𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨: 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞
𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐬

𝐌𝐀𝐈 appeared to have made herself acquainted in Jinx's hide out rather than her apartment, she claimed the nature of Vi and Gabby's closeness too suffocating. It had nothing to do with Isha in tears every time they had to leave Link behind, more often than not she'd try and sneak the cat away with her, Mai pretended not to know but everyone did, Mai was smitten with her.

As of now she watched Isha and Link carefully as they dwindled close to the propellers edge. Though, she had little to worry about, Jinx had installed safety railings along each fan, Mai wondered how long it had taken her to do so.

"Can't you two at least try to get along?" Jinx sounded throughout the room earning scoffs and grunts in return.

Mai glanced to Sevika who was sat far away on a small stool as she fiddle with the mechanics of her arm.

"No," they both grumbled at the same time before returning to themselves.

Mai recalled the first time she set eyes on Sevika as she strolled through the doors to Jinx's hideout with a large robotic arm. The girl lunged for Sevika, clawing at her throat and tossing her about the room like a doll. Jinx had to jump onto Mai's back and haul her to the floor, Isha dived on top of Mai's stomach, thinking they were playing a game of pile on. It was obvious Mai was still sour about the pain she inflicted on Vi and Sevika was ruffled at how easily she knocked her out with a swift punch.

Jinx sighed on her desk chair as she lazily leant against it, she looked down to Isha whilst shrugging slightly. The tension in her hideout was palpable and unsettling, from the nasty glares Sevika sent Mai whilst the other pretended that the woman was not even in the room.

"I need to meet with the others," Sevika said as she looked to Jinx who still tinkered on the metal arm. "How long will you be?"

"Patience, chunky," Sevika grunted harshly at the name and Mai bit her cheek to suppress a smirk. A flash of mirth became apparent Jinx's eyes, "actually," she drawled out and grabbed Isha by the wrist, "there's a few more parts missing, be back in a flash." She had zipped out quickly with Isha on her hip and Link in Isha's gentle grasp.

The door slammed and locked with a loud click, the two women left blankly stared at the door, a silence washing over them.

Mai fiddled with the point of her knife, Vander's knife, the other was dug on Jinx's desk holding up drawings. She sharpened it with the roughness on her palms, her jaw clenching and eyes narrowed as she stared at her own reflection in the metal.

Sevika looked up at Mai with her eyes yielding in their stoicism, she sighed lowly. As she watched Mai from across the room she understood further that she was no longer the carefree, lighthearted child anymore, who could barely handle one sip of whiskey. Instead she was ferocious, a vicious killer who could subdue any opponent and turn their pride into ash. Sevika leaned that the hard way as she received a hard blow that had her knocked out until the mid day.

Her empathy bested her and she found herself slowly walking over to sit beside her on the floor, there was a small distance between them.

Mai glanced over to the woman out of the corner of her eye, not out of awareness but curiousness.

"Want one?" Sevika held out the joint to Mai who looked down at it dumbly, the woman grumbled preparing to take it back when Mai reached out and plucked it from her.

She took a drag and inhaled deeply as she leant further into the railings, another pregnant silence enveloped them. Mai made it clear she was not going to talk and so Sevika gathered her words once again, anxiously taking several puffs of smoke as she did so.

Sevika soon enough realised that Mai had no remnants of the little girl she baby sat many years ago. She was no longer curiously tampering with her weapons or relentlessly begging the woman to let her have her own pistol so she could shoot bad guys all whilst chanting round the pub that she wanted to be like Sevika. 

The woman besides her was carved from stone, rigid in every one of her movements as she took a drag of the stick and left it hanging between her lips. A far away look in her eye as she stared aimlessly with her scars on display for Sevika to see, she grimaced at the sight of the burns.

"Not pretty are they," Mai's voice was gruff, an edge to it that made Sevika turn her gaze away from her neck and down to her hands.

"Kid-" Sevika started though she was cut off by a wild scoff.

"I am not a kid anymore," her words had an added bite to them that made them all the more threatening. She stomped on the bud of the cigarette to further emphasise her point and Sevika pinched her eyes shut.

