Chapter Text
A Different Future : Act 1, Part 1
Living in the Lanes has always been a difficult endeavor, stuck between poverty, drugs, rackets and deals of a thousand kind. Growing up in this kind of environment molds you in three kinds of person, if you can reach adulthood:
A desperate fool, seeking protection from whoever can bring it; a hardened veteran that values strength and survival above everything; or a delusional husk that fight to live another day.
Many legends had emerged within the Undercity. Just as much has burned out there too.
Once, you could say that the place could be looked upon as a decrepit but clear environment where you could move around without looking over your shoulder every two second most of the time, even if the living conditions weren't always the best one.
This couldn't be said anymore.
Hiding out in a back alley away from the main road, a boy sporting a mop of long brown hair was listening around to catch any follower on his trail. The figure it belonged to moved silently out of the way to reach a low-hanging ladder to rise up on the nearest rooftop, dodging by a few seconds the three bulky men that just entered the alley hot on his trail.
-Find the boy! The boss will have our head if we come back without the loot!
-Strong enough to punch a wall, but just as dumb as a brick ...
With a quick stretch, the young man kept going up and up to stay out of view and out of reach. He couldn’t bother to fight them tonight; he already had enough in his bag to bring back to his shelter and work on something for a while. With a final grunt and push, he rose up on the highest rooftop of the block and checked the bag was correctly installed on his chest before moving on.
A giggling voice came out from behind him on the nearby balconies, making his body stop almost immediately as he bit back a curse.
-You sure know how to piss them off, that’s funny.
In the span of 2 seconds, the young man drew a hand-made pistol from his hip and aim it at the voice, turning around to see that said voice also had a gun pointed at his head. A pretty common business in the UnderCity, where security was something non-existent.
What wasn’t common business was the person that was holding the other pistol: blue locks reaching low on her back, a purple and pink pants and shirt that could be a fashion crime covering a pale skin, with blue clouds tattooed here and there. A manic looks appeared on her face as she looked him up and down, appraising his lack of reaction outside of observation.
-Fancy meeting you here, Jinx.
-Do I know you before? I don’t think I’m supposed to.
-No, you’re not. If you aren’t working for the Chem-barons or Silco now around here, you’re among the nobodies. Name’s Ben, I just recognized you. Your name is already worthy to be warry off.
The lanky young man kept his gun high and steady, his voice with no hint of fear in it from being in a tense situation. He sounded more pissed to have been surprised than to face the opposite end of a gun.
Jinx tilted her head on the side, her smile going even wider than he thought was possible. What could she be thinking right now ?
-Ben, that’s a funny name. Can’t say I’ll remember it though, too common around here. Who you stole from this time?
Instead of giving an answer, Ben just tilted his head to the bald men/idiots still searching lower in the streets. The bluehead turned to watch them scrambling around, tossing covers and possible escape routes without even looking up once. She let out a high-pitched laugh that made his stomach twist akwardly.
-Oh, those idiots are always funny to watch and mess around with, dumb brutes. And so easy to kill too if needed. Nice gun, by the way.
-Thanks, yours looks nice as well.
-Pew-pew is always everyone’s favorite~. It’s better when you make them, makes it feel personal …
He let out a small huff, moving around slowly without lowering his gun nor his sight. She did the same in the opposite direction, keeping the standoff of lethal exchange as if they were just conversing around a cup of coffee.
-So what? did I stole something Silco wanted and you’re here to finish me?
-Nope! I was just passing by and caught you on the way. You don’t seem to fear much, Glen, that makes you cool in this shithole. Remind me of someone.
-Name’s Ben, you know? And this shithole wasn’t always like that before Silco took control of the Lanes. Now, you need to fight to live if you want to be independent.
-That’s life, I guess, Glen. Always a fiddle thing, easily lost.
Jinx was not caring about it, it was boring. The guy was nice, why did he had to bring boring subjects ? It made conversation at least, but she wasn't hooked …
-Vander’s time used to be safer at least.
