𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: support

     ╰┈➤ 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: mention of kidnapping, mention of child murder, mention of massacres

"THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BOMB."

Powder slouched in her hideout, handing the blue-haired girl the gadget with an almost apologetic shrug. "It doesn't work," she muttered, "most of my inventions don't."

Aviva examined it carefully, her dark green nail tapping the surface with an air of expectation. "So, what exactly isn't working?" she asked, her tone dry and teasing.

"If I knew that," Powder shot back with a crooked grin, "don't you think I'd have fixed it by now?"

Jinx smirked as she gently took the gadget from Aviva's hands, their fingers brushing for a fleeting moment. "I suppose you're right," Aviva replied, her voice warm. "But you'll get it eventually. These things take time."

Powder smiled back softly, her eyes lighting up. "So... what do you like to do? You know, other than killing plants," she teased, her tone playful, making the girl giggle in response.

Aviva hesitated, her eyes drifting downward. "There's not much to do at my home. Si—my father doesn't allow me to leave the house... much," she said quietly, her voice trailing off.

Powder watched her closely, taking in the soft curve of her jaw, the delicate arch of her brows, and the way her eyes seemed to reflect something deeper—something beautiful that seemed to hold her entire world inside them. "So, you never really figured out what makes you tick?" Powder asked, her voice gentle. "Something you like, something that excites you?"

Aviva raised her head, a quiet intensity in her eyes. "I suppose not," she said thoughtfully. "But I love everything. I feel everything deeply—every little thing, every moment. Sometimes it's overwhelming, but I don't know... it makes me feel alive. I guess it's just that... I can't help but dive into everything, even the things that hurt." She paused, a faint smile pulling at her lips. "I think that's how I know I'm real, you know?"

"Nothing else makes you feel real?" Powder asked, her voice barely above a whisper, as if trying to unlock a secret.

Aviva's gaze drifted, distant, as if the question tugged at something buried deep within her. "What else is there?" she replied, her words soft but edged with quiet conviction. "I'm adopted. No one knows where I came from, or who my real family is. You're the first person under the age of twenty-six I've ever spoken to. I don't know who I was before all this, or what the world's supposed to be like. How else am I meant to find myself?" She shrugged, a wistful smile forming on her lips. "I'm like a book with missing pages, and I can't even read the cover to know the title."

She paused, the weight of her thoughts settling in. "Maybe that's why I feel everything so deeply. I'm trying to fill in the blanks, even if I don't know what I'm looking for." Her eyes flickered up to Powder, a quiet challenge in them. "What else is there, if not feeling everything?"

"I suppose you're right," Powder said, glancing at the device in her hands. "Maybe that's what we could do—find something to fill those blanks."

Aviva's face softened into a small smile as she studied the pale-skinned girl in front of her. "Yeah?" she asked, her tone playful.

Powder lifted her head, meeting Aviva's shimmering gold eyes with a quiet grin. "Yeah," she replied, shrugging casually. "Why not? Could be fun."

"Powder? Vander brought dinner, you better hurry before Mylo eats it all!" a voice called from somewhere nearby.

Powder grinned. "That's my older sister, Vi. You'd love her, she's so cool!" She spun around, already on her feet, eager to head toward the sound of Vi's voice.

"I have to live up to her," Powder continued, her eyes practically glowing. "I'm going to make her proud."

Aviva gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she's already proud of you."

Powder shook her head, her expression shifting. "Nah, I keep messing up. I'm a 'jinx'. That's what Mylo keeps calling me."

Aviva raised an eyebrow. "Does she call you that?"

Powder paused, slowly sitting back on the bed as she considered Aviva's comment. She shook her head, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Because Vi doesn't think that way."

Aviva smiled softly. "She probably believes in you, Powder."

Powder's expression softened with a quiet determination. "She does," she replied, before suddenly taking Aviva's hand in hers. "And I'm going to make her proud. And you'll make me proud too."

Aviva froze at the sudden contact, feeling a warmth spread through her. She'd never really had anyone *touch* her before—not like this. Silco's men had always manhandled her, dragging her back whenever she tried to escape. Silco hugged her all the time, but it wasn't the same. This was different. She smiled at Powder, hoping her surprise wasn't too obvious, as she gazed at the girl with a mix of gratitude and something she couldn't quite name.

