𝐚𝐜𝐭. 𝟏
𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧

𝐓𝐇𝐄 three went further and further into the Undercity, muffled shouts of Silco's goons behind them spurred them to walk faster. Vi didn't have to talk, Mai knew where she was taking them and where they were headed.

They teetered at the edge, the bright sign flashing in their faces, "can you do this in yo-"

"Shit."

Neither got to finish their sentences as Vi had already jumped from the edge except her grip slipped on the wood and she fell. Mai shook her head, "always so ignorant," she mumbled although the pain in her shoulder was becoming more intense. She began to feel something metal digging into her and that's when she realised the bullet hadn't come all the way out.

She practically fell the same way as Vi though managed to roll herself up and picked up Violet with herself. Caitlyn flashed her torch as she was tugged back into the shelter that was barely standing on its own.

"What is this place?"

"It's somewhere you topsiders would never think twice about," Vi groggily looked around, "except it's bigger than I remember."

"Cmon," Mai urged as she kicked the door open and settled Vi gently on the wood. She looked worse than before, she'd began to sweat and the blood stain only seemed to be getting bigger.

Mai couldn't stand it much longer as she felt as if the walls had eyes and were staring at the back of her head, burning memories in her. "Stay here, I'm going out."

The image of Caitlyn helping Vi reminded her all of herself, there were endless times when Mai would wrap Vi's bloodied knuckles or plug her bleeding nose. Wipe down Powder's knee's after she had a hard fall and scraped them or when Gabby had a hard fight and had something or other bleeding. She looked after those closest to her, she didn't like it when they were injured.

Caitlyn pressed Vi's hand over the handkerchief that she placed on top of her wound, "Mai!" She whisper shouted harshly as she followed the girl out the doorway. "You can't go out there by yourself."

"Watch me," she bit back, "stay here." Mai went to turn once more when her wrist was grabbed and the taller of the two spun round with her jaw wired tight. "Don't tempt me to give you one, woman."

Caitlyn let go of her arm but she was unrelenting about coming with her, "the longer we stay here arguing the more time we're wasting."

Mai sucked harshly on her teeth before she sliced her eyes to the door, "shut it behind you."

"Is she alright?" Caitlyn was quick to react as she withdrew her gun from her back. Mai all but gave him a glance, he couldn't hurt them although, the longer she stared at him the more familiar he became. "Wait! Easy, easy that's Vi, right?" He peaked around her gun wearily, "and you're Mai."

Suddenly, the flash of recognition crossed her face except she was not appeased to see him as her teeth bared. "Huck." Mai bit out before rounding Caitlyn and standing over him whilst pointing her gun to his temple, "you filthy, disgusting rat."

"Wait, wait, look I'm sorry," Mai scoffed.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" She muttered whilst Caitlyn looked at the back of her head with furrowed brows.

"I- I owe Vander my life, probably a lot more than that," he nervously babbled whilst Mai still pointed the metal in his face.

"She needs a doctor," Caitlyn sounded more forcefully as she came to make her presence known once more to Mai. The zaunite felt a hand press against her lower back and as she turned to look over her shoulder at Caitlyn it was as if she was subtly pulling Mai back with just her eyes.

Mai holstered her gun as Huck spoke up again but she had to avert her gaze, the sight of him far too difficult for her to bear. Caitlyn also noticed this again and was becoming increasingly more confused by this stoic stature of a woman as the days passed between them.

"There a little harder to come by down here but I might know someone who can help," he got up and hobbled down the rock that lead further into darkness.

Mai began to follow him but lowered Caitlyn's gun down to the floor, "they won't hurt us, they can't." The enforcer watched on as she slowly walked away before trusting Mai's words and quickly walking till she was by her side.

They felt their fingers brush lightly against one another but neither initiated or revoked the contact they shared.

Huck rang the chimes and the barrier slid open though there was a cage that seperated them. A woman, purple infected skin and teeth that had been filed into fangs, opened the slide with her eyes scanning over the three.

