MEL & JAYCE

"Did I just hear that right?", he asked. "Camille Ferros threatened you?"

Jayce laid down the collapsible pocket wrench he used to make adjustments to the Mercury Hammer he carried along more than ever now, since the bombing, by the workbench. While he didn't have to take his jacket off, as he wouldn't be making any hammers that day, the heat was indeed eminent, as the fires still burned at the furnace, although more lightly than ever.

Mel, on her end, looked aside, still slightly nervous, something Jayce could notice, although for everyone else it was almost imperceptible. "She wasn't quite that straight on it, the Gray Lady isn't a fool.", she said. "But she did make her point at the cost of an imported Ionian rock."

"And clearly is also a bit too keen with war against the Trenchers...", he replied, expressing some disappointment, though not surprised. "Hard to guess what she's got to gain with it, though..."

"Apart from the fact House Ferros had a sway over Piltover, and they just want to get that status quo back?", Mel asked. "Yes, quite hard to guess... Still, Camille knows her boundaries, and it doesn't seem like she has much of second intentions for Hextech weaponry, other than political ones."

"You mean her offer to 'assist' in making the weapons, that is?", Jayce asked.

"Yes, but still Camille's less of a threat than... her.", Mel concluded, letting her breath out. "I still can't forgive the fact she tried getting in your head, like that..."

"She tried. Pity a girl from the Fissures beat her to it.", he said, Mel staring at him seriously. "But, when I went down there, I still made my own decision."

"Yes... about that.", Mel started, in a slightly stern tone. "The only thing that kept me so far from roaring at what you did down there was the fact it got us a chance unlike any other to put this crisis to an end. But then, the end result was out of our hands, but on Silco's. Or Jinx's, for that matter, but still... What were you thinking, Jayce, risking everything, even your life like that? A Councillor, of all people!", she then let out a sarcastic snicker, shaking her head slowly. "What am I asking, clearly you weren't thinking. Not on your mother, or Viktor, or the people of Piltover, everyone whom needs you. Not even on me!"

Jayce glanced at her in silence, almost as if he was being scolded by a mother. A former-Noxian mother, at that. "I wished I hadn't.", he started, a couple of seconds later. "But then, it was too much on my head. The pressure of the crisis, knowing the enforcers became unreliable thanks to Marcus, no one willing to propose something be done about it..."

"And you think this justifies that stunt?", Mel asked.

"And then the Trencher girl, Vi, she got here and said those words, fully willing to do something, what the Council wouldn't.", Jayce continued, not wanting to start a discussion. The one with Vi and Caitlyn was still too fresh. "I didn't know if that was fear they had or... something else. Of course, I didn't think twice. And then I got down there, fought Silco's henchmen, even though I shouldn't have taken such a risk... Still, I didn't regret it. It did feel right at the time, until..."

"The dead child.", Mel concluded, recalling what Jayce told her prior to his summit with the Council. Jayce nodded. "The Council may have acted before out of fear, Jayce, as it was with Hextech before you and Viktor could rub it on their faces, but this one was totally different. You could've legitimized Silco's reasons for wanting war against us, a rallying cry to the rest of the Undercity. That's why we stood down, then."

Jayce looked at his loved one, for a moment, before looking away again. "The reasoning still doesn't make it anymore frustrating...", he mulled.

"A delicate situation and a hot head are as much siblings as dry grass and fire.", Mel replied. "My father. At least it was good you could put a stop to it, right there..."

Jayce nodded again. "Pity she couldn't.", he said, staring at those lovely eyes that somehow gave the shaped up Councillor the reason to keep going, apart from all the adversities, be they recent or those of years ago, of when an explosion at his apartment set those events long in motion.

"So that's what it all comes down to?"

The new voice caught them both by surprise, staring at the direction as the very last person they expected or wanted to see stepped out of the shadows, clearly having been listening from the background. The old figure of the red, militaristic clothing and cape, with her battle-worn, scarred face.

Jayce's expression became one of surprise and apprehension, he really should've had the enforcers by the door, given this was the third time someone shows up to his place unannounced, the other two having been done firstly by Mel and then Vi.

Mel, on the other hand, got surprised and then visibly outraged at both the audacity and then the insolence, even more as Mel did give the warning.

"Children die everyday and everywhere, but you don't seem to be as affected.", Ambessa said, beholding both with a disappointed expression.

"How dare you...", Mel started, nearly baring her teeth.

"But when one dies right before your eyes...", the Noxian general continued, slowly shaking her head.

"I told you to stay away from-", Mel started, angry.

"Mel.", Jayce said, firmly, putting a hand on her shoulder as he stared at Ambessa, seriously. "Even for Noxians, this is trespassing, General Medarda."

"As even for Piltovans, what you're doing is complacency, Councillor.", Ambessa replied. "You're exposing your throat again, needlessly, for people whom'd rather watch you served on a spit.", she then glanced at Mel. "I thought you learned, Mel."

"Oh, I did learn that *too* well.", Mel retorted.

"You can't be making it all about that day, again...", Ambessa said, closing her eyes in frustration.

"It was always about that day.", Mel replied, coldly.

"Day?", Jayce asked, staring at both mother and daughter. "What day?"

"Southwestern Navori.", Mel answered a second later, keeping her gaze at Ambessa. "Nearly two decades ago. I was daughter to a Solari emissary, a political marriage. He sent me at my mother's request to help 'rebuild' a recently conquered province. In the end it was just a play, just so she could try and force her Noxian values into me."

"It was supposed to be a lesson on necessary decisions.", Ambessa stood firm. "On how violence, no matter how unpleasant it is, is still a-"

"Unpleasant?", Mel cut her off, offended. "A girl, executed in front of a 13 year-old, when that one suggested mercy, is unpleasant!?"