A gunshot rang close to his ear, soon followed by his own retaliation next to her head.
-Don’t. Mention. Him.
Her voice went suddenly cold, tainted with a restrained venom and madness in it that he couldn’t start to understand what it was linked to. Ben just saw his death with the black impact still fresh on the wall behind him, just as lethal as his own shot back left a molten hole in the metal wall behind her. Neither moved from their position, too much adrenaline rushing in their organism as rasp breaths escape their lips.
-Noted. Can I go now?
Another shout, deeper this time was coming from below them.
-I found him! Come here, you little scumbag!
With a detached and exasperated “tchh”, Ben turned his gun away from Jinx to the lone man who shouted below and let out a couple of shots. Long strip of molten gas flew of the gun directly into the guy’s head, piercing through the flesh with a brutal efficiency and go splash on the metal roof below.
A second later, the thug fell forward heavily while Ben was ejecting an empty canister from his weapon to his hand.
-Shit … still only three shots …
-already a sharpshooter, huh?
He tensed again, looking back up from the dead body to the actual breathing Zaunite menace still there, still aiming at him. With a corked and loaded gun against a now empty one.
-Well, fuck my life.
-You’ve got weird priorities.
-Aren’t you going to finish me in the first place?
-Nope, I was leaving. I have things to do too beside explosions and killing people, you know?
-Yeah … Don’t take it wrong, I don’t know you enough to think that’s true.
-No one really does. It would helps sometimes, not often … Shut up! I didn’t ask for this, I don't want to listen to you!
She jerked in a sudden movement, shouting to someone or something behind her, something that wasn’t physically present for him, loosening her grip on the gun to close eyes and shout insults and curses at … someone. Ben eyebrow’s rose in curiosity and perplexity, clearly unsure about everything that just happened to him and slowly moving his hands to reload his gun while she was occupied shooting elsewhere.
-You’re a strange girl, even for the Undercity ...
Her head snapped back once more, her face a mix of amusement and already fadding hatred to whatever she argued against.
-Says the guy who forgot what being afraid is. I’m Jinx and you’re still there, as if everything was alright. You got a few screws lose, dude.
-Touché, the depths fumes aren’t gentle with anyone. And if you wanted me dead, my brain would already be splattered on this wall.
-Ha ha … ha ha ha ! Yeah, you’re right about that. You’re a funny guy with a working brain, that’s rare around here.
-Thank you, I guess?
-Don’t stay here then, it’d be a pity to be killed for nothing.
-Why would you care?
Her eyes narrowed on him, the glint of madness gone so the deep blue eyes shone out like gemstones. For a few seconds, he wasn’t sure to see the same person, but the tension never left his body as his hand tightened around his gun.
-You don’t fear me, nor hate me. Yet. You can stick up to adults and not get caught. Hmm, I think we will work together in the future, and I will keep an eye on you. Call it … feminine intuition.
-Can’t say it doesn’t sound ominous, but I’ll never lick anyone’s boots. Don’t expect me to do Silco’s.
-Never hoped for it! You wouldn’t be worth it if you did!
With a wild cackle, she turned around to jump on another roof and continue her way across the city, a purple and blue blur around the chimney as she hopped around to an unknown beat.
Ben stood for a moment, watching her go as he pocket his gun away, slowly breathing as to settle down this strange encounter. He touched the side of his face, feeling the burn trace of the bullet that marked his cheek. A precise shoot, a bit more on the left and he would have been dead on the spot.
So that was the loose cannon of Zaun? He might have bitten too much this time, and he didn’t know how this would come out for him. Hopefully, she’ll have forgotten about him soon ...
-Hey, Silco ! I just found a guy that could be useful to you !
The new kingpin of the UnderCity rose his head from a paper note, his sole blue eye looking back tiredly at the girl on the other side of his desk standing there as if she was bringing a good mark from her teacher.
-And why isn’t he here then ?
-I let him go, he just stole something to another Chem-Baron I think. Didn’t get caught either. He’s smart, you’ll like him.
The man let out a single sigh in front of her limitless energy. Taking her in years ago was an … investment, but holding up with her genius and excess was sometimes more difficult than worth.
-Make me a resume and we’ll see what he’s worth. Does he have a name ?
-Ben. He has his own guns with him, almost got my head too with it.
And a pretty common name to boot, clearly not his priority then. He ushered her away with a gesture, and she left humming another song. He’ll deal with this stranger another time, but he could agree that someone who can create weapons on his own could be useful at least in their factories.
Now to get back on work with those cretin Chem-Barons …
As if answering to his expectations, a couple of weeks later, Ben was cornered after his last break in by the man himself and his second in command. Silco was wearing his long dark coat over a clean buttoned-up suit, obviously on the way back from a more important meeting than dealing with a fissure rat. Sevika and Jinx were scary women for multiple reasons and both were common sights in the Lanes, but He was the brain behind everything that happen down in the Undercity nowadays. He couldn’t be tricked so easily, was rarely seen for anything besides important matters and didn’t bothered with morality.
The growing amount of Shimmer addicts thanks to his spread of the drug was evidence enough of it.
The young man had really no other choice but to accept his deal: a package to deliver somewhere or a bullet, for his head of course. Turns out threatening his agent wasn’t really a good idea it seems. Reluctantly, more for a lack of alternatives than real fear of the man, Ben agreed to the mission only to have a bag throw at him by the buff woman.
-You seem to have a good brain on your shoulders kid, you could be of use to me. Do this task and I’ll see to … extend your contract. Fail and you’ll be among the casualties.
He could have answered back with his usual cynicism, as dealing with a devil was no choice at all but a bad one. Yet he refrained, knowing quite well that badmouthing here was a short way to more troubles. He was abrasive as can be, sure, but as he said, he wasn’t stupid.
The job itself wasn’t difficult by his standards. The security measures of this kind of facilities were great on the floor level, but poor on the roofs. An oversight that always helped him, as they never saw fit to learn from it. And with how much a vertical mayhem the Lanes were, made his job even easier.
Turn a couple road away from his destination to reach a pipe to climb on, dodge an open window and the people living behind, slowly jump on another roof and rise to the next one. Then force a window open with a piece of metal in the locket, wait for the patrol to come and go before sliding in and closing the window. Open the drawer to leave the package in (don’t ask why it was covered in bright paints and slightly beeping, no thank you). Silently going backward on the way out and jump away on another roof nearby.
He stood back up a couple of blocks away, looking back at the building he just went in for good measure, and spotted a pale figure observing him from another roof. Jinx was smiling her crazy look at him, making finger guns in his direction.
He returned the gesture out of uncertainty, making her smile even more before she dashed away. He did the same a couple seconds later, getting back to the alleyways to become as unimportant as possible. He was almost sure that Jinx already warned Silco that he did his job, so he turned around back to his hideout, away in the fissures, out of view and out of mind.
-That kid is efficient. I didn’t think he could do it without making some ruckus at least …
-See?! I told you he was good, and he’s literally fearless. The perfect combo!
-Everyone’s afraid of something, Jinx. The question is to find what it is.
-You don’t want to recruit him? What was the point to keep him alive then?
Silco stood up from his chair, looking out through the complex window to the night-lights from neon and lamps alike. He seemed to think for a few minutes, time that stretch out the other two women’s patience even more than usual.
-He has potential, just as you both do. But he’s a new and unknown piece on the board, a variable I don’t wish use against me, against us in the future. Who would trust a random kid on the streets with only words?
-So, what do you want? That we keep an eye on him for the moment?
-Hmm, let’s see if he’s as good upside than here.
Sevika frowned when she heard it, unsure if it was a good idea to send him in Piltover already knowing their wavering relationship with the newly introduced sheriff. Jinx didn’t care much where he could be sent, she wanted to experiment with him. In the chaos of her mind, he was a hammer that needed precisions, sharpening, and he had good gadgets to talk about already. She could feel a strange sort of connection when he held her at gunpoint, he barely moved when they both shot.
Either he was really courageous, or he was even more broken than she was. Anyway, she could commiserate with someone else than the troll for once!
… Since when did she needed someone to commiserate? Whatever!
-If he’s as good as you describe him, we will make him work for us. I think you’re going to have a new assistant for your projects, Jinx.
She couldn’t wait for it!
He met with one of Silco’s goons near a street food cart this time, the guy silently handing him a folded letter that he took with a gloved hand. Call him paranoid if you wished, nobody survives in here without being at least warry of what and who it was working with. And if Silco is on the other end, be twice as wary.
Another mission, great. To spy and steal something this time, how original, but nothing new for him. Where was it … in Piltover?!
The goon didn’t even wait for him to be done with the lecture to go back where he came from, grunting a goodbye on the way. Respect wasn’t an easy currency around here, and for now he had none.
With a sigh as heavy as the worst fish at the pier, he began to plan with a swift goal in mind. This warlord wanted to see his skills when dealing with the Piltos?
It would serve him right to be surprised for once.
A full week went by after Ben received his order. The trio of criminals and criminals-in-training were meeting back in Silco’s office, up in the Last Drop upper rooms. The man was currently browsing some documents on a recently added wall desk, having only settled in this office only a few years ago, and was planning his future expansion in all the lower city quarters.
The lack of news from some of the people he sent out on mission displeased him, but he wasn’t totally surprised either. The Lanes were a dangerous place with plenty of resourceful people, yet the gang wars and the Enforcers going everywhere were not so easy to deal with despite their obvious flaws. It was easy to lose people to mere street fights or heavy "inspections".
He could see that Powder, no Jinx, was currently busy in the rafters tinkering on something. It’s been almost two years now that he took her in, his initial resistance quickly crumbling in front of all the raw potential and rage she was showing at such a young age. The same couldn’t be said for her sanity however, yet he wouldn’t blame her: he too was betrayed by Vander long ago, and he lost his one brother alongside his left eye in the pursuit of their dream.
Nobody found his corpse after they left the docks, but he wasn’t worried. Corpses don’t come back to life. And they both had plenty of skeletons in closets to keep them busy to the grave.
Sevika let out a grunt of her own while checking some reports too, her now cape covered and missing left arm shifting just a bit to remember what happened that day. Her eyes rose up to him with a tired understanding.
-All the deliveries were carried out but half of the courier were found dead less than a day later. The Enforcers captured one of our contacts in the Topside market, but he didn’t give us away before ending in Stillwater.
-A setback for sure, but nothing problematic in the moment. The deals are still operational at least for now, what about the rest?
-Our other exchanges are running well in the western side, the Doctor notes are still good enough for production. No news of the boy and your special mission however. Can’t say I’m surprised.
-You don’t trust him, do you?
Jinx perked up from her little Chomper once she understood they were talking about Ben. She almost forgot him for a while as he was on the other side of the clean city, which was kind of sad when most she heard anymore were judging voice from the living and blaming ghost.
Having someone to talk to that don’t hate or use you would be nice … She missed Ekko sometimes … and everyone else …
While she was skulking on her own, she didn’t register what was happening in the office as the grumpy voice of Sevika rose once more.
-Stealing directly from the new Council Wonder boy’s labs deep in the Piltover Academy? You wanted him to fail from the start, don’t you?
-If he wants to be a more important part of this, I need to know he isn’t all talk and no bite, worth the effort.
A heavy thump fell on the floor behind them at the end of his phrase, making them turn immediately, gun blazing from everyone to meet two other guns aimed at both Silco and Jinx in a complete standoff. A figure they didn’t expect to meet today was standing there with a heavy bag on his back, a cape hiding the rest of his lean body still clad in leather coat, clean white shirt and black pants looking like an uniform.
-Good news then that I’m both talk and bite. You should hire new guards; they missed me in front of their eyes.
-Ben. How kind of you to come back, unannounced, in my office no less. How did your mission go?
-Glad to be back in one piece, I’ll say. They are a bit tense up there after a guy was captured with illegal merchandises, they increased the security for a while. I tell you; those labs are a pain to get in, even worse to come out.
He made a “tchh” before shoving his pistols back to their holsters on his pants, actively disarming the situation without a care. Slowly, both followed his dynamic and Silco was back behind his desk while Ben unfolded his bag and what was in it.
-The lab visit was a bit useless if you ask me, nothing worth stealing there beside high-quality tools and a couple of technical blueprints. I found a lot of call-outs to this guy notes, but he seems to keep them with him all the time. They are preparing something big, that’s for certain. Plenty of money movements and construction papers were mentioned.
He took out a picture of a blue cristal with rough edges and handed it to the one-eyed man, letting him hum with satisfaction. Powder caught a look at it and froze, her body silently shaking on the side with traumatic memories.
-This thing seem to be his primary research now, but I couldn’t find any in the labs. The only one I saw him use exploded during his tests. Pretty big explosion too.
Explodes … Explosion … Mr Monkey … The warehouse, Milo, Claggor … Vander … Vi …
While Powder was having an internal meltdown about her past oh her own, Silco rose an eyebrow along with Sevika to the boy's answer, hands still flat on the desk.
-You “saw” him use one?
-I tried to pass as one of the students there for a moment, he left his door open when the dean came around to help with it. I didn’t stay long after that, Heimerdinger is too intelligent not to have burned my cover instantly. The others were easier to fool.
… I only wanted to help …
Silco silently agreed with a hum, putting the picture with the rest of the notes he brought back as suddenly, Jinx began trembling on her machine, shaking in terror and pain. First silent sobs, then heavy shaking and muted cry came out from above before she just drop down and darted out of the room, shoving the door open to the once cozy bar.
The remaining three person in the room looked at this spectacle with different reaction and level of dumbfounding, but the oldest adult just focused back on the task at end with a sigh.
-I’ll go talk to her. For now, Ben, welcome among us. You earned a modicum of my respect, I must admit.
-You didn’t expect me to succeed there.
It wasn’t a question from the young man, it was a fact that was quickly validated by a nod.
-There are a lot of arrogant children on these streets that think themselves smarter, or faster, or more cunning than most adults. Some are, more ends up in the gutter if not in worse conditions that what they started. You were not different from them when I gave you this task, and I’m pleased to be wronged.
-If you say so. I don’t really like the idea of working for you though.
He rose his sole eyebrow again, partially irritated of being interrupted or judged by a boy, before answering him as brutally unhappy as he was feeling.
-May I ask you why?
-I don’t want to remain a lackey my whole life. I want to improve the life of people around here, not only mine, and make the Piltos understand that we are more than a dump yard.
Sevika was standing behind him, guarding the now closed door with a heinous look on her face that he gave back, hand hovering on their guns in a mutual dislike. Then, he looked behind at the door and wondered what happened to Jinx to react like this.
Unbeknownst to him, a part of his brain he fought dead slowly started to work again with a droplet of concern. Along with the warmth of conviction in his veins when he turned back to the inquisitive Silco.
-Something more than the Undercity or the Lanes …
-A real Nation … the Nation of Zaun. Silco finished his phrase with his own determined voice, his body rising up to stand above his.
In that instant, both men look at each other as their mismatched eyes were burning with the same kind of fire that conviction alone could light up. For the first time, they saw each other as kindred spirits with a similar goal, and Sevika felt unease and fear sweat roll on her brows while looking at the scene.
-We will work well together it seems, Ben. Welcome to the family.