Powder grinned, her eyes sparkling. "I'm serious. I want to be there for you, just like Vi's always there for me. You've got more in you than you know, Aviva. I'm gonna help you find it." She gave Aviva's hand a gentle squeeze. "We'll make sure no one forgets who we are."

Powder paused for a moment, then spoke again, her voice softer. "You don't have to do this alone, you know. I'll be here, helping you find your way. You don't have to be nothing anymore."

Aviva's eyes flickered, a quiet vulnerability crossing her face as she took in Powder's words. She had always felt like an echo, drifting through the world without purpose. To hear someone else offer her something more—something real—was... unfamiliar, but it felt right. She managed a small smile, her heart lifting slightly.

"I don't know what I'm doing," Aviva confessed quietly, looking down at their intertwined hands. "But... I guess it's nice to think that maybe, just maybe, I'm not invisible."

"You're not," Powder said firmly, her gaze steady and kind. "Not with me."

"Powder, I meant it—Mylo's down there pigging ou—" The voice got closer as a girl entered the room, her fiery red hair tied back in a practical ponytail, her expression a mix of amusement and mild annoyance. She was taller than Powder, with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor, the kind of presence that made it clear she wasn't someone you'd easily mess with.

"Who's this?" she asked, looking at Aviva with raised brows, clearly curious but guarded.

Powder smiled brightly at her sister. "This is Aviva. My friend."

Aviva waved shyly, offering a small smile as she took in the older girl standing in the doorway. Violet's sharp eyes scanned her from head to toe, sizing her up with a mixture of curiosity and caution. She didn't say anything at first, just standing there with arms crossed, her stance making it clear she wasn't easily impressed. She eyed their conjoined hands, quirking an eyebrow. There was a quiet tension in the air as Vi gave Aviva one last, calculating glance.

"So we bringing strangers home now? That's what we do now?" Vi said slowly, her voice laced with skepticism, but there was no real bite to it. She shifted her weight, her eyes still sizing Aviva up, a silent challenge in her gaze. She gave a small nod toward the girl. "Your parents name you after the wandering soul of Piltover? Must've been rioters."

Her tone was teasing, but there was a sharp edge to it, as if she was trying to figure out just how much trouble this girl might bring along with her. The room felt a bit heavier under the weight of Vi's assessment.

"Possibly? I don't know them personally," Aviva shrugged, pulling her hand gently from Powder's grasp. "Sorry for intruding. I can see myself out."

Powder frowned at the sudden loss of contact, her eyes softening with a quiet plea. "No, stay!" she said quickly, reaching her hand out to Aviva. "Please."

Aviva and Vi exchanged skeptical looks, the weight of the moment hanging in the air. Aviva hesitated before speaking. "Well, if your family doesn't mind," she said, a little nervously, "I don't want to eat anyone's share of food."

"You can eat mine," Powder reassured her, standing up from the bed with a grin. "Or, you know, what's left of it," she added, joking lightly.

Aviva smiled at Powder, her guard lowering just a bit. "Well, if you don't mind," she said softly, her tone lighter than before.

"Of course not!" Powder replied quickly, her grin widening. "Besides, I want you to meet Vander." She leaned in, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. "He's even cooler than Vi, if you can imagine that."

Aviva chuckled, a flicker of warmth in her eyes as she looked at Powder. Vi, however, just stared at the two girls with cautious eyes, clearly still sizing up the situation.

"Okay, but only for a bit," Aviva said, her tone relenting. "I gotta get back before Si—father realizes I'm gone."

Powder nodded, her enthusiasm undeterred. "We'll make it quick," she promised, giving Aviva a reassuring wink.

"AVIVA, HUH?"

Mylo asked, his mouth full as he eyed her with a mix of curiosity and judgment. "Your parents must've been rioters or part of that movement from years ago. They named you after the girl who destroyed Zaun?" He took another bite of her food, barely sparing her a glance.

Aviva shrugged, her body tensing slightly under the weight of his words. "That's what I've been told."

She wasn't just nervous because she'd spent the last twelve years eating meals in solitude with only Silco for company. It was the silence of this "Vander" that unsettled her—the man Powder had been gushing about since she walked in. He hadn't said a single word to her. But she could feel him—his presence, like an unspoken pressure in the room. His eyes never left her, steady and calculating from across the room. It wasn't aggressive, but it was intense, almost like he was trying to figure her out without needing to speak a word. It made her feel... small, yet seen. And for some reason, it was harder to ignore than anything else.