Mai had visibly tensed with her jaw clenched tightly whilst she know held the knife in a harsher grip than before. Sevika casted a wary glance to it before a long sigh left her lips, her eyes lingered on the space in between them.

"I know your not," her voice was not as guttural as before but rather gentle, a stark contrast to the countenance of the woman.

The silence enveloped them once more in the small space leaving it to bubble with unresolved tension. Sevika's ears twitched when Mai spoke up, her voice crisp and unyielding, "how could you do it?" It was an ambiguous question that had the woman's brows furrowing though Mai's voice became more raw as she spoke, "how could you betray, Vander?" Mai wrapped her hand around the cerated edge until she felt the metal piercing her palm, "betray me."

Sevika held no answer for a moment before the shadow of guilt that had grew with the presence of Mai crashed into her back and propelled her down a tumbling staircase of regret. The sight of the burns, scars and overall startling woman Mai had moulded herself into had Sevika grimacing. If she hadn't joined Silco then things could have been different but she had.

"My loyalty lies with the people of Zaun, Silco offered more for the people than Vander- "

"What exactly did he offer!" Mai was bitter and she stood up in a flurry whilst trying to settle the bloodcurdling anguish festering in her veins. She clamped her hands on the edges of Jinx's desk with her back to Sevika. "Salvation? He didn't give a damn about the people of the Undercity, he exploited and he contaminated and he would have done it until the day he died."

Sevika slowly stood up herself though she leant against the railing with her eyes casted adrift staring at the seemingly endless bottom.

"You," Mai sharply turned and gritted her teeth as she spoke, Sevika looked up with a stubbornness. "Joined him and he murdered," she spat the word out with malice though a throat clawing pain made her gulp thickly, "my dad."

Dread filled Sevika as she had to turn away from Mai who stared at her with such contempt.

"I'm sorry," she mustered the words that spilled from her mouth like a sour fruit, her gaze lingering on the floor once again though she looked up when she heard Mai's retreating footsteps.

"You should be," Mai bit back before she shot a hole in the handle leaving it to swing open on its own accord.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 fighting pits were the remedy to Mai's cold and bitter defiance as she maliciously manoeuvred and took advantage of pig headed men. Her knuckles were bruised with dark splurges of blood from her own body and her opponents faces disfigured.

These men were weaklings, a pathetic attempt at a distraction that Mai utilised to keep her mind off of more stressful matters. She draped herself across the bar, planting herself in a stool and traced her finger over the rim of the glass.

The music was loud, unforgiving and Mai would have appeared out of place amidst the drunken dancers who wildly jumped. Her eyes hung low, a deep frown upon her lips and her head rested against her elbow that was laid on the bar.

She felt a hand slide up her back, it felt genteel and feminine, though Mai was lucid. Her reactions slow and as she turned she already felt the heat of the woman's body encasing her as she pressed into her side.

Mai sat up and looked to her and felt her lips parting as she gazed longingly up at the woman, "Caitlyn." She gaped, unapologetic in her stare as she unblinkingly looked up at the woman who gave her a soft smile.

The hand on her back slithered to the back of her neck and she stroked the skin with her thumb. "I'm whoever you want me to be," though, as she spoke Mai didn't hear a prominent British accent but rather a sultry and impolite voice. A thrumming drummed in Mai's chest and she cringed as she felt the hand around the back of her neck tightening.

All she was able to feel was the brush of chapped lips before a yell left the woman and she was thrown into the opposite stools, sent tumbling to the ground.

Vi stood in front of Mai with her fists clenched and a heated glare in her eyes, her lips curling into a snarl, "fuck off, slut."

"Vi?" Mai went to stand when black spots stunted her vision and her body felt too heavy for her ankles. She slouched into Vi who wrapped a strong arm around her whilst glaring heatedly at the woman's figure that scattered into the crowd.

The girl said nothing and barged her way through the bodies, shoving and pushing her way through until they made it out the back alley. It was more serene compared to the mayhem and Vi tried to gently manoeuvre Mai to get up the metal stairs.

"You don't have to coddle me," Mai's words were slightly slurred even though she managed to break free from her grasp and thrust her weight on the railing.