"Ailment?" Her voice was scratchy and she breathed heavily though her mouth.

"She's been stabbed."

The door slammed shut, "she makes potions," Huck began whilst Mai wearily looked around her. "Helps people with, uh, this," he gestured to his face.

"Shimmer," Caitlyn murmured yet her gaze wasn't judgemental but rather sympathetic, "why would you take something that does that to you?"

A hand slammed loudly on the desk, "stop," she gritted out with her tone warning, "talking." However, it was only aimed towards Huck as she stared down the small man who yelped and pulled his hands close to his chest.

Mai felt Caitlyn's eyes now on her and she subconsciously pulled the cloak higher up her neck. The enforcer just couldn't work her out, that both frustrated her but also slightly excited her.

The door slid open again and she placed a bottle on the table, "trade."

For a moment it was stunned silence and Mai went to pull out her own pistols before Caitlyn had put her body in front of her and folder her sniper in half before placing it in front of the woman.

Mai looked to Caitlyn who was stone faced as she stared up at the potion maker.

A low snarl came from the apothecary as she added a droplet of Shimmer into the vial that had Mia taking a small shuffle back.

"Let's go, I'm sure Vi will be happy to see a friendly face," at Caitlyn's words Mai frowned but Huck had been quick to open his mouth.

"No! No, I don't think so," his body still jumpy when he was human, "she knew me before all this and," he shook his head. "Anyway, I don't want her to see me like this," he wrung his hands, "just tell her I'm sorry about uh, about everything."

He scarcely looked from the floor to catch Mai's gaze who sharply looked away from him. Though, she turned back when she heard the sound of contact and felt herself become taken aback when she saw Caitlyn hugging him.

There was no animosity as she held him close to her, no awkward distance that made it clear she didn't want to touch him. There was no disgust and that's when Mai realised Caitlyn really was different.

Mai couldn't look much longer as she turned to walk ahead, "come on," she gruffly muttered.

Although, Mai swayed in her next step and when Caitlyn realised she was not beside her she turned to look to find the tall woman looking at her shoulder.

"Oh my god," Caitlyn gaped as Mai groaned holding a hand over the wound that was dripping with blood. Her clothing was soaked in a metallic stench and her vision began to go blurry, her movements were sluggish and she felt herself dropping but Caitlyn caught her. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Worry easily noticeable in her eyes as she looked over her wound.

Mai saw her vision becoming black on the outsides and felt Caitlyn hold her face in her hands. "No, no Mai, please stay awake, Mai!" She closed her eyes for a second and heard the unscrewing of a cap, she held the bottle to Mai's lips.

"No!" She huffed pushing her hand away from her mouth whilst the enforcers other hand rested on the back of her head trying to nudge her forwards.

"What do you mean no? Mai, you're dying there's enough for both of you!" Caitlyn couldn't believe she'd meet anyone more stubborn than Vi and yet she was surprised again.

"I can't," Mai coward away from the liquid.

"Why not?" Mai's eyes shut again and Caitlyn had thought she'd lost consciousness but when she opened them once more she gasped lightly at the sight of shimmering purple eyes staring up at her.

"Don't tell, Vi." Mai heaved a slightly ragged breath, "please." She added with a softer groan as Caitlyn quickly put the shimmer in her pocket and pressed harder against the wound.

The enforcer looked her in her eyes, "I won't," she whispered to show it was a solemn secret between them. The hand that rested behind Mai's head slowly snaked round until it rested against her cheek as she watched the bright purple hue gently fade back into dark brown.

Mai's heavy breaths filled the quiet between as her eyes flickered from the enforcers eyes to her lips, "you're a vision." Her words came out slurred as the loss of blood had made her head dizzy.

Caitlyn widened her eyes as she stuttered over her words once more, "C-Can you stand?"

Her voice was still soft as she spoke into the darkness around them. Mai wordlessly pushed herself onto her knees as if she forgotten what she said entirely. "Can you?"