"The movement needs to come back, but they need to do it better," Vi said firmly, leaning back in her chair. "Aviva made them realize Piltover wasn't invincible, sure, but they forgot the person they harmed was a baby. Yeah, they got to Piltover, but it's not like they took out a council member—just a one-year-old." She crossed her arms, her voice tinged with both frustration and disbelief.

She glanced toward Aviva, her sharp eyes softening slightly. "What kind of message is that supposed to send? 'We'll fight back by going after a kid'? No wonder the whole thing fell apart." Vi shook her head, her tone quieter now, almost reflective. "If they're gonna rise again, they've gotta be smarter than that. Fight for something, not just to leave scars."

"Or perhaps it's best the whole movement died out," Claggor responded, his tone practical as he shoveled a forkful of food into his mouth. "It caused too many casualties anyway. Zaun's not ready for something like that. We don't have the resources to fight Piltover—not yet, at least."

He glanced at Vi, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You start a war without the tools to win it, you're just signing up for more graves. And Zaun's already got enough of those."

"But the fire of the movement already died," Mylo said, leaning forward with a skeptical look. "When we *do* get the materials, will the people even be as passionate as they were back then? I mean, they took out a whole troop of enforcers at the time—that's how strong it was." He gestured emphatically with his fork, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "So what? Do they have to kidnap and kill another baby for it to work again?"

"Enough." 

Vander's deep, steady voice cut through the tension in the room, silencing everyone instantly. His gaze swept over them, stern but calm. "No one should have to die for Piltover to finally treat us like humans. Not one of us, and not one of them. Aviva should have never been killed." 

His eyes flicked briefly to the gold-eyed girl sitting quietly at the table, a shadow of guilt passing across his face before he turned his attention back to his 'kids.' "She was just a child. Piltover or not, she was never meant to be a pawn of war."

"Someone should have saved her," Vander said, his voice low, almost hollow. His gaze dropped for a moment, as if the weight of his own thoughts pressed too heavily to hold his head high. "She should have gotten a chance to be a child, to enjoy whatever splendors Piltover had for her. But she never will." 

His jaw tightened, his hand curling into a fist on the table before he slowly relaxed it, his eyes flicking briefly toward Aviva. The guilt lingered there, unspoken but unmistakable, as if her presence alone was a reminder of what he hadn't done. 

"No one else should have to die for this movement," he said finally, his voice steadier but tinged with something deeper—regret. "Especially not another child." 

The room grew still, the silence hanging heavy. None of the kids dared to speak, but they all felt the weight of what Vander didn't say, etched in the tension in his shoulders and the faraway look in his eyes.

He cleared his throat, the weight of his words lingering in the air. "Let's change the subject," he said, his tone softening just slightly. "This conversation's gotten heavy enough."

THE NEXT DAY,

Aviva sat perched on the edge of her bed, sunlight filtering through the cracks in the boarded-up window. Her fingers idly traced the hem of her shirt as she replayed the events of the night before. She had made it back unseen, slipping into the room like a shadow. 

It wasn't the sneaking out that lingered in her mind, though—it was the dinner. Powder's warm smile, Vander's heavy words, and the way Vi's sharp gaze had softened, if only slightly. For the first time in years, Aviva had felt... included. Not just an obligation or a pawn but a person, even if just for a fleeting moment. 

A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. She straightened, quickly smoothing her hair as Silco's gravelly voice came from the other side. 

"Aviva. Breakfast is ready. Don't let it go cold." 

"Coming!" she called, her voice steady, though her chest tightened. 

As she stood, she caught her reflection in the cracked mirror by the bed. She looked the same—messy hair, gold eyes—but something about her felt different. Lighter, maybe. Or perhaps more aware of the weight she'd been carrying. 

She opened the door, stepping out into the familiar corridors of Silco's home. The warmth from the night before faded, replaced by the cool, calculated air she had known for years. Still, a small spark lingered, tucked away where no one could see it. 

For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel entirely alone.

Aviva entered the dining room, her footsteps light against the worn floorboards. Silco was already seated at the head of the table, his mismatched eyes scanning a report in his hands. The air smelled faintly of coffee and slightly overcooked eggs. 

Without looking up, he gestured to the plate set for her. "Eat." 

She slid into her usual seat, the scrape of the chair against the floor loud in the otherwise quiet room. The food in front of her was plain but warm, a stark contrast to the meals she'd shared the night before. For a moment, she hesitated, the sound of laughter from Powder and her friends still echoing faintly in her mind. 

Silco finally set the paper down and looked at her. His gaze was sharp but calm, dissecting her with a glance. "You're quiet today," he remarked. 

Aviva swallowed and forced a small shrug, stabbing at the eggs with her fork. "Just thinking." 

"About what?" His voice was soft, but the undercurrent of authority was unmistakable. 

"Nothing important," she lied, keeping her eyes on the plate. 

Silco leaned back in his chair, his hands steepled under his chin as he studied her. "You've been restless lately," he said. "You're not... unhappy, are you?" 

Aviva's fork paused mid-air. His tone was even, but there was something in his question—a test, maybe, or a trap. She shook her head quickly, forcing a smile. "No, of course not. I just didn't sleep well." 

Silco nodded slowly, but his gaze lingered. "Good," he said at last. "Because you have a role to play, Aviva. And I expect you to be ready when the time comes." 

"I understand," she replied, her voice steady. But as she took another bite of her food, she couldn't shake the image of Powder's smile or the way Vi had looked at her, like she was something more than just a role to be played. 

Silco returned to his papers, the conversation seemingly over, but the tension in the room remained. Aviva finished her meal in silence, the warmth she had felt the night before now a faint ember she tucked carefully away, where no one—not even Silco—could reach it. 

Aviva sat in silence as Silco's attention shifted back to his work. The hum of the room felt stifling, and the weight of the moment hung between them, unspoken but palpable. Her mind wandered, drifting back to the brief, fleeting connection she'd felt with Powder and the others—the easy smiles, the laughter, the feeling of being... something more than just a tool to be used.

She stabbed at her food again, though she wasn't really hungry. It felt pointless. She wasn't sure why the thought lingered so stubbornly in her mind—*why did it matter so much?*

Across the table, Silco continued to sift through papers, completely absorbed in his work. She could hear his quiet mutterings, the soft rustle of paper against his fingers, but none of it brought any comfort. His presence was always so overwhelming, a constant weight pressing down on her. 

"You'll be useful," he suddenly said, his voice cutting through her thoughts. She looked up sharply, surprised by the suddenness of it. "The people of Zaun will need someone to rally behind. A symbol. They need to see strength. It's why you're named the way you are. You carry her soul."

Aviva nodded, but her throat felt dry. "I understand."

"Good." He set the paper down, his eyes meeting hers with an unsettling intensity. "The day will come when you'll need to lead them. And when it does, you'll need to be ready." 

She swallowed. His words were heavy with expectation, like iron chains wrapping tighter around her chest with every syllable. She knew what he meant—She would be the one to ignite the spark for Zaun's revolt. She was the weapon, the symbol. She had to do what the original Aviva couldn't.

Though she was only one years old when her purpose started. And dead. So it's not her fault.

But as she sat there, the memory of the night before crept back in. The warmth, the laughter, the fleeting sense of belonging. Powder's easy smile, Vi's sharp, yet not unkind, stare. A strange, distant ache tugged at her chest. Could she be something more than just a weapon?*

The question was too dangerous, so she pushed it aside, burying it beneath the weight of her role. After all, Silco had given her a purpose. He had given her a chance. 

"Don't disappoint me," Silco added, his voice a low warning. It was more of a command than a suggestion. "I've invested too much in you for you to fail." 

Aviva nodded again, though her mind was far from his words. The meal was over, but the taste of it—the plainness, the weight—lingered in her mouth. As she stood to leave, the thought of last night stayed with her, a quiet ember in the back of her mind.

Powder saw her, really saw her, as someone with depth, with worth, not just a blank slate to be molded into whatever others wished. Where others had only looked at Aviva as a tool, a symbol, a means to an end, Powder saw something more—someone who could stand on her own. There was no judgment in her eyes, no expectation to become what others needed her to be. Powder believed in her, believed that she was something real, something that deserved more than the empty role Silco had carved out. And somehow, that belief—it felt like a lifeline. Powder hadn't just given her hope, she had given her the possibility of a future that wasn't already written, the chance to be someone who wasn't bound by the choices made for her long before she had a say.

LOVE SPEAKS!

I'm not proofreading this. Vote and comment I love to hear from you.

Also I would advise when I post the next chapter for you to reread this one because I definitely don't think I captured what exactly is going on with Aviva and Silco correctly but I'm too tired to fix it and I need another chapter out so

Trigger warning for crappy writing.