"I told you she was a symbol of the old regime!", Ambessa retorted.

"And you made her a martyr!", Mel retorted. "I told you she'd be no danger, just strip her of possessions and ship her away!"

"And risk her being retrieved!?", Ambessa asked, angry. "Regardless of how far she'd be, or how destitute, she'd still be a standard for our enemies! Her robes, her pretty looks, her *breath* made her too dangerous! I told you only one needed to die!"

"So much for your lesson!", Mel retorted, furious. "The whole region ablaze, villages and towns in rebellion, mobs and guerilla warfare, thousands still dead! You could barely hold it together, weren't for relief from the mainland, I heard!"

"You'd rather mobs, or armies?", Ambessa asked, baring her teeth. "Like it or not, there is a difference, child!"

Across all that, Jayce's face was simply one of shock, both at Mel's apparent and relatable reason for such a dislike to her mother driving a feral beast within such a delicate beauty, as well as Ambessa's rational but rather callous choice of words, the discussion happening as if he weren't even at that place. It's almost as if he didn't even see mother and daughter arguing in anger, but rather such disparate ideologies, not so far from their representing nations, clashing with each other.

"That goes for you as well, Talis.", Ambessa's firm words took Jayce's attention back towards there and now, then. "Maybe not as literal, but rather the opposite. The word of the deserting enforcers haven't escaped my ears or anyone else's-"

"That's a problem exclusive to Piltover, you've no right to meddle!", Mel interrupted.

"As the Undercity is, and look how well you're handling it!", Ambessa retorted, focusing on Talis. "I'm serious on this, a divided army-"

"General Medarda!", Mel interjected, in a commanding voice, almost unfit for a daughter.

"-is the last thing you want!", Ambessa continued. "Take up arms, march and reconcile before-"

"ENOUGH!"

The feminine roar of a once gentle woman echoed across the workshop, the tools, the furnace, all of metal absorbing the sound waves, bearing witness. A roar that took the souls of one adapted to the rigors of war and a loved one both by surprise. Ambessa's expression was one of surprise and shock, clearly not expecting such from a soft-hearted as her daughter. Jayce's was one of shock and almost fear of the woman whose back to him almost made him, a muscular man and one whom even fought the perils presented by late Silco's Shimmer empire, almost too small.

"I believe your time of stay in our city has now expired, warlord.", Mel said, composing herself in a steely voice. "You'll be granted about eight hours to settle pending affairs here, embark and set sail back to Noxus."

"Mel-", Jayce started, but Mel raised her hand as to stop him right there.

"If by then, the docked vessel hasn't voided it's wharf yet, a warrant for forced commandeering will be issued to the office of the Sheriff of Piltover.". Mel warned. "And, personally, I'd want to avoid such an embarrassment."

Ambessa stared at Mel's eyes for a moment, eyes locked at one another, like predators almost dueling. Like wolves to fight for the fate of the pack.

"...you don't want to play with this fire, child.", the General warned, coldly, in a tone almost uncharacteristic of her, a tone of a battlefield survivor.

"Out.", Mel ordered. "Now."

Ambessa's fist clenched to a nearly breaking point. How she wanted now to grab her daughter for that audacity, to order, roar and even coldly threat her mother, her very flesh and blood like that.

And yet, it was also the very first time her daughter ended up taking a stand. A moment Ambessa, at times, dreamed, of when the wolf within her would awake and howl. And the time had come and it was there and then.

And Ambessa should've been proud, though not showing it. She should've smiled within.

Instead, she regained her own composure, only an empty, stoic expression facing her daughter. "The worst moment to bare your teeth...", she said, shaking her head slowly, before staring at Jayce again. "You know I'm right. You need my help in these matters."

Jayce looked aside for a second, a bit, before looking seriously to her. "A girl?", he asked. "In front of your daughter?"

Ambessa shut her eyes in frustration. "It's not like an inventor would understand...", she stated.

"Or perhaps I do understand.", he replied, looking into his supposed mother-in-law's eyes for a moment. Supposed being the key word. "I'm sure you've preparations to make for your departure, General. I hope you at least enjoyed your time in our fair city."

Ambessa's eyes darted for a moment away from Jayce for a sight resting by one of the workbenches. A hammer. Clearly one too long and too thick to be a mallet. Almost as if it were a sign of power.

She turned to leave. "Watch what you've been washing your hands on, ever since you sat on those chairs.", she said. "Both of you."

Ambessa walked out of the room, footsteps going out loud.

Jayce stared at Mel, then. "You said, before, you fell short of Medarda standards, didn't you?", he asked, with a bit of a disappointment on his voice.

"I should've opened up to you sooner...", Mel said, with a bit of regret.

Jayce shrugged. "Not sure I'd ever be ready for that...", he commented. "But, if anything, I should thank you."

"For what?", Mel asked. "This?"

Jayce looked at Mel, slightly relieved. "It's good to know I wasn't the only one considered out of standards.", he said. "You forgot that reckless handsome guy whose experiments were somewhat dangerous?"

Mel finally broke of that war face she wielded but a minute ago, allowing herself to be vulnerable. "How could I?", she asked, an imperceptible smirk increasing. "Funny enough, sometimes I miss him."

Jayce's eyes darted aside and then back at Mel, as he allowed himself a smirk as well.

But then, new steps were heard entering the room, and Jayce and Mel turned to notice a new figure appearing before them.

An enforcer. "Councillors, we have a problem.", he said. "At the hospital."

The couple stared at each other, knowing to well what that word meant.

Because it was related to WHOM it meant.