Chapter IX:

Powder wasn't quite sure what to think.

She stood in the middle of her workshop, boots rooted to the floor, staring at a tiny figure curled just outside the doorway. The little girl looked like she'd tumbled through every trash chute in Zaun. Malnourished, bruised, with knotted hair that hadn't seen a brush in weeks. Or ever.

"I figured I'd bring her here," Percy was standing just off to the side. "She doesn't have anywhere else to go. I saw her last week, and then again today. Same spot."

"You found her where?" Powder asked.

"Near an overpass," Percy answered. "She was hiding. Watching everything."

Powder squinted. "And you didn't think to tell me?"

"I didn't know what to do!" His hands shot up. "She bolted the first time I offered her food. Today, she followed me all the way here."

"I'm not mad that you brought her," Powder folded her arms. Then, pointing a finger at him, "I'm mad you didn't tell me sooner! You just left her out there this whole time? Look at her, Percy. Poor thing."

She didn't need to say more. The girl was huddled against door like a shadow trying not to be seen. Powder could see her ribs through the tears in her shirt.

It was like looking at her own ghost.

That was what hit hardest. That look of being alone and lost, with no one to turn to. Powder knew that all too well. She turned and rummaged through a nearby box, pulling out a few wrapped candies and a dented tin of preserved fruit. She set them on the floor.

"Here, sweetie," she spoke gently. "Want something to eat?"

The girl didn't move. Just stared at the food like it might vanish if she blinked too hard. Powder waited. Didn't reach. Didn't push. And eventually, with tiny, cautious steps, the girl crept forward. Her eyes darted between the food and them. Then slowly, she reached out and grabbed a candy.

Powder felt something pull at her heart. "You're safe now," she sat down on the floor too. "Okay? No one's gonna hurt you here."

The girl didn't speak, just stared at Powder with eyes the sizes of the moon.

"What's your name?" Powder asked.

The girl pointed past her, at the cluttered desk.

"This?" Powder picked up a small coil. "Your name is coil?"

The girl shook her head. She pointed again.

"I think she wants something to write." Percy said. "She didn't speak to me."

"This?" Powder held up a notepad.

The girl nodded.

Powder handed it over, and the girl took it, dropping to the floor and scribbling something with the pen inside. Powder leaned over and read the word.

Isha.

"Hi, Isha," Powder said gently. "So you don't talk?"

Isha shook her head.

"That's alright." Powder smiled. "I can talk enough for the both of us."

Isha smiled. It was so small. So cute. So adorable. She returned to her candy, nibbling at both ends.

Powder looked over her shoulder to see Percy leaned against the wall, watching them.

"You heard about the attacks?" he asked.

Powder shook her head. "No? I've been busy wiring up a fail-safe. Don't ask."

"Well, things got rough out there today," Percy had a different look on him that Powder had never seen before. It took her a couple seconds to realize what it was.

Worry. She'd never seen him worried before. There were lines on his face she didn't know existed, etched across his temple like a statue.

"There's something going around here in Zaun," he continued. "A drug, chemical or something—I don't know. But the people that had it in them… they were changed."

Powder watched Isha crack open the fruit tin, sniffing inside it. "What do you mean, changed?"

"They don't feel pain. Don't stop moving. Their eyes go all purple." Percy sat down next to her.

Powder tilted her head his way, nuzzling hers beneath his.

"It's not muscle. It's rage. They don't stop unless you put them down hard." He finished.

"That's… terrifying." Powder tried imagining it in her head. She was surprised Vander hadn't come barging in to make sure she was safe. When it came to news in Zaun, he was always the first to know.

"Yeah," Percy muttered. "The Council's probably going to react hard. There's talk about martial law."

Powder stiffened slightly. "Really? That feels…"

"Too much?" Percy asked.

"I don't know." Powder rubbed her arm. "I just. I don't want people getting hurt. That's all."

They watched as Isha finished whatever was left of the sweets, tapping the bottom of the tin with her palm to get the last few morsels out.

"She's tough," Percy said. "I don't know what all she's seen, but she hasn't flinched once. Didn't seem scared."

Isha looked up from her spot on the floor and gave them a long, unreadable look.

Powder scooted forward on her hands. "Can I come closer?"

Isha smiled again.

Powder worked her way over to Isha's side, brushing a tangled strand. "You're staying here now, okay? I don't know where you've been, but that's over. I've got snacks. I've got pillows. I've got an annoying dad and uncle—"

Isha pointed one hand at Percy, moving her other. Sign language maybe?

"Yeah," Powder laughed. "I got him too, I guess."

"Hey!" Percy huffed his chest.

Isha giggled, and it sounded like fireworks.

That was it. Powder swore to herself right then and there that nothing would harm this child ever again. She was this child's mother now. There was no other option.

Vander and Silco were just going to have to be okay with that.

-Ω-

A single lamp burned behind the counter.

Vander leaned both hands against the bartop, shoulders hunched like the weight of the city had finally caught up to him. His coat was tossed over a nearby chair, the sleeves of his shirt rolled to his elbows.

Behind him, footsteps echoed.

"You told me it was gone," Vander growled without turning. "All of it. You swore."

Nothing about Silco's demeanor changed as he appeared. But if anything, he looked older than usual tonight, the lines around his damaged eye deeper, his breath just a little more tired.

"It was never mine to get rid of," Silco's tone was even as ever. "You know that."

"Singed worked for you, didn't he?"

"I survived Singed," Silco snapped. "There's a difference."

Vander couldn't stop his fists from clenching. "So you're telling me he's making Shimmer again? After everything that happened?"

"I'm telling you I've seen what it does now. And it isn't the same. This isn't Singed's formula anymore. It's something else. Perhaps he has different help, now."

"Like the bastard child of a bad dream." Vander muttered. "Wonderful."

Silco moved to the corner table and poured himself a drink from an open bottle. "We've had peace for too long. The gangs are restless. I'd bet half my teeth they're trying to consolidate. Build an army."

Vander rubbed a hand down his face. "Building an army just for the hell of it?"

"Who's to say." Silco's chin pointed down.

Vander let out a long sigh. Of course this happened. Why wouldn't it? He was only allowed to enjoy something for so long.

"You know who else could be behind this? Working with Singed?"

"I'm not sure," Silco admitted. "Could be a new player, could be someone from the old days looking to rise again. Either way, the timing is bad."

"No kidding." Vander exhaled, then looked up. "You heard that there was an attack on Topside too?"

"I heard."

"This is bad, Silco. They trusted people like you and me to keep the peace," Vander squeezed his eyes shut. "There's gonna be more of them. Enforcers. Piltover's going to use this as an excuse. They're going to squeeze us until something breaks."

Silco swirled his drink.

"We worked so hard—" Vander's voice cracked. "It was a damn miracle we even got this far."

Outside, the neon signs buzzed faintly against the dark.

Something worse was yet to come.

They could both feel it.

Author's Note:

Big announcement, I've started another PJO/Arcane story! Percy x Caitlyn! Please go check it out!

As always, please check out my other stories as well, and the links in my bio :)