#I'm still not happy how I draw Silco

[jinxs-gf]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

pairings: jinx x reader

summary: You’re an artist, giddy at the thought of creating a portrait of Jinx, your lover. Except she can’t understand why you’d want a portrait of her.

content, warnings: jinx has cute aggression & insecurities, fluff! reader calls jinx ‘angel’ and jinx calls r her toots, too much description and it’s all barely edited D: pretty cringe but it’s okay

w.c. 2.2k

a.n. based off this request <3 again tysm anon ILY :)

You walk into the little corner of Jinx's room (the abandoned, giant space full of nothingness—that goes down...who knows how far) exclusively reserved for you. There's easels with and without canvases. Some covered in abandoned art, some finished, and some blank. The corner screamed you all over it. Especially the mess of unnecessary amounts of paint brushes, buckets, pencils, tore up paper...

Paint splotches and spills were scattered across your little desk and the floor (the work of you and Jinx).

There's particular squabbles of paint that you don’t mind. A happy face with a squiggly smile that's been there long enough to start chipping away. An uneven mess of hearts scattered in attempt to make the perfect one. Big words that read "I love you" in blue and smaller words next to it, "jinx waz here" in pink. The newest stain is on one of the many cans of your desk, a mark of her kiss. She'd quite literally painted her lips with bright purple and kissed the can, insisting it was there so her toots would never miss her.

Even though there's no time to miss her. Even though she resorts to bringing her work over to your tiny desk instead of keeping it to her very spacious one. You don't mind, the closer to your girlfriend the better. You pretend to be bothered though, only so she'd persist and annoy and squish into your space further.

You tie the apron, generously gifted by Silco, around yourself, excited to (hopefully) start a new, special project. It was gifted reluctantly of course. He tried to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal, but it was a very big deal. The eye of Zaun gift giving? Unheard of. You must be special. And you were, according to your blue haired menace that reminded you everyday. The very menace you affectionately named Angel.

"Toots!"

Jinx's gloved hands wrap around your body and suddenly, your back is crunched to her front. Her hands squeeze your tummy while nuzzling her face into you. Clearly she had missed you...for the whole minute you were separated.

It's like she can tell you were thinking it, "What? You didn't miss me while you were gone? You don't seem so excited I'm here." She's teasing like she always does. The edge and rasp in her voice so close to your neck doing wonders to the butterflies in your stomach.

But of course Jinx missed you. Could you really blame her? She hates every second you're apart, and she loves that you do too. So she's open about it, maybe more dramatic and a bit of a show off, but only to make you laugh and see you turn bashful. She loves getting you shy with her affections and teasing, unable to fathom the way you're wrapped around her finger the way she's wrapped around yours.

Your hands delicately grab her small, rough ones, turning yourself around to face her. "Don't even start with me, I'll tickle you to death if you keep up the accusations."

"Is that supposed the be a threat?" And oh, the pout is more real than sarcastic than she wants it to be. Like she genuinely doesn't like the idea of being threatened...by tickles (you know the idea is scary to Jinx, it's the truest form of torture she said once).

"Kind of." Your hands swing in the gap between the two of you. "Hey I actually had an idea. Care to hear?" It's something you've been wanting to do for a while now, giddy at the thought of it. Yet suddenly you find yourself a bit reluctant, still undoubtedly shy around your lover. You hope she'll say yes and that her teasing from this won't be too harsh.

"Hit me with it!"

"Will you let me draw you? Like a full portrait? I promise I'll do you justice!"

Jinx is sorry for it, but she stopped listening immediately, too enraptured by your connected hands, heart beating a little faster at the contact. You'll never know the effect you have on her (or so she thinks), she refuses to get teased even though she loves to tease you. She adores how flustered you get. Teasing is her love language, Jinx's way of showing her love for her toots. And when you decide it's unbearable enough, you'll shut her up with a kiss. Jinx will drag it out and annoy you for that reason alone. She counts on a messy kiss every time.

Unknowing of what to do with the sudden adoration creeping up on her, she pinches your hands hard.

Unfazed, you call her "Angel?"

"Hm?" She looks up and at you with so much affection. So much it stops you for a moment. Your giddiness to do this increases tenfold, her expression killing you in the best way possible. You can be extremely honest about this to soften her up, make her want to say yes.

"I'd like to draw you. Like really, really badly. I have for the longest time. You're just...stupidly pretty and it makes me feel so stupid and I want to scribble your face all over my canvases all the time. So...can I? You'll have to sit for me as reference." You say it as if you don’t have every bit of her memorized, which you completely do.