Caitlyn stood in front of her and Mai looked up to see her undoing her belt and her brow arched. "What are you-"

The enforcer kneeled back down and tied the belt around her shoulder, "don't make it dirty." She remarked slyly and Mai felt the slip of a smile before she gestured for her help and Caitlyn threw an arm round her waist before they walked back towards Vi.

Neither said anything about what occurred but Mai could tell the girl had a thousand questions lingering on her lips.

Caitlyn went to push the door with her on her hip but Mai rested herself on the outside, "give it to her, she can't see me like this." They both know that Vi would rip off either ors head for not speaking up or not giving some Shimmer to Mai.

The enforcer clearly didn't want to leave her outside, "it's alright," Mai gently soothed. She held the wrist that was holding her shoulder and slid it off of her with a glint in her eye that Caitlyn slowly relaxed at. "Go."

"I'll be quick," she pushed the door open quickly leaving Mai who let out a deep and pained sigh.

She leant further into the wood though it wobbled shakily as it carried her weight when Mai looked up again her environment shifted. "Powder?"

The young girl turned around and had tears in her eyes whilst holding something, it looked like a crayon.

"I'm sorry." Powder's lip quivered as she stared up at Mai though she wasn't looking at the bullet in her shoulder. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Mai felt the corners of her eyes sting as she felt the side of her neck, smooth and tender the flesh was no longer. Her fingers traced over the rough and jagged edges that she tried to conceal for a long time, the agony it had caused her.

She recounted the stench of her skin sizzling and it only sizzled with steam as she fell back into the body of water. Mai thought she'd drown as she watched the blood from her body float up to the surface looking almost like dust.

"It's alright," Mai told the girl sincerely, "you didn't mean it, you were just- just trying to help." Her words became more breathless and her eyelids felt heavy, the lack of comfortable sleep finally catching up on her in the worst moments.

"Ah!" Her eyes snapped open, "I was wondering where I'd find you." She stood taller with her fists balling by her sides, "for your troubles," he rolled a vial down the trek till it knocked off her shoe and he watched her face scrunch.

"Fuck you," she spat out loud enough so hopefully the two girls inside would hear.

Silco laughed under his breath as he dropped the remaining vials, "I'd drink it quick," he pointed to her shoulder, "that looks sore."

Vi opened the door and already began glaring daggers down at the man in front of her.

"Vander's prodigy," he mused as he took in Vi's form all whilst smirking down at the men who begged for the Shimmer at his feet. "I've regretted that we've never had the opportunity to speak."

Vi caught sight of Mai's wound and looked at her with her eyes widening in fear as she took in how much blood there actually was. Mai waved her off but now Vi couldn't stop her eyes from flickering between the two.

"What have you done with my sister?" She took a few paces forwards to shield Mai from Silco's view.

"I've freed her," he almost shrugged whilst dropping the bottles to the floor that were greedily took. Mai put her hands on the guns by her hips, "Candidly, I thought you two were the prize of your secondhand family but Jinx. Oh, she is more than I ever imagined."

Mai and Vi felt the rage pooling inside them as he spoke of the blue haired girl.

"I'm gonna find her and erase all those delusions you put inside her head but first, I'm gonna bring your bullshit empire down all around you." There was a bite to her words as her hands began to shake from how tightly she was gripping on.

The transformation of the men turning into a toxic mutated version of monsters began to grow bigger and bigger. They started stalking towards the two and Mai caught sight of Vi motioning her back into the shelter with a small jut of her head.

"You don't know your limits girl, it's what got Vander killed and why you lost your sister. It's also now why I am here."

Vi shrugged, "yeah, well, you talk to much." Just before the mutated men could grab her she ran back in and punched the beam that held the light up. It began to topple down and Mai felt her hand getting grabbed as she was pulled away from the chaos.

