening, poised to hurl it across the room.
"Mm..." Silco's presence cast a long, menacing shadow across the bar, the crimson glow of his corrupted eye slowly shifting between them.
"Can't I visit?" Silco's low voice resonated through the bar, hands wide in an exaggerated gesture, though his hollow gaze betrayed his mockery. "We were once comrades in arms, after all."
Glass shattered beside Silco's head as Benzo hurled his pint across the room. Silco didn't flinch, his expression remaining cold and unfazed.
"Still have your temper, I see," Silco remarked, his tone dripping with mocking disdain.
"I should gut yo-" Benzo's snarled, stepping forward ready to charge Silco.
"Benzo."
Benzo stopped as he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. It gave him enough of a moment to pause, glancing back with restrained fury at Vander who had stepped out from behind the bar.
"Why are you here?" Vander rumbled, his sharp gaze locked onto Silco. For the briefest moment, something flickered across Vander's face. Softness, regret, or perhaps even unease. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, replaced by hardened resolve.
A momentary pause occurred in the tension, their eyes locked in a contemptuous stare.
Without a word Silco's hand drifted into his tailored suit, causing Benzo and Vander to tense further. Smirking, he pulled out a dusty parchment between two fingers.
"Your pup's parents went missing because you were obsessed with finding me," Silco said with measured amusement, his voice cutting through the tension. "So, I decided to search myself as an early payment to the boy for assisting with our vision for Zaun,"
He let his words sink in, his satisfied gaze flicking between their faces, drinking in their dawning realization.
Silco's good eye shifted downward to the letter, his gaze softening. He held it softly in both hands as if it were something precious. "That's when I found an old letter."
"The past is between us," Vander firmly said, his voice tinged with remorse. His eyes were still wide with disbelief and shock. "Why did you involve the boy?"
Silco's smirk widened, his narrowing crimson eye returning to Vander.
"Orion, now there is an interesting boy." Stepping forward, his voice carried amusement and contempt. "He is taking care of your little orphans and yet," He paused for a moment. "is lending his talents to me, to Zaun."
Vander's expression darkened, voice lowering into a growl. "He is not yours, Silco."
A loud mocking chuckle echoed through the bar, Silco's mocking voice following. "Oh, I don't own him. No one does. Orion serves himself like any smart person would down here. The boy learned a lesson that you refused to accept, pragmatism over idealism, for a better future. For Zaun!"
Benzo's angry voice spat out beside Vander, his rage barely restrained. "He's just trying to survive! You're twisting a boy's life to fulfill your twisted vision!"
"Some people want more than to merely survive!" Silco shot back, his voice sharp with disdain. "He understands the way the world works and made his choice. Babysit your kids, or help build the nation of Zaun! Now I'll admit he isn't the most loyal dog, Benzo, but he is still admirably useful."
"You're using him," Vander growled, clenching his fists. "He doesn't know any better."
"I'll give him the tools to thrive," Silco snorted. "Not just survive."
"Orion sees Zaun for what it could be and not for what you wish it was. Don't worry, old friend. He knows better than to trust anyone. Not me, not topside..." Silco's crimson eye gleamed, leaning in slightly. "...and certainly not you."
Vander flinched, his eyes softening as he hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "I've never forgiven myself for what I did to you. You were like a brother to me. When Felicia died, I lost my head."
"But your path," Vander's voice gained strength, his gaze sharpening as he stood taller. "It's not the way. Was her death not enough for you? You were willing to sacrifice half of the Undercity for this nation of yours."
Vander stepped forward with his own conviction rising. "What about their lives, Silco? Felicia's kids? Are you willing to risk everything, everyone's lives, for this dream of yours?"
Crunch
"It was a dream we shared!" Silco roared with rage, crumpling the paper in his fury. "Your weakness spat in the faces of everyone who died, making their sacrifices meaningless! Including Felecia's!"
Hurling the letter to the ground in a crumpled heap, Silco stepped forward, now inside Vander's personal space as he seethed. Their faces were inches apart. Vander's beastlike fury against Silco's snarling rage.
"You act as if I didn't care for her! We shared drinks together! We had the same vision!" Silco spat. He glared up at Vander, spittle flying into his face.
"And now you sit here, playing lapdog with her killers and meeting with the sheriff in secret. I wonder how Vi and Powder would feel if they found out?"
Vander took a steadying breath to calm himself, refusing to take the bait. His gaze lowered to the crumpled paper, his tone calm and measured.
"I'm doing what is necessary to keep the people of the Undercity, of Zaun, safe."
His gaze returns to Silco with a disgusted scowl, "I'm not proud of every decision I've made but we both know Zaun wouldn't survive another war."
Leaning over without a care for Silco, he picked up his crumpled letter.
"I want a future for Vi and Powder where they don't need to pick up weapons to survive. The same goes for Orion and if that means working with Greyson, then that's what I will do."
Vander shoved the letter back into Silco's chest whose fury never subside and continued, "Felicia wouldn't have wanted us like this. Nor would she approve of you tearing everything apart and calling it progress."
Silco's expression darkened further at Vander's words, grabbing the crumpled paper from his chest. For a long moment, they both said nothing before Silco's hands, shakily holding the paper, sighed. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them, his gaze landing coldly on Vander with fresh resolve.
"You were always good at pretending to be the better man." Silco said, his voice brimming with disdain.
"Let me tell you what Felicia would've thought. She wouldn't have wanted her daughters groveling under Piltover's boots or their father groveling to keep them safe and fed."
"Safe?" Silco continued to mock, turning toward the exit with both Vander and Benzo's gazes following him. "Do you think any of this is safe? It's cowardice, Vander. Nothing more."
Taking slow and deliberate steps toward the door, he added, "Don't worry. When the world comes crashing down around you, and it will, I'll be there to pick up the pieces. Just like always."
Reaching the exit, Silco paused and rested his hand against the frame. His cold voice echoed through the tavern without looking back.
"As for Orion? You're lucky he followed you at all. But mark my words, when he sees you for what you've become, chasing hollow ideals, he'll leave you. Just like I did."
"We'll see," Vander's reply was unshaken. Neither spoke again as Silco slipped out of the Last Drop, leaving it with a heavy tension.
"What are we going to do?" Benzo asked, his voice low but urgent as he looked to Vander.
Vander's fists were clenched tightly, his expression deep in thought. After a heavy pause, he exhaled and turned to Benzo.
"We need to talk to Orion. That group he's working with? He has no idea how dangerous it is."