Chapter IV:

"I know, I know…" Powder's gaze fell on the portrait of Vi that hung above her workbench. "I went on a date with a Piltie. But it wasn't so bad, you know? I actually kinda like this one."

Vi stared back with that slick smirk of hers.

"Before you judge, I feel like you would've done the same too." Powder picked up a discarded gear, idly tossing it from hand to hand before pointing it at Vi. "Just a hunch."

Powder began humming a tuneless melody as she sifted through the rest of her mess, mainly the remains of a music box in dire need of repair. With a practiced hand, she reattached a tiny spring, the delicate metal coil snapping back into place with a satisfying click. She tested the mechanism, a smile appearing as a discordant jangle filled the air.

"Beautiful," she murmured, her fingers already reaching for another tool, her eyes locking with Vi again. "It's weird, isn't it? I haven't told Vander yet. Or Silco. Who do you think will take it better?"

Powder paused, considering Vi's answer with self-deprecating snort. "Yeah, probably Silco. I already know Vander's gonna be drama."

Suddenly, her hand brushed against something cold and smooth within a drawer. Powder pulled out a small, velvet pouch. Inside, nestled amongst the soft fabric, lay a collection of shattered hex-tech crystals, their once vibrant colors now dulled and fractured. Like broken dreams.

Powder picked one up, tracing the jagged edges. Her eyes closed, and for a moment, Vi was next to her. Truly next to her. But then the memory of the day it all went wrong came crashing back.

A pang of guilt shot through her as her fingers tightened around the shard. Reaching inside the drawer again, she grabbed a notebook and pencil.

"Remember when we used to dream of changing the world?"

-Ω-

"Is there anything you need to tell me?" Vander asked, his gaze piercing.

There was nobody left in the bar, their last customer having left an hour ago. The only sounds now came from Silco's soft footsteps as he paced the floor above, probably rattling on about something of relative unimportance.

"Who told you?" Powder's eyes narrowed, flicking the straw from her drink. "Hmm? Was it Claggor? Or Little Man?"

Vander raised his brow. "Told me what? What is there to be told to me? I just asked you a question because you are my daughter." He turned to put some stuff in the dishwasher. "My daughter who is acting awfully suspicious."

Powder rolled her eyes. "So you do know."

"I know that something's up with you. You've been acting different lately." Vander reached back over the bar, tapping the top of her head. "Some late nights, recently, yeah?"

"That's nothing unusual," Powder snorted. "I'm always tinkering late into the night. It's when my best ideas come to me."

Vander smiled. "Well, since when did you start wearing your perfume again? Thought you said you outgrew that stuff."

He really did pay attention to her, she'd give him that.

"Okay, okay…" A huff escaped her lips as she plunked her straw back into the glass. "It's just complicated."

"Try me," Vander's arms crossed in front of her.

"Somebody asked me out last week. A guy."

Vander's expression didn't change immediately. He just kept staring at her. The silence stretched, marinating in the air. Powder shifted uncomfortably. "His name is Percy," she finally blurted out.

"Percy," Vander said the name slowly. The glass in his hands was clean a long time ago, yet he still continued to wipe it with his cloth. "Is there more to him than just his name?"

"Well, he stopped by my workshop to get something repaired," Powder began, trying her absolute best to sound casual. "And he seemed interested in what I was up to, so I invited him to Progress Day. And then he asked me out afterwards, and then he took me around Piltover."

Vander's smile faltered slightly at the mention of Piltover. His brow raised. "He's a topsider?"

"Yeah?" Powder shrugged. "Be nice. I actually… really like him."

Vander threw up his hands. "Haven't said a bad thing yet. If there's anything I know about you, it's that you have high standards. Whoever this lad is must be impressive. What does he do?"

"Well" Powder took a deep breath. She could just feel the inevitable lecture coming. "He's an Enforcer."

The last time Vander looked at her like this, it was after she'd accidentally turned his favorite armchair into a sentient, fire-breathing creature. When he finally spoke, his voice was a good octave lower. "I know some time has passed, Powder. But you do remember that your parents…"

"He's not your average Enforcer," Powder interrupted, her voice rising slightly. "He's just Percy to me."

Just then, Silco descended the stairs, a look of mild curiosity on his face. "What's all the fuss about?"

Vander sighed, rubbing his temples. "Our daughter here has been seeing an Enforcer."

Silco tilted his head. "An Enforcer, huh? Well, as long as he's not causing you any trouble…" He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Is he nice?"

Powder nodded eagerly.

Silco placed a hand on the bar next to Vander's. "Then what's the trouble?"

"I know times have changed," Vander said, "but that doesn't change the fact that they're different from us."

"Different, yes," Silco conceded. "But not necessarily enemies. We can't cling to the old rivalries forever. My dear Vander, you and I know that better than most. And besides," he added, glancing at Powder, "from what I've observed, she has discerning taste."

Powder blushed, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "He's really sweet, actually. The other day he brought me these amazing pastries from Piltover. They were all sugary and delicious. And he listens to me. He actually listens when I talk about my inventions."

Vander remained skeptical. "Pastries and listening? That's all it takes to win you over?"

Powder pouted. "No! It's more than that. He's kind. And he's really smart. And he doesn't treat me like I'm fragile."

Silco chuckled. "Fragile? Powder? Hardly."

Vander still looked unconvinced. "They live in a different world. They have different rules. They see us differently."

"He doesn't," Powder insisted. "He sees me." She looked at Vander, her eyes pleading. "He even asked about Vi. He really cares about us. About Zaun."

Vander was silent for a moment. He looked at Silco, who gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug.

"I'm actually more upset you didn't tell us about it when it happened," Vander admitted, his voice softening. "Your first date? That's a big deal."

"I'm sorry," Powder mumbled, looking down at her hands. "I didn't know what you'd say."

Silco rubbed her shoulder. "We can't hold onto the past forever. We both trust that you can make your own choices." He looked at Vander before tucking a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "And sometimes, those choices will take you across the bridge."

Powder smiled.

"Alright," Vander said, a hint of resignation in his voice. "But next time he comes around, he sees me first, understood? And if he hurts you, or if he's anything less than respectful… well, let's just say he'll have me to answer to."

Powder swung her legs over the tabletop, giving them both a hug. "I'm counting on it."

Author's Note:

Hey, guys, I got some pretty big news! I'm having art commissioned for this work by neyite_art on instagram! Go check her out! Should be done within a couple weeks, and I'll post it in my channel in the Emerald Library discord (probably gonna be posted on her page too)!

Tried my best to capture the adoptive fatherly dynamics of Vander and Silco with Powder, hopefully it all worked out :)