They moved fast up the cliffs edge but Mai's footing slipped and she thought she would fall down as her bloodied arm now felt like a dead weight. Caitlyn wrapped her arms round her arm whilst Vi grabbed at the back of her shirt.

The three ran as fast as they could back into the Lanes and barging past drunken men and intoxicated youths. Vi knocked into a man before shoving him back with a yell though Mai was too busy trying to keep the adrenaline in her veins that she kicked him flat in the stomach.

Vi nudged her to look up and they both shared a knowing look as the night skyline was lit up with blue smoke.

𝐌𝐀𝐈 wanted to linger behind Vi as she went to go up the steps to see the source of the smoke. Though, Vi didn't let her as she gentle grabbed her elbow, weary of her bloodied shoulder but it was a way to keep herself grounded if she held onto Mai.

"Powder?" Vi asked and the girl turned round, a machine gun on her back with her eyes seeming almost blank.

"VI?" She squinted slightly as she looked up at the tall figure, "Mai?"

"Powder!" Vi yelled in relief as she wrapped her arms around her little sister. Mai patiently watched and looked to the floor, she didn't want to intrude on their moment especially as she saw Powder's eyes beginning to tear up. "I never thought I'd see you again."

Vi held her sisters face in her hands with her tears blurring her vision but she blinked them away so she could fully take Powder in. "I swear I tried to go back for you but I got arrested."

"Marcus," Jinx whispered out with an edge to her voice.

"I don't know but it doesn't matter because I'm here now," Vi looked over to Mai, "we're here now." 

Jinx looked up to Mai like a child who'd broken a plate and tried to make herself smaller as Mai came near her.

Jinx flinched slightly as the girl took her hand and placed it on the dip in her neck where her scars were, "it's okay."

Vi had only truly seen the damage of the burns and she too widened her eyes with her sister at her words. Though, the genuine softness in her eyes was something that made Jinx's body quiver as she continuously beat herself up.

"I'm so sorry for what I did to you," she sobbed lightly and Mai wordlessly pulled her in by the back of her head. She held her whilst Jinx cried into her arms and Vi looked at them whilst wiping the tears off of her cheeks.

Jinx pulled away and let her hand drift down from her neck to her shoulder, "you're hurt."

Vi wrapped an arm around both of them, "that's why she needs to go to a doctor, why we need to go."

Jinx looked confused as she flickered her eyes between the two girls, "are you real?"

Vi tightened her grip on her sister, "yes, it's me your sister and I'm here, I'm right here."

The words seemed to confirm Jinx's emotions further as tears poured from her eyes, "things changed when you left. I changed."

Mai silently stroked her elbow with her thumb, an apology for not being there for her when she should have been. For not forgiving her or even acknowledging the fact that she could be alive, the thought was too painful to endure.

"I know," Vi soothed, "Pow-pow, I know. You did what you had to do to survive." A sour laugh left her, "me too but it's okay, what matters is that we're all together again."

Footsteps rang out through the solace and Caitlyn let her presence be known, Jinx became startled and held the machine gun in her hands.

"Who's she?" She was now so suddenly tense with her eyes narrowed and finger hovering over the trigger.

"Who are you?" Caitlyn jarred back.

Mai lowered the gun as she stood in front of her, "it's alright."

Jinx's eyes caught sight of her bloodied shoulder and saw red stains on Caitlyn's hands, she flared with accusation in her tone once more. "Did she hurt you?"

"It's okay, she's a friend," Vi tried to calm her but Jinx was still tightening her grip on the gun.

Mai shook her head, "no, no she helped me," she pointed to the belt that had been hurriedly tied around her shoulder. "This is hers."

Jinx's shoulders seemed to sag as she breathed thoroughly but Caitlyn caught sight of a hextech crystal.

"Your sister is Jinx?"

Mai had never heard her say a name with such an abhorrent tone, her brows furrowed slightly, maybe she wasn't as different as she thought.

"Caitlyn, just listen, we can work this out."

Jinx had her jaw wired right as she watched a small frown take over Mai's face. "You're lying! You're playing me- shut up!" She wildly swung the gun round, "I'm in no mood."

"Oh, no," Mai muttered.

"We didn't say anything," Caitlyn said out loud and Mai shook her head.

"I wasn't talking to you!" She once again aimed the mini gun at the enforcer.

"Powder, it's okay."

"Stop," there was a sharpness to her words again, "calling me that. It's jinx now, Powder fell down a well."

"You're not a Jinx, God, I never should have-"

"Stop talking to me like I'm a child," she pointed the gun in Vi's face.

Mai felt panic rise in her meaning more blood was starting to pool out of her wound, surely there was a way to diffuse the situation. "Pow- Jinx, please just let's go home."

"Home!" Powder barked, "where even is that anymore- you all just came here for that stupid stone."

"Powder," Vi coaxed gently.

"Sister thought I missed her," a crazed look appeared in her pupil as she pressed her hand down on the router to make the gun spin. "Bet you wouldn't miss her."

"Powder, stop! You can fire that thing all you want but I am not going anywhere, we're not abandoning you."

Jinx froze for a moment before she clutched her head, "shut up!"

Mai had to look away, the sight dealing more unbearable than looking down at the scavengers overdosing from shimmer.

"Did you hear that?"

Though, it seemed not all of what she was saying was complete bull as the screeching of metal reached all their ears. Almost tantalisingly several figures on hoverboards appeared out of the vents but Jinx didn't waste a second and began shooting wildly.

They dived down and the three girls formed a makeshift circle as they flew too close to them. Mai spun her gun around her index finger before shooting the behind of the hoverboards sending them crashing to the floor.

She ducked as one swiped at her with his machete and fired at the back of his helmet but the bullet deflected. Mai felt her feet get swiped from underneath her and she fell on her back, the man with pointed ears and a mask of teeth for a face went to grab at her.

He had to jump back into his board as Jinx now solely focused her fire on him.

A hand grabbed her foot and she went to kick at them but she was dragged and ended up looking towards her captor in surprise.

"Gabby! What are you doing here?" Mai shouted over the spray of bullets as they ducked behind crates.

"Well you know how it is," Gabby shrugged whilst throwing gas bombs over her shoulder, "I was getting a bit bored and I saw this blue smoke and me and Link wanted to investigate." She undid the button to her bag and Link's head poked out from underneath.

"You brought him!" She looked at her incredulously, "look at where we are! This is no safe place for him."

Gabby rolled her eyes, "whatever, duck!"

She forced their heads down as the hoverboards green flames knicked at their hair. She zeroed in on the gash on Mai's shoulder, "oh, shit!" Mai leant back on the crate and held her shoulder, the belt had come loose and more blood was spilling by the second. "Oh, no, no, Mai it is not the time for a nap right now."

She'd already been fighting the urge to collapse but now as the blood still gushed out of her, the ringing of pelting bullets surrounded them she couldn't fight it any longer.

"Mai!"

Gabby muttered under her breath, "shit! Shit! Shit!" She held her hands over Mai's shoulder whilst Link meowed loudly in the bag, "I don't want her to go either!"

She peaked over the crates and saw the blue haired girl standing in the centre slipping into and out of bodies whilst fending them off. A thud sounded from behind her and she took out one of the pistols from Mai's waist.

He too had a mask on with white dreadlocks and the same mask, he hovered above the ground, standing as if bullets weren't flying past him. His arms were held up but as he got closer he made no sudden movements and Gabby watched as he looked down at Mai.

He looked back at Gabby and within a second she put the gun away, Mai was picked up and Gabby held onto the back of his shoulders as she got on the hover board with him.

Jinx realised they were soon fleeing but her attention zoned in on both Vi and Mai who were in the arms of the Firelights.

With an angry shout she fired once more but black smoke blocked her vision and soon enough she was left alone, again.

"Vi?"

There was nothing but silence and her bottom lip shook, "Mai?"