Vi watched her a moment with a deadpan expression, Mai went to go up the stairs and made it up two before her foot slipped and she leaned against the metal for support. Vi sighed heavily, they had done this one to many times before, with each other at that, and put an arm round her waist again.

It didn't take much struggle, Mai might have been bigger but she was lean in her muscle and begrudgingly Vi realised how light she had become over these few months. They reached a rooftop, the soft thrum of the music still protruding but it was undermined by the brush of wind that soared past their ears.

Vi carefully set them down, their feet dangling off of the small story, a cautious hand lingered behind Mai as the pink haired girl watched her sway silently. The sight of a dazed Mai whose eyes were glazed over as she overlooked the view, a wave of nostalgia hit Vi.

Even though, the smell of liquor invaded her senses Vi foresaw the time when they were stupid teenagers all over again. When they'd sneak out late at night, a bottle of something strong from the bar upstairs that they'd share between them. They'd climb the rooftops and do dumb shit like handstands on the edge of the roof. Often it was just the two of them, when Powder was flat out, sometimes Mylo would tag along but Claggor downright refused to, he didn't want to get caught.

Vi would listen to Mai's ongoing rants about girls and she'd make her laugh so hard till their stomach hurt. Mai would hold her palms up and let Vi box with them, more often than not she would return with a busted lip if they'd been too drunk and Violet missed her hand.

Now, resting her chin on her arm with her leg propped up Vi watched Mai with a muted look, she had changed so much. There seemed to be no more humour left in Mai's heart, even with the euphoric substance in her system she had low hanging eyes and scars, bruises, any form of injury littering her skin.

"That's the first time you said her name," Vi croaked out, slightly afraid that Mai would become inconsolable.

Mai seemed to snap back into consciousness and she let out a heavy breath, it had been months since she uttered the Pilties name but it was always that she saw her. She plagued her mind like a relentless attack, damaging her own awareness and creating a false illusion of what could have been.

"I can beat her up if you want," Mai blinked and looked over to Vi. A soft breath left Mai that made the corners of Vi's eyes were crinkle, though there was a seriousness in her voice. 

Mai laid flat on her back with one hand behind her head and the other resting across her stomach. She traced the creases of her top with her fingers, "don't bother." She sounded exhausted, fatigue ran through her body and Mai already felt her eyelids growing heavier. Though, in spite she disregarded the ache for sleep and tipped her head back so she could capture a glimpse of Piltover. The large councillors tower, half broken and slowly being mended back together, caught her sights and she began to glare at it with a stinging hatred. "There not worth it."

Vi settled next to her though on her front, flicking specs of rich as she rested on her elbows. "Are you sure?" The tenderness in her face meant she was asking Mai, honestly had she truly given up on the newly reformed commander.

Mai stared at the tower as she lay, her eyes beginning to sting.

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 atop the disheveled tower Caitlyn stood tall, black armour being hidden underneath the lengthy cloak that was stamped with her families sigil. A seemingly permanent frown on her face as she aimlessly stared across the intertwined cities.

There were bags under her eyes, the lightness in them had succumbed to the turmoil that twisted her into a relentless tyrant. An emptiness in her chest made breathing feel as if it were a chore, the valves of her throat felt raw; from shouting endless orders. Her muscles ached and bones were swelled with tension, she sighed heavily and a passive look of longing glazed over her eyes as she overlooked Zaun.

A familiar name playing across her tongue as her lips were parted from the heavy breath.

"Commander," her jaw wired itself shut at the accented voice that reached her ears. Officer Nolan stepped through the doors and came to near Caitlyn's form, a softness in her stature.

"What is it?" She sounded curt, her gaze remained forward and Maddie furrowed her brows before drifting to stand by her side.

"The plans set in motion, we only wait for your approval." She took note of Caitlyn's poised form and reached a hand out to intertwine their fingers but the commander swiftly folded her arms. A look of surprise crossed the officers face though Caitlyn had a stern look on her face.

"You already have it."

Maddie nodded subtly before turning though she stopped and looked behind her, "do you want company again tonight?"

Caitlyn dug her fingers into her arms, "no." Maddie was not expecting her reply but nonetheless left with a quickness in her step. The door shut behind her and Caitlyn felt another weight apply itself to her shoulders.

𝐕𝐈 gazed across at Mai's sleeping form as she lay in her own bed, the pit fighter had brought her back to the apartment to let her sleep off her hangover. Link was nuzzled comfortably into Mai's stomach with soft pers leaving him.

Jinx arrived not long after in a flurry as she saw that Mai had drunk herself into a sleep coma, "this is my fault." She grumbled before coming to sit besides Vi on the floor, Isha bounded in the room and went to jump onto Mai when a hand on top of her hat stopped her. Jinx manoeuvred her the other way to where Gabby sat behind Vi whose nose was dug in a book as she rested against her girlfriend's back.

Isha seemed interested in the book and Gabby rose a brow to her before freeing some space beside her and the girl quickly rushed to fill it.

"How is it your fault?"

Jinx slightly winced, "I might have stuck her in a room with Sevika." Her eyes flickered over to her sisters who rolled her grey orbs.

"Why would you do that?" She subconsciously let her hand drift to the wound on her side, a bitterness creeping up her throat.

Jinx shrugged slightly, "I don't know." She muttered though her gut clenched uncomfortably, she thought she could make them get along. Sevika had saved her ass and they had been as close as family once upon a time ago but it was a pathetic excuse, they were different, they were all damaged now.

Mai groaned as she stirred uncomfortably and Vi brought a glass of water over with two tablets in her palm.

"Hey," she gently nudged the water in front of Mai's face who blindly took it along with the tablets.

Mai blinked, ridding her eyes of the sleep before looking round the room and sitting up, "invite the whole of Zaun to watch me sleep?"

Jinx scooted over to her with a slight smile, it was a way to show she wanted to seek forgiveness. Mai arched a brow at her as she looked down to her, "how you feeling?"

Mai narrowed her eyes before huffing as she flicked Jinx on the forehead who let out an ow! "That's for leaving me with that brute," a small sigh left her, "Im okay."

Link stretched and sprawled himself across Mai's thighs, she ran her fingers through his fur. Isha seemed to sense the cat's movement and jumped up from her spot beside Gabby before darting over.

She made grabby hands towards the kitten and Mai picked him up in one hand before placing him in Isha's eager but gentle ones.

"You should stop going down there you know," Gabby had held Vi's hand as she spoke, the book discarded as their attention was more focused.

Mai sighed deeply, a hand running over her braids, before she felt a sting in her gut and gritted her teeth at the pain. It was a sudden reminder of the past, of the anguish she endured and still felt, Mai knew she shouldn't do it but she seemed to relish in the winding blows rather than the inevitable crushing of her heart.

She said nothing and her silence was enough for them to understand, she couldn't give it up. Mai wasn't a violent person but it was all she knew what to do with herself.

"The enforcers are doubling their patrols," Jinx scoffed as she watched Isha run round in a circle after Link. "People are getting angry."

"So are we," Vi grumbled with her fingers tightening their hold around Gabby's.

"Why don't we do something about it," Gabby asked aloud and received shared glances in return.

"There's the firelights," Mai said and Jinx's head snapped to hers in alarm.

"But- Ekko, I- that doesn't seem like a good idea," Jinx wrapped her arms around her knees as she brought them up to her chest.

Vi and Mai shared a small glance before her sister came to sit beside her on the floor, "hey." She softly nudged her shoulder into Jinx's, "if we can forgive so can he."

𝐓𝐇𝐄 women set off to venture deeper into the city where the hideout was, Jinx tried to sneak off countless times but Vi grabbed at one of her braids. Isha's feet began to hurt before Vi hauled her up onto her shoulders, Mai carried the metal hat that was weighing her down, acting as a basket for Link to sit in.

Jinx walked with a hood covering her features and her head down as they entered the Firelights hide out. The sound of light giggles reaching their ears and the warmth from the sunlight beamed graciously down on them.

Isha saw the children running around and her eyes widened in excitement, she eagerly wiggled on Vi's shoulders. The girl placed her on the ground and as if she was a wind up toy she zipped off before they had the chance to grab her again.

"Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" A cocky and deep voice sounded from behind the women, Jinx felt her heart stutter.

Mai turned round and saw that Ekko's eyes were on her, "I always am." A smile that didn't reach her eyes was directed to Ekko who took it with a grin of his own until he looked over to Vi and Gabby.

"It's good to see you again, Ekko," Vi sighed in more so relief than anything, she walked towards him and grasped his hand tightly.

"You too," he sounded more somber, more at ease.

"Ekko," Gabby brought their attention to her, "is it just me or is something wrong with the tree?" She had been staring up at the grand piece of nature with a gut feeling that something was wrong.

A stressed hand ran down his face, "it's getting sick, I don't know what from."

A leaf fell at Mai's feet and she felt her eye twitch, it had an electric blue crescents in the diseased black part of the leaf.

"Who's this?" Ekko asked aloud and a small tension grew between them, Jinx still had her back to them as she watched Isha.

She slowly turned around pulled her hood down in one swift move, the hitching of breath could be heard from Ekko. "Hey, little man."

Mai settled the sleeping cat on the floor as she carefully watched Ekko's gaze gradually begin to morph from one of shock to anger.

"Get her out," he gritted out, his teeth barred as he stared at the blue haired girl. A look of hurt crossed her face though she looked to the floor seemingly understanding.

"Ekko," Vi tried but he was already reaching for his gun and watch.

"I said," he unholstered his gun, "get her out."

Mai walked over to him, "hey, she's changed-" Ekko shoved her harshly away and now he was in a flurry with his chest heaving and voice rising. The Firelights around him recognised his fury and had their own weapons in hand.

"In fact you can all get out!"

A small weight that clung to Mai's leg made her look down, Isha was staring up at her with her large hazel eyes staring up at her in fright.

"Ekko," Mai bit out more dangerously, her anger flaring as she held the back of the girls head. "You're scaring them."

He looked round to see the children hid behind the large crates until his eyes landed on Isha. They widened slightly as her hair was painted a bright pigmented blue, her clothes nearly an exact copy of Jinx's.

Jinx gravitated towards Isha and ruffled the girls hair in comfort, "it's okay, Mai." She took Isha's hand in her own and picked up the hat where Link now sat up in, his ears tucked behind his head. "Let's go."

He watched their figures slowly retreat and from Mai and Vi's burning gaze from either side of him. Until Isha looked over her shoulder, the carbon copy of the girl he once knew when they were children. All he saw was Powder's big, pleading eyes staring back at him.

"Wait," Jinx stopped in her stepped and looked over her shoulder slightly. "You can stay the night," the hardness in his features returned, "but that's it."

He trudged off to the stairs that lead up to the tree tops and Mai flickered her eyes from Jinx up to the boy. The girl was rapidly shaking her head but Mai gently pushed her towards it, "he wants to forgive you, just give him a reason to."

The girl huffed in annoyance before she followed after him. The tree may have been unwell but it still flourished, the aura it radiated was contentment and as the people relaxed and the children ran around in circles. The light beamed through the roof creating a sense of peace as it brushed against the trees leaves that reflected gently below.

Jinx had her mouth parted slightly as she walked towards it with small teetering steps. "It's...pretty," Jinx peered up to look at the tree with a shine of awe in her eyes.

Ekko glanced over to her, his eyes lighting slightly, "it is." Though he was still gruff.

"I-I'm sorry," she sounded almost mute at the tone she voiced those words in, Ekko's eyes gradually widened. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

He stared down at his hands that had once been scuffed with her blood and cleared his throat. "Who's the kid?"

A soft look crossed Jinx and a small but tender smile uplifted her cheeks as she looked down towards Isha.

Mai and Vi casted a glance over to one another whilst looking towards Ekko incredulously as he still had his eyes on Jinx. A small smirk played along Vi's lips and she hummed cockily to herself whilst Mai shook her head and politely turned away.

Isha returned to playing a game of tug of war with the other kids whilst Mai, Vi and Gabby watched from the side lines. Relaxed expressions on each of their faces whilst Vi got a bit too competitive and couldn't help herself encouraging Isha.

"Her names Isha, she's my," she trailed off trying to find the right word that suited the girl best.

"She's your Powder," Ekko gently pressed as he looked to Jinx who looked back at him with her eyes slightly widened at his words.

"Yeah."

"𝐇𝐄𝐘!" A angered voice shouted, "watch where you're going, you little brat!" Isha had been jumping round and stepped on a man's foot, he shoved her down to the floor and she skidded her knee with a yell.

Ekko and Jinx looked down with an identical dangerous glare, "Jacko!" Ekko warned loudly but the man looked up at him in disbelief.

"What is wrong with you?" Vi forced herself to meet his eye as Gabby leant down to check over Isha. Mai had an ugly look on her face as she heatedly glared down to him.

"What? Just because she's one of these crazy Jinxer's I've got to watch my step," he pointed up at Jinx, "you're the one who let a crazy-

A punch to his jaw echoed a loud crack and Vi dived on top of him with relentless punches, one tried to dive on top of her back but Mai grabbed him by the collar and elbowed him in the nose.

"Stop!" Ekko forced Vi off of the man but as he went to touch Mai she blindly swung behind her, thinking it was another attacker. She backhanded Ekko in the face though the force she hit him with was more powerful than a semi truck. He was sent several yards backwards and harshly landed on his back with a groan.

Mai instantly let go of the man's throat and went to step forwards as the others rushed over to see to Ekko. She caught sight of the skid marks on his face and grimace in his features, Mai looked down at the burning sensation and saw her wrist.

The damned birthmark was glowing a hot gold that could pass for white, she darted her vision from the mark to Ekko and cowered father into the shadows.

"I'm alright, stop fussing!" Ekko shoved off the other Firelights off of him, "this wouldn't have happened if Jacko hadn't-"

"Yeah, well if that one," the man held his bleeding nose and pointed to Vi who gave him a look up and down. "Hadn't of hit me!"

Jinx knelt down next to Gabby who tended to Isha's knee and nudged the girl gently on the shoulder, "hey, kid." Isha looked up, her eyes free of tears, she hadn't even cried, "still got all your insides."

Isha shrugged unbothered and Gabby smiled, "she's a tough girl."

"Where's Mai?" It was Ekko who spoke up as he stood, wincing when he did. His words seemed to create an alarm between the women as they all looked behind them.

"Mai?" 

𝐓𝐇𝐄 further Mai trudged into the dirty alleys of the city her head hung low though her heart had a lightness to it. She was at peace with knowing that her family would not be suffocated by her constant looming presence. She knew what she had turned into, a laborious and cruel woman with ugly reminders of the past not being just the marks on her skin but herself entirely. Mai wouldn't be the barrier that prevented them from becoming the best version of themselves, even if it meant she had to let them go.

In truth she didn't even know what was inside of her, whether it was Shimmer, a disgusting mutated form of the drug. Or a curse placed in her by fate to burden her all the more and drive her deeper into the depths of unknowing.

A loud meow made her turn to look down to find Link running up to her calves and Mai hummed in surprise. "You wanna stay with me?" She asked as he pressed his head into her clothes whilst purring softly, she quirked her lips slightly.

She would continue on venturing South when a gasping scream made her turn to look down the darkened alleyway with even murkier shadows. One made out the image of a woman on the floor with large, seemingly unnatural men with cloaks over their frames making them appear like monsters.

Her eyes narrowed and she already felt dread seeping into her muscles, "oi!" She sounded, her voice echoing dangerously as she neared them.

She headed further down the alleyway only to stop when she head a shuffle of feet behind her and turns to now see four enforcers weapons in hand blocking the exit. The woman stood up revealing herself to be the girl with ginger hair and the men were large with plates of armour shining under their cloaks. Mai gritted her teeth her fists clenching but she felt  rubble pat at her head. She looked up only to have wide eyes as the figure jumped from above with a large metal rod in his hand that he slammed onto the top of her head.

Mai fell to the floor blood pooling in the side of the pavement and into the creases of the bricks, the liquid red pouring from her cracked skull.