And for whatever reason, your menace (angel) is stunned. You notice it’s a bad kind of stunned, you realize quickly.

“…Me?”

“Yes?”

“But why?” Jinx asks quiet and unsure of herself. Her eyes look everywhere but you, she tries pulling back but you squeeze her hands. There’s a hint of anxiety around her, something she hasn’t experienced since she met you.

The mood switch and uncharacteristic behavior causes worry to stir in your chest. “Uhh, why wouldn’t I? You’re my girlfriend, you’re the prettiest girl in the Undercity and in Piltover! Trust me, none of those snotty ladies are as pretty-”

“You haven’t even been to Piltover.”

“I don’t need to go over there to know they don’t compare to you.”

She heaves a big sigh, your worry growing.

“I just- I'm not pretty or beautiful or any of the things you say I am. You call me angel when I'm far from that! You love art, it’s your thing, toots. Your passion and escape. How can you let someone like me ruin something you love so much? I don’t want to…I don’t know.”

When you don’t answer, she continues.

“I’m not worthy of so much time being spent on something so precious you know?” She says it like she hopes you’ll agree. You won’t.

“Angel,” you let go of her hands to cup her face, needing her to hear you. “Of course you’re worth spending time on. I love you. Do I not say it enough? I know I can be-”

“No, you say it lots and lots!”

“I’ll say it more. I need to make sure you believe it. And guess what? I meant what I said Angel. You’re the prettiest girl. The prettiest to exist. And you’re mine, do you know how lucky I am? You clearly don’t understand how much I feel for you. You’re worth every second I’m gonna spend on your portrait, you understand?”

And finally, her smile is back, gone is the unsure frown.

Jinx nods and you nod while smiling with her, going in for a kiss…multiple kisses. Kisses all over her precious face, because she deserves to feel loved. To know that she’s loved.

You can be put your timidness to the side for the hour. She needs your confidence in your feelings right now. Your confidence in her.

"Now get in my lap, I need a better look at your pretty face." Your teasing demand flusters her. She immediately settles in your lap so your chests touch. It wasn't everyday (really ever) that you spoke to her like that, always too shy to do so. But Jinx finds that she kind of likes it, she wants you to demand contact with her, especially in a position like this. It makes her feel gooey inside. Butterflies uncontainable.

It's not exactly ideal, you're not used to having your girlfriend in your lap while sketching. But you wanted this, and it's not making it impossible. All you have to do is wrap your arms around her pretty waist and rest your chin on her shoulder. It's perfect.

"For science huh? To 'get a better look' at me was it? Toots, if you wanted me in your lap you coulda just said that!" She teases, assuming you just wanted her there to have a more accurate picture.

You quietly confess, "jus' wanted you in my lap." Giving her waist a squeeze while you sketch her jaw.

You can tell you've stumped her (but this time in a good way). She's gone impossibly quiet and still. Warm too, just like she always does when you attempt to flirt. The two of you were truly unable to get over and deal with the timidness of being affectionate. Of being together.

And just like always, she melts. Like how ice cream does in the sun (a sugary delight you've been able to share with Jinx once). Her stiff back let's loose and she squeezes in return. She holds on like you'll disappear. You wouldn't. Not ever, because how could you? When you love her and when she loves you to death?

It’s quiet for the rest of the time you’re drawing, Jinx resorting to drawing patterns on your back, seemingly drifting off at some point. She internally scolded herself for it, not wanting you to think she was bored but it was taking a while. She wanted to have this moment with you though, it was so delicate, something that’s not occurred before. Especially with the earlier conversation. It was special.

You dot the last bit of her freckles on the white sheet. "All done," a kiss to the side of her head that makes her impossibly warm and dig her face deeper. "Needa color it in now." Color it with the paint the two of you always make a mess out of, there's no doubt in your mind it'll happen again.

She turns to finally look at it, her eyes wider than you've ever seen. "Holy shit toots, there's no way you did that!"

"Are you accusing me of cheating?"

"Maybe." She always knew you were the best artist of the Undercity (definitely not biased), you were just that good. But this was different. Was it because it was a drawing of her? Well...it was also the fact that it was so accurate. From her eyes, nose, mouth, jaw...even the way her hair curled in front of her face. And the scars, scars even she herself had forgotten about. But you remembered, you hadn't looked at Jinx once the whole time. You really did have her memorized huh? You didn’t have to say it, the way you insisted she sat in your lap instead of on a different chair for reference and the drawing in front of her is enough proof.

