Dead Man's Rest

You never thought you'd die alone. Not like this, in some remote apartment on the far reaches of Valoran. If anything you always envisioned a good life with Jinx. But seeing how things have progressed over the years maybe it's for the best that no one knows of your location. Or your illness.

It wasn't uncommon for Zaunites to fall ill as they grew older. In fact you've had a few friends who also subcame to one illness or another. All of them tough as nails, hardened by the streets of Zaun, just like you. And just like you, sooner or later they all met the same end.

Looking back you were one of the lucky ones. You were Silco's student for most of your life, meaning that you were spared from some of the harsher sides of Zaun. Well mostly spared. You still managed to get into quite a bit of trouble growing up. Particularity with a certain duo of sisters.

When you first met Vi and Jinx, or Powder as she was then called, you were immediately drawn to them. They offered a fresher look on the world, not the gloom you were so used to. They made things fun, you had a lot of fun as kids.

As you grew older you noticed that Silco started getting more and more strict with you.

"Were you with Vander's daughters again?" He asked looking over your work, "I sent you on an important errand, not a date."

You scoff and roll your eyes, "And I got what you asked me to get, sir." You stand up quickly and try to walk past him, but Silco catches you by the wrist.

Even though you've gotten a little bit taller now that puberty hit, Silco was always an intimidating man, "Careful. In our line of work it doesn't serve us well to get attached to many things. We must always look ahead towards a brighter future for Zaun, that is our priority."

Right. A better Zaun.

"Yes, sir." You pull away from his tight grip and walk out. The moment you turn around the nearest corner you feel a piercing pain in your chest. This is something that has happened a few times now, but you don't quite know what to make of it just yet. Still it might be a good idea for you to visit a doctor if it goes on like this for much longer.

In the meantime you want to spend some time with your friends. You didn't have many but those you did have you would give anything for.

That day, you were supposed to met Powder and Vi, they apparently scored big recently and had something exciting to show you. Well Powder more than Vi. She was always a little more obvious in her crush. Always easier to fluster.

It was supposed to be a good day. A fun day.

Then the explosion changed everything. You haven't seen Vi for many years after that. And Powder... Jinx had changed. You could still see she had a crush on you, that never changed, but as years went on you could see her slipping more and more. And Silco, well he became the new head of Zaun, a step closer to his dream and apparently ready to to whatever it took to make it happen.

You were on your way back from the doctor, when you were suddenly tackled into a hug by Jinx.

"Where ya been? I've been waiting here for an hour." Jinx asked loudly, drawing a few looks from people passing by.

"In front of my apartment?" You ask with a chuckle, "Something happen?"

Jinx smirked, a big happy grin she got when she got her hands on something really good, "Yup. I can tell you in private." She hugged your arms really close to herself and you could feel yourself blush. She's gotten bolder over the past few years, "Come on, I promise it's really cool."

You need to take your medicine though. The doctor didn't give you much time left to live. Few months at most.

"Fine. But I'm not eating any of your food again. I got food poisoning last time." You only half joke.

"My food was good. You just have a weak stomach." Jinx pouts as she follows you up to your place. Once there she practically presses you against the door, a big grin on her face, "Guess what? Vi's alive."

Your eyes go wide, "W-What?"

Surely you heard Jinx wrong. As far as everyone knew Vi was dead. Silco said so himself. Silco... said so himself...

"Fuck." You curse yourself for being so stupid. Like you haven't worked for Silco for years, of course he would cover things up.

Oh this was bad. Silco never leaves loose ends. You needed to find Vi. Fast. It turns out that you didn't need to look for long. Apparently Vi was running around Zaun, with an Enforcer of all people as her backup. Ok, so she was alive. That was good. Now there was just the matter of keeping it that way.

You had some trouble getting her to agree to talk to you. Why would she? You were working for the man who was largely responsible for killing her family, stealing her sister from her and throwing her into jail for years.

However you were running out of time. Literally. And if nothing else you wanted to make sure that Vi and Jinx were safe, even after you're gone. Eventually you managed to get in touch with Vi and she agreed to meet you.

She was on guard when she arrived.

"I'm surprised you actually showed up. It's been a long time huh?" You tried to sound friendly.

"I'm surprised you don't have back up." Vi took a fighting stance.

Your eyes widened. You're not a fighter by any means. You're more into planning than being a man of action, "Whoa there, I didn't call you here to fight."

Vi was clearly not buying it, "Save it."

"Vi, please, listen to me. Silco... he's planning something big."

"Yeah, no shit. Which is why I'm gonna stop him."

You sigh, "Still think you can solve every problem with your firsts."

Vi grinned a cocky grin, "Hasn't failed me yet."

You chuckle, "Glad to see you haven't changed. Unfortunately this isn't the kind of problem you can punch." You shake your head, "Listen Vi, you need to get out of here, take Jinx, and go. I... I gave him up." You whisper between you two, "Silco."

Vi's eyes widen, "What? He's your mentor." She sounded very puzzled by your decision.

"He is. But our ways of looking at the world have been getting more and more different. I can't watch everyone spiraling down into death anymore. Least of all you and Jinx. Now when you just found each other again. Please Vi, just promise me you and Jinx won't be at the Last Drop tomorrow night." You look her deep in the eye, a serious look on her face.

"She's never agree to go with me."

"She will. She never stopped talking about you." You watch as Vi's face shifts from surprise to happiness, a small smile now on her lips.

Vi agrees to go along with your plan but if this is another trap, she'll track you down and kill you herself. Looking back you find that threat quite funny.

You'll never forget the look on Silco's face when the Enforcers surrounded the Last Drop, Caitlyn leading the charge with a boatload of evidence to arrest him and those he was in league with. You made sure you had a safe route to slip away of course. You made you way outside of Zaun, and eventually to the small apartment you were currently staying in.

That's where you've been living for the past few months. The last months of your life. In the last few days you've been putting together two letters. One for Vi and one for Jinx, telling them how lucky you feel to have had them in your life, how happy you are that you got to see them both again, that you hope they live a long life, longer than yours.

On your last day you hand both letters to the postman.

"Same reply address?" He asked.

"No. That won't be necessary. Tell them that they don't need to bother."

"Oh. So... not friends then?"

"Best friends. I just don't think they'll get here in time."

"Are you moving?" The postman glanced inside, all your things still in place as always.

"Something like that." You chuckle and close the door one final time.