///Night///
Returning after several hours, Orion opened the door to find that both Vander and Benzo had left.
He had walked out to the main road to cool off, checking local wanted boards and posters before returning.
Locking the door, he lay down on the couch with a heavy sigh, exhaustion catching up to him.
Orion rubbed the bridge of his nose, still second-guessing if any of them had gotten away or seen him shoot C. Silco was likely in a state of rage after catching wind of C's betrayal. He was probably searching for any survivors right now to question them, including Orion.
'Her thugs know where I live,' Orion thought, flicking the water cup on the table as his thoughts spiraled. 'I doubt any of them saw me shoot C, but if any did, I'll be forced to leave here or sleep with one eye open.'
Groaning, he sat up and checked his two remaining bullets.
Stillwater Hold was where most political prisoners or rebels were imprisoned. It was on the east side of Piltover and faced the Undercity shores.
'Typical Piltover mentality,' Orion thought. 'Keep the filth on one side of the river.'
If the lawbreakers were Topsiders, traders, or individuals with any wealth, they were sent to Piltover jails. If they were from the Undercity, they were thrown into the terrible prisons on the Undercity side. Dredge Prison, Stillwater, and others much worse.
'Any thugs caught would have a brief stay in a Piltover jail before trial and then be sentenced to one of the Undercity prisons. This keeps them out of Silco's reach, but also out of mine. I wanted to ensure there were no loose ends...'
Prisoner transports were forced to take the main road straight from Progress Bridge and used private iron elevators, guarded by Enforcers, to descend each level of the Seams.
The transports themselves didn't use Hextech because it hadn't been invented yet. They still relied on horse-drawn, iron-caged carriages. Each one, however, was heavily guarded especially for prisoners like these.
"Damn it," Orion muttered, running a hand through his hair. 'I have no way of knowing when they'll move the prisoners other than by keeping my ears open for a trial date. Even then, Enforcers could transport them day or night. Delay transportation for days or weeks just to avoid an ambush.'
His jaw clenched.
'I don't know the extent of how much I'm hunted. No wanted posters are circulating but they're offering gold coins to anyone willing to snitch. The only one I can think of who has a reason to fuck me over if he knows I'm alive is Silco. But I don't know if he knows I'm alive or if he knows I betrayed C.'
Orion's thoughts drifted back to Vander as he slouched forward on his couch, a grim expression settling.
'Vander has connections to Greyson, but she won't reveal sensitive information.'
Still, troubled doubt gnawed at him.
Could Vander even protect him if Silco truly turned his eyes on Emberflit? Vander kept his kids safe but the man had enemies in every corner of the Undercity.
And Greyson?
Her loyalty might be ironclad, but she answered to Piltover's Council. If she thought he was a danger, she'd lock him away before risking her city.
It left him feeling cornered, stretched between two powers that would never truly be his allies.
Loyalty and family first. He was an outsider.
"Damn it!" Orion cursed loudly. 'How will I deal with Silco?'
Lost in thought, he didn't remember falling asleep until shattered rays of light struck his eyes, waking him with a tired groan.
"Ah, fuck," he muttered, shielding his eyes.
--------------------
Orion's gaze lingered on the Last Drop's sign, his hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets. His fingers toyed with his last silver coin.
''I need to find a new source of income…' he sighed before pushing the door open.
"Orion!" Powder cheered, darting from the gang as they busied themselves with their usual cleanup chores.
A deep chuckle rolled from the bar. Vander looked up from wiping the counter, nodding with a warm smile.
'Rare to see him here, but it makes sense after what happened,' Orion thought, nodding back.
But even as Vander smiled, Orion could see something in his eyes. The big man's posture was calm, yet there was a watchfulness to him now.
"Did you get caught up in the trouble yesterday?" Claggor asked, studying Orion's weary appearance.
"No way," Mylo grinned, leaning against a table. "Probably just stayed up late."
"Pretty much," Orion admitted with a tired chuckle, catching Powder as she collided into him. There was no way to hide how rough he looked.
She peeked up at him expectantly.
"Are you going to be a night light again?"
"A what?"
"Nothing," she giggled, hugging him tighter.
Mylo scowled, folding his arms. "Powder, you're being weird! Go back to breaking stuff!"
Vi walked past and smacked him lightly on the back of the head. "Read the room," she scolded.
"What do you mean, read the room, you red ape…" Mylo's comeback and Vi's sharp retort faded into the background as Claggor laughed. Orion just walked with Powder to the counter.
"Good to see you made it," Vander greeted cheerfully. "Feeling better?"
Sitting on a stool, Powder perched beside him fiddling with her rag, Orion nodded. "Yeah… took a while to get my head straight."
Orion hesitated before speaking again. "I hate to jump right into it, but have you heard anything about yesterday?"
Vander paused, glanced at him, then resumed wiping.
"Nope. Just that the ones behind it are now six feet under."
"All of them?" Orion asked carefully.
"Aye." Vander's gaze shifted back to him, weighing him.
Powder tilted her head, curious. "What happened?"
Vander leaned in on the counter, his faint smile earning her full attention. "Some bozos caused a ruckus topside. Kidnapped a Kiramman and caused a lockdown."
Mylo snorted. "What idiots thought they'd get away with that?"
"Did you deal with it?" Powder asked with wide eyes.
"Of course I did," Vander smiled, patting her head.
"Is that why you're roughed up?" Vi suddenly appeared at Orion's side, making him jump.
"Ah- Fuck! Vi!" he cursed, exhaling sharply.
"ChemMouth!" Powder glared and pointed, and Vander chimed in with a firm, amused tone. "No cursing Orion."
His mouth hung open in disbelief before narrowing his glare at Vi. She smirked, nudging him. "Well? Spill it already!"
Orion met her stare with irritation. "I wasn't part of it. I just got too close and got caught up in the chaos."
"Uh-huh." Vi leaned closer, skeptical and dripping with sarcasm. "Because you look better than when we sparred."
Orion stuck his tongue out childishly. "Yep."
Powder giggled but Vi frowned. "Why not just tell us? It's obvious you're lying! Aren't we trying to become closer as a gang?"
"We are," Orion said with a reassuring smile. His tone, however, sharpened. "I did not participate, Vi. Do you really think I'd ever do something like that?"
Vi hesitated, her gaze falling but hints of doubt still lingering in his eyes. "…No."
"Exactly. I just got caught in the shitty crossfire."
"CHEMMOUTH!" Powder shrieked dramatically, pointing again.