Jinx needed to go look in whatever was left of her shattered mirror to see this. She couldn't believe how pretty she looked on a piece of paper. She couldn't believe you took the time to do this. That you even wanted to in the first place. Jinx has been flustered and felt her heart beating awfully fast just from your gaze alone. But she thinks her heart might be about ready to explode, much like her countless monkey bombs or firelights.

She's unsure how to contain or show this rush of deep, deep affection, so she pushes your face from where it's searching her reaction and jumps out your lap, rushing for your paint cans.

You're kind of confused, but also accepting of her reaction. You're used to it, not that she always runs away due to avoiding feelings. Definitely not. Jinx was one to have so much affection for something or someone that you just...want to pinch, squeeze or...bite it. Luckily she hasn't got you (yet). It was a little shove, probably to prevent herself from sinking her teeth into your cheek. (You truly wouldn't have minded) (you kind of would have, it hurts).

She's back in front of you holding up a bucket half full of bright blue paint. At her feet she's set down small cans of various blues, pinks, and purples. Her favorite colors, obviously.

"Here ya go toots!” There’s no doubt in your mind you’ll be making a mess with the paint when you’re done.

Except, you haven’t even picked out a paint brush before you feel her hands grab your waist from behind, the familiar feeling of paint transferring from her touch to your body.

You look back at her, squinting. “Excuse me?”

“What? Can’t grab my toots’ love handles?”

You turn around, grabbing her hands and pulling her closer to you. You take a peak at her handy work, the blue on your waist making you feel things. You won’t let her know that though.

“Two can play at that game.”

“Try me then toots.”

You release your hands from hers and cup her face with them, leaving blue prints of your palms on her cheeks.

#oh my GOD guess who finally posted #kind of not how I wanted it to come out but it’ll do! #been working on it on and off for a bit #jinx x reader #jinx x you #arcane jinx x reader #jinx x y/n #jinx x female reader #jinx x gender neutral reader #jinx x male reader

[silcoitus]

I've just found your blog but I love it already omg. I love Silco so much and I'm so happy to find people who write and/or draw for him!!

Why thank you so much, anon! How lovely of you 🥰 we Silco simps are very much still here and very much still thirsting.

I've never had a single animated character have such a chokehold on me. (TV characters sure, I'll love a character so much partially because of the character but also because of the actor *cough* David Tennant *cough*) But this is the first time an animated character has consumed my entire being. The first time in a long time that I wasn't content with just canon and I needed to create more of this man.

I needed more.

And I needed to make him mine.

#silcoitus #silcoitus answers

[lullabyes22-blog]

horrified by how badly i want mel/silco after every snippet and hint of them. insane how mel tries to seduce and he just finds it laughable (i wonder if it's a tiny bit endearing to him, or if he's purely disdainful of her efforts to seduce him like she would any uptight topsider). he's such an inveterate scoundrel that mel has to let herself be corrupted, has to willingly descend to his level if she'sgoing to actually shock him out of his comfortable rakishness... it's all too much, i can't wait to see it

Heeeeee<3

I'm so happy this rarepair is getting love! They just have so much potential for drama and disaster in between their mindgames and rhetoric.

You're not wrong, tho - he's the epitome of inveterate scoundrel. For their dynamic in FnF, I'm using the template of Valmont and Merteuil from Dangerous Liaisons, but with some overlap re: his seduction of Madame Tourvel:

Valmont: You see, I have no intention of breaking down her prejudices. I want her to believe in God and virtue and the sanctity of marriage, and still not be able to stop herself. I want the excitement of watching her betray everything that's is most important to her. Surely you understand that. I thought betrayal was your favorite word.

Merteuil: No, no..."cruelty." I always think that has a nobler ring to it.

Essentially two morally grey characters - but with one much more clever, and the other ten times more ruthless - circling each other in a web that draws dangerously tight with every exchange.

Somebody gonna lose their head :,3

I've got more notes on Melco and their endgame here if you'd like a peek<3

#asks #arcane league of legends #arcane #arcane silco #silco #forward but never forget/xoxo #forward (never forget)/xoxo #melco #arcane mel #mel medarda #silco x mel

[huntinglove]

love-a-lot bear!!! 💞 I wanna hear from as many f/os who wanna say something!!

(or just one. no pressure haha)

Hi hi!! Thank you so much for the ask!!

Love-A-Lot Bear 💞 - What moment made you realize that S/I was "the one"? Be as detailed or vague as you want!

Oh man... For me things were a bit all over the place. After the whole ordeal with Golb and the almost-end-of-the-world, I was really confused and panicked.

