Today was a little cooler than the past few days, Sapphire sighing in relief when she stepped out of her apartment and didn't get absolutely cooked. It had only been two days since her trip into Piltover, but the pins were nearly done. She had decided to take a break and open up her stall for the day. Frank, who ran the stall next door, seemed shocked to see her.
"My goodness, child! Where have you been the last three days? Everyone was talking that Silco had you taken out." Frank whispered to her and Sapphire couldn't help but laugh.
"No, I'm alright. I got a commissioned project the same day Silco shopped at my stall. So I've been busy working on that. It's almost done, but I needed a break from it today." She replied, leaning back in the chair behind her stall. She didn't divulge any details about her project, but Frank normally never asked anyway.
"Well that's good. I believe Silco's daughter was looking for you yesterday." Frank sighed, sitting back down in his chair. "She didn't have any guards so I think she might have snuck out." Sapphire frowned, Silco wouldn't be happy if his daughter was sneaking out to look for me, and without any guards either.
"Did she say anything?" Sapphire asked, looking out over the Promenade as other stalls began to open and a few customers began to peruse the stall. It was quite slow this morning, but she didn't mind at all.
"Not a word. She just stood, looking at your booth for a few minutes before she left." Frank explained, gesturing to an area out on the Promenade that was deserted right now. Sapphire hummed in thought before getting to work and setting out her jewelry on the table.
The Promenade was getting darker and darker as the sun began to set, Sapphire deciding it was time to start packing up her pieces. She hadn't seen the little girl today, but Sapphire was kind of grateful about that. It means it wouldn't be her problem, because she wanted very little contact with Silco.
Sapphire waved to Frank as she left her stall, heading back towards her apartment when a flash of blue caught her eye. There she was, the little girl was standing in the shadows, looking down at the ground and not speaking to anyone. Sapphire felt her body turn subconsciously toward her while her mind screamed at her not to do it. Her body moved on its own until she was in front of the little blue haired girl. She crouched down and spoke softly, "Hey, what are you doing out here all alone?" She hoped her voice sounded warm, she didn't want to scare the girl off. The girl looked up at her and gasped.
"You're alive!" The girl breathed out in relief, hugging herself. "I thought Sil- my dad had killed you. I came to look at your stuff again but you weren't here." She explained.
Sapphire smiled at her warmly. "No, I'm alright. I just had a big job to work on recently so I couldn't be at the stall. Does your dad know that you're here?" She asked, hoping the little girl hadn't snuck out but also knowing she probably had.
"No… I don't like having people watch and follow me all the time…" She pouted, glaring at the ground." Sapphire sighed and reached up, pushing some of the girl's hair behind her ear.
"Well, you know your father is a very busy and important man. Some people don't like him, and the unfortunate thing about that is if someone wanted to hurt him, they might try to hurt you." Sapphire explained. "Now, I'm sure your dad would be really worried if he couldn't find you. Come on, I'll take you back to your father." Sapphire offered, standing up and offering the little girl her hand.
The little girl was hesitant, slowly reaching forward than pulling back, before finally taking Sapphire's hand. "My name is Jinx, what's yours?" Jinx asked, looking up at Sapphire. She flashed her another smile as they started walking towards the Lanes.
"My name is Sapphire, but people call me Sapph for short." She explained, hardly anyone ever called her by her nickname anymore, but she wouldn't mind it if the little girl did.
"Your name is really pretty." Jinx stated, looking down at the necklace that was still around her neck. "You also make really pretty things. So, you must be a really nice and pretty person." Sapphire felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment at the compliment.
"Why thank you, Jinx. But what makes you think I'm nice?" Sapphire wondered, she often didn't think of herself as nice, that was for sure.
"Because you're walking me home. Even though I'm not your responsibility." Jinx countered, looking up at her with blue eyes. So many people just walked by me today, but you're the only one who stopped and talked to me. Sapphire frowned at her words. Sapphire didn't like meddling in other people's business, and most people didn't either in the Undercity. She sighed.
"I'm sorry those people ignored you Jinx, but I won't ignore you. However, if you want to come see my stall again, you need to tell your dad, okay?" Sapphire wanted to scold her and reassure Jinx at the same time, unsure if she was doing this right.
Jinx stopped walking and held out a pinky. "Do you pinky swear to not ignore me?" Sapphire blinked before linking her pinky with Jinx's.
"I pinky swear and cross my heart." Sapphire replied, smiling at her, "but can you promise me that you will ask your dad for permission next time?" Jinx sighed and pouted.
"I promise, Sapph." They started walking again, Jinx commenting about things that she had seen happen in the Lanes the past few days. Sapphire hummed at Jinx's report.
"Violence is a pretty common thing down here in the Lanes, that's why I live up in the Promenade, where it is at least a little safer." Sapphire explained and Jinx nodded.
"I know, but if you lived in the Lanes it would be easier to see you." Jinx pouted and Sapphire giggled, ruffling her hair.
"Well, you can come see me. But with permission, only. No more sneaking out, It isn't safe." Sapphire replied, causing Jinx to snort.
Sapphire frowned as they got closer to The Last Drop. It was almost dark now, and yet she couldn't see a single one of the goons from a few days ago. Sapphire hoped someone would at least be inside as she pulled open the door to The Last Drop and walked inside with Jinx.
"We're closed tonight, buzz off somewhere else." A gruff woman's voice barked at the door without even looking up. Sapphire recognized her as the one who was usually with Silco from a few days ago.
"Um, That's fine, I just wanted to bring Jinx home." Sapphire hated how weak her voice sounded inside this place. She just wanted to bring Jinx home safely, then go home. Why couldn't things ever go the way she wanted them to. The woman looked up at the sound of Jinx's name, before sneering.
"Where did you run off to, you little brat?" She looked angry and Sapphire felt herself unconsciously move herself in front of Jinx. Jinx was clinging to the back of her shirt, trying to hide from the woman. "Get out of here, you brought her back, your business is done here." She said, looming over Sapphire.
"Sevika. Enough." Silco's voice coming from the top of the stairs filled Sapphire with relief unexpectedly. "Jinx, Miss Sapphire. Please follow me." Silco turned and began to walk back towards his office, he didn't get too far before Jinx had sped from behind Sapphire and up the stairs to hug Silco. Sevika huffed and turned, stomping away from Sapphire.
Sapphire followed after Jinx, but much more slowly than the energetic eleven-year-old.
Silco held hands with Jinx as he led the both of them into his office, letting go of her hand and closing the door after Sapphire had entered. "Miss Sapphire, thank you for bringing Jinx home. I didn't realize she had been sneaking out until this afternoon." He turned his attention to Jinx. "I know you get bored here sometimes, but you can't just leave whenever you feel like it." He sighed, kneeling down to look up at Jinx.
"I know… Sapph already told me that it wasn't safe." Jinx sighed. "She made me pinky promise not to do it again." Silco looked back at Sapphire, the tiniest bit of surprise showing in his blue eye.
"Alright, well a promise is something that I can trust in. Go on and get ready for bed, I'll be there soon for a story." He ruffled Jinx's hair, smiling softly as she headed out of his office. He stood up and headed towards his desk. Pushing his hair back, some pieces still falling forward over his forehead. "I had forgotten how important promises like that are at that age." Silco sat down in his chair, his attention fully turning to Sapphire. "Please, take a seat." Sapphire at least felt somewhat grateful that his attitude wasn't as harsh from the last time she'd been in this room. "If she promised you something, what did you promise her?" He asked, watching her carefully. Sapphire swallowed nervously, but knew it wasn't something to keep a secret.
"I promised not to ignore her." She replied, Silco's blue eye widening in surprise. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling like he hadn't been paying enough attention to Jinx. "Um… I don't think it was because of you. She said many people had walked by her today but they had all ignored her." Sapphire offered, wondering why in the hell she was trying to make Silco of all people feel better.
"All except for you." He looked up and met her teal eyes, Sapphire flinching at the intensity of his stare. "She likes you. She doesn't have any friends, so thank you for making her feel better today." He tapped his desk, thinking deeply. "What would you like as a reward?"
"I…what? A reward?" Sapphire blinked in confusion. "I didn't do anything worthy of a reward. I just helped Jinx home" She protested, holding her hands up. "I don't want anything."
Silco hummed in thought, tapping his finger on his desk again. It was extremely unlikely that she didn't want anything. He would need to keep a closer eye on Sapphire now, he would find out what she was truly after. "Fair enough. Thank you again for bringing Jinx home." He stood up from his desk and led Sapphire to his door.
Sapphire could tell he fully didn't believe her words, but she didn't really care. "I'm just glad Jinx is home safe." She smiled, leaving without waiting for him to respond. Silco stared out into the hallway, seeming deep in thought. He sighed and shook his head, closing his office door before going to put Jinx to bed.
Jinx was all ready for bed, sitting on her bed already in her pajamas as she waited for her dad to come in. Silco knocked on the door that was already open to let her know he was coming in. "Is Sapph in trouble for helping me?" Jinx asked, looking worried. "She didn't mean to do something wrong, she was just being nice." Jinx explained. Causing Silco to falter slightly in his thoughts. Nice. She was being nice. Silco knew people weren't nice for no reason. They always wanted something in return.
"No, Miss Sapphire isn't in trouble. After all, she brought you home safely. Why do you call her Sapph?" He asked, surprised that the two were so close already.
"Because she said I could. She also said I could come see her any time, but I had to get your permission first." Jinx laid back on her pillow with a flop. Silco blinked in surprise. Sapphire had bonded with Jinx, yet had also respected him to require his permission for their meeting. He hummed in thought and rubbed his chin. Perhaps Sapphire really was honestly nice.