Chapter VI:

The lights in the Enforcer headquarters were an awkward color. Like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to be white or yellow.

Percy adjusted the stiff collar of his uniform, the royal blue fabric feeling not quite right against his skin. He'd do anything to be wearing a t-shirt and jeans again.

It had been more than a year since he'd woken up on the shores of this strange, divided city. A year since he'd last seen anyone he knew. The last thing he remembered was the blinding flash of light, the roar of the storm, the feeling of disintegration. Gaea and he, locked in a final, desperate embrace, evaporating into nothingness. Or so he'd thought.

Instead, he had woken up on a rocky beach, the salty tang of the sea filling his lungs, with the towering structures of Piltover looming in the distance. The first person to stumble across him? A small, furry creature with oversized goggles. Heimerdinger, who, as it turned out, was the smartest person around. Or, was it better to say, the smartest yordle around?

Regardless, the yordle took him in, sheltered him, and, most importantly, believed him. The whirlpool that had erupted around them when Percy awoke in a panic certainly helped convince the scientist that he was not your normal human.

Heimerdinger became his mentor, and really the closest thing to a friend Percy had in this new world. He'd even helped Percy repair Riptide. Damaged during the fight with Gaea, the pen now had a new protective bronze casing, activating with a twist rather than a simple uncapping.

Percy reached into his collar, his fingers brushing his camp necklace. Annabeth, his mom, Grover, Chiron… the thought of them caused his chest to rise slowly. Heimerdinger had suggested the 'Bilgewater' cover story. It was believable enough. Definitely easier than explaining demigods, monsters, and ancient prophecies. Thank gods he still had his powers. Heimerdinger was fascinated by them, of course, probably asking more questions than Percy himself those first couple of days.

A sudden commotion down the hall snapped Percy out of it. Two of his peers were arguing, their voices raised in heated debate.

"You were reckless," one chided. "Do you know how many civilians you endangered back there?"

"It was necessary!" the other countered. "You think I was going to let that Zaunite scum get away?"

Percy rolled his eyes. It was always the same argument.

His thoughts drifted, as they often did, to Powder.

She made him happy. Genuinely, purely happy. For the first time since he had arrived in this world, he felt connected. Like he belonged. His aches still lingered, but when she was around him, they felt muted. Like a cooling icepack had been placed over them.

He pulled a small, intricately crafted metal flower from his pocket. He found it at a market stall in Piltover, a tiny, perfect replica of a real flower. It reminded him of her eyes, of the way they glowed when she talked about her inventions. He'd been carrying it around for days, waiting for the right moment to give it to her.

"Daydreaming again, Jackson?" a voice drawled, snapping Percy back to reality.

He turned to see Marcus, a fellow Enforcer and one of the Academy's top graduates, leaning against the wall. Marcus was everything Percy wasn't.

"Just thinking," Percy replied, quickly pocketing the metal flower.

"About your Zaunite girlfriend?" Marcus pressed, his smirk widening. "Heard you've been spending a lot of time in the Undercity lately. Don't let her distract you from your duties, Jackson. We're here to uphold the law."

"I know my duties, Marcus," Percy responded evenly. "I don't let personal stuff interfere with my work."

Marcus straightened his lips, motioning for Percy to step toward the door. They were on duty together today. "Whatever you say."

-Ω-

The streets of Zaun were more crowded than usual. Percy and Marcus walked side by side, though he barely paid attention to Marcus' halfhearted attempts at small talk. His mind was elsewhere.

A frail old woman struggled to cross the road, her arms full of packages that looked too heavy for her frame. Percy jogged over without thinking, offering to carry them as he walked her across. She beamed up at him.

"Such a kind young man," she said. "Not many of your kind down here bother with us."

Percy forced a small smile, unsure how to respond to that.

Not long after, he stumbled upon a fight. Two men arguing over a scrap of metal. It escalated quickly, fists flying before Percy stepped between them, pushing them apart.

"Alright, enough," he said, his voice firm. "Walk it off. It's not worth it."

They glared at him, but after a tense moment, one of them grumbled and stalked away. The other huffed and followed suit. Percy sighed. It was never simple.

That's when he saw her.

A little girl, tucked into the shadows of an alley, watching him with wide, cautious eyes. She couldn't have been more than eight, her dark curls framing a thin, smudged face. Her clothes were tattered, and her small fingers clutched at her stomach like she was trying to quiet its protests.

Percy hesitated, then reached into his pocket. "Hold on, I'll be right back."

He ducked into a nearby shop and bought a small pastry. Something warm, something sweet. When he returned, the girl hadn't moved. Slowly, he knelt and held it out.

She stared at it, then at him.

"It's okay," he murmured. "Go on."

After a long pause, she snatched it, retreating a few steps before devouring it hungrily. Percy adjusted his uniform, trying his best to keep himself composed. Then, as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone.

He didn't know her name. But that was okay, he was sure she'd be back.

-Ω-

Powder was sitting at a workbench, her back to Percy, her blue hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. A loud metal song played from her radio, masking his steps.

"Powder?" he said.

No response. Right.

Percy approached her from the side. "Powder!"

She jumped, nearly sending whatever tool was in her hands toward his face. Then, her face shifted, melting into a smile that made Percy's heart soar.

"Percy!" she exclaimed, leaping from her stool.

He caught her midair, grasping her waist and throwing both of them into a bit of a twirl before setting her back down.

"Hey there, Sparkles." He placed the metal flower on the table in front of them. Powder's eyes flicked to it. "For you," he said, cradling her head. "Thought you might like it."

She picked it up, turning it in her fingers, watching how the light reflected off the petals. "You're such a sap, Waterboy."

Percy shrugged. "Yeah, well, you like it."

"Maybe." She carefully placed the flower back onto the table before meeting his gaze again, something softer in her looks now. "Come here."

He barely had time to react before she was pulling him down, pressing her lips to his.

The world faded, reduced to nothing but the warmth of her mouth against his, the scent of oil and gunpowder and something uniquely Powder. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, and he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

When they finally broke apart, Powder was breathless. "Took long enough."

Percy laughed, resting his forehead against hers. "Yeah," he murmured. "Guess I'm slow."

She hummed, fingers tracing idle patterns against his chest. "Think you'll ever speed up?"

He grinned. Gods, he loved the color blue.

Author's Note:

Finally, Percy POV. Lot's of new characters introduced. Hope you guys are excited for some plot developments :) (Yes, the little girl is Isha). Hope you enjoyed :)