I still have some of Ice King's memories and a lot of them are about Ocean Princess...

It took a whole month for me to be able to process everything, Marcy was the one who explained it all to me.

She also helped me get the courage to go and talk to Ocean Princess again.

Some of Ice King's feelings about her were still in me, I suppose. It didn't take that long for me to actually fall in love with her myself!

The way her eyes light up when she sees me, the way she treats me like the only person that matters.. It's a bit intense but I really enjoy how strong her love is, because mine is just as strong for her.

- 📚 Simon

My heart was dancing and singing like a bunch of maracas right when I saw her!

Plus she was the only princess who never played hard to get, she was always really cool and nice to me!

Hanging out with Ocean Princess always makes me happy!

- ❄️ Ice King

It was... Complicated.

We frequented the same restaurants and shops a lot of the time, because we have similar tastes in a lot of things.

Eventually she just became accustomed to me and started small talks when we were in the same place. Later on I started reciprocating, out of politeness at first, but a while later she actually managed to catch my attention whenever we spoke to one another.

She was never judgemental or creeped out by me, I felt safe around her. Then I got a stupid crush on her. I tried my best to shake it off, but I couldn't. So eventually I confessed to her and we ended up getting together.

You can imagine how awkward it was to have a crush on someone who works for some of your greatest enemies.

I will get her out of there, even if it's the last thing I do.

- 🖤 Tokoyami

She was one of Silco's subordinates, I'm pretty sure!

I've seen her around all the time, always working or drawing, especially when she would hang around the bar!

I got curious so I just started following her around and then we became best friends!

Then after that we got even closer together, she's the cutest girlfriend ever! It was just a "right person, right time" deal

You would never suspect that someone squishy like her is just like me, deep down!

- 💣 Jinx

I saved her life from a tuxedo wearing demon, then she never really left after that...

I appreciated her determination to "pay her debt" to me, and I was honestly surprised that she was even able to survive being around a demon for as long as she did...

So I presented her to the master and decided to have her be a student and train with all the hashira, myself included. If she didn't meet the expectations of the corp, I would take her life.

Luckily for her though, I ended up getting a bit... Soft towards her. Even with all the training, all the demons and all the missions that she was put through, she never lost her loyalty to me, and she never lost her smile.

She ended up reminding me of myself when I was younger... I don't know why, but it just made my heart flutter whenever she was around.

So eventually we got together.

- ☁️ Muichiro

They've saved my life multiple times... Helped me take care of my wounds and face my fears...

They made me be a better man, a better version of myself. If that's not love, I'm not sure what is.

They tell me that I've done the same for them, I hope I'll be able to believe them one day.

- 🐺 Muriel

Eris was always just so present and nice to me.. She was the only person that didn't expect me to do anything for her to be proud of me.

She took care of me when I was sick or hurt, she stayed with me when I was hurting and when I was upset...

She listened to me when I talked, she let me enjoy whatever I wanted without judging or being annoyed with me.

She made me feel like I mattered, just for being myself. And I wanted her to feel like that too!

- ⚜️ Hunter

♥️ I mean... Have you seen that [redacted]?! How's a guy supposed to NOT fall for that??♥️

In all seriousness though, she's just not like other girls! ♠️ Probably because she's an alien... ♠️ But still!

♥️ She showed me what actual activism is, told me that there's a lot of issues where she comes from too... ♥️

♥️ She's also one of the only people that don't actually want me dead, I'm pretty sure. She even listened to my mixtape!♥️

- ♥️ Zebruh

When they moved into the valley things started changing for the better... The whole community felt more united and happy

Plus, they made me feel like a person again, they always took time out of their day to come talk to me and even give me gifts

We did so many things together, things just escalated pretty quick. We just clicked I guess

We saved each other in the caves, played D&D together, hung out while I was coding... It felt like someone actually cared about me for once.

Then I just... Couldn't hide it anymore. We went for a ride and I took them to the top of the mountain, so I could show them the view of Zuzu City

That was the first time we kissed, and when I told them that I was in love with them... I don't regret a second of it. I'm pretty sure I married the right person

- 💧 Sebastian

#✯ lovely asks #oh boy tags! #❥ the ice king's princess #❥ my lord of darkness #❥ my heart went boom! #❥ forget me not #❥ the fool and the hermit #❥ golden heart #❥ my one true matesprit #❥ rainy days and frozen tears

[chaoticnerdsstuff]

What if after Vi left Jinx instead of being found by Silco Jinx gets found by Gomez and Morticia and gets raised as an Addams? Like she would still relatively be Jinx cuz they wouldnt force their lifestyle onto her and I like the name Jinx Addams

YES YESSSS YES FUCK YES.

I'm writing this on my phone so like sorry if it seems weird lmfao-

...

Powder couldn't do anything but cry as her sister turned her back on her and left. She should've done run to her and beg for her forgiveness. But she couldn’t- no matter how hard she tried her body wouldn't listen as it stayed on the floor and simply watched the corpse of the man who brought her up. She couldn’t look away. Not as his blood infused with shimmer leaked out of his transformed body. Not when her nails clawed deep in her arms enough to draw blood seeming the only thing she could fe. Not even the soreness of her throat as she plead for someone. Anyone. To come back. She's right. I've jinxed it now. I'm alone.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid-

"You." A voice. Not Vi's.

Powder was quick to turn her head even with her eyes brimming with tears she focused on a girl about her age look at her without any pity but simple interest.

"W-Whaddya want from me?" She hoarsed out. Her throat felt as it her from flames from the screaming she unleashed minutes prior.

"I've witnessed the mass destruction you caused." The girl in braids said, in awe?

Powder sniffled and rolled her eyes." And? What?You're gonna snitch on me?"

The girl who got closer shook her head. Walking closer with no signs that she was jinx and stared at the corpse of her Father with interest. By her quirk of the eyebrow she seemed self accomplished.

"Of course not. I've haven't seen such a show in so long. I've heard rumors of Silco's return but you seemed to just take the show for yourself.... that's impressive." The girl complimented with a dry tone.

"I was trying to help!"

"And you did dummy. You killed Vander, ending what would become another war in Zaun. You shouldn't be crying, you should be happy."

"Y-You don't seem happy." Powder said helplessly, not knowing what to feel.

The girl turned her head immediately to her almost in offense making powder tense up. Her brown eyes shined with a light that Powder couldn't decipher

"Yes I've been told that. But believe me, I'm in awe. What is your name?"

"Jinx. "Powder.

"No maiden Name? Excellent you'll make a worthy Addams. Follow me, Jinx"

"You're an Addams!?"

"Wednesday Addams, but yes."

#Wednesday Addams #Jinx #Powder jinx #Arcane x Wednesday

[taikoturtle]

Daffodil, camellia, and palm tree!

daffodil ⇢ do you have siblings? if yes, in what ways do you think you’re similar to or different from them?

I have a brother and a half sister. I'm not super close to my half-sis (we more hang out during holidays) but we're both easy-going I think and enjoy going to concerts.

My brother I think we're much more opposite. He didn't really get good grades and do well in school, whereas I was a goody-goody who did her homework and took AP classes and stuff. And like, that's not to say he wasn't smart, because he is very bright, but he just did not test well and the overall school system was not his ideal environment. He's super worldly and taught himself to be fluent in Spanish, so he's able to apply himself in ways much better than I ever could.

Similarities, I would say we're both creative people. He used to be in a band, could play a multitude of instruments, sing, and wrote all the music/lyrics. I also played lots of instruments growing up, but also liked to draw and write (which is how I kind of got into fandom).

camellia ⇢ what were you like when you were younger? do you think you’ve changed a lot?

Oh god I was a complete immature dumbass. I think I used to be 'the smart friend' back in middle school who could draw, but I went to high school and met people 100x better than me who were younger and it made me super disheartened. So I resorted to cracking jokes instead since I felt that was all I had left, and that behavior kind of just stuck with me all throughout HS and college.

These days in some ways I haven't changed, I still like to joke around and make sure everyone around me is happy, but now I'm just less obnoxious about it (I hope). Even looking back at college me feels like looking at a child. I've changed a lot over the years and am still changing/growing as I experience new things.

palm tree ⇢ do you have a fictional villain you shouldn’t like but love regardless?

Maybe Silco? But I mean he was intended to be sympathetic. so not sure if this really counts. In spite of all the terrible things he did, his bond with Jinx and how everything ended made me cry. I really liked his character.

#asks #anon #thanks for the ask! #these are fun #also sorry for that personal essay #you probably did not ask for this LOL

[wishfulsketching]

Nothing bad ever happened in Arcane. I'm not trying to deal with everything by drawing happy art about Silco raising Jinx................

Silco needs to buy a sleeping mask

#my art #sketchy sketch #sketch #arcane #arcane silco #arcane jinx #I'm still not happy how I draw Silco #but I'm getting there #oh and sevika! #yes I'm still thinking about Silco sitting legs crossed on the floor #how casually intimidating

[hotxcheeto]

Vi x Reader, where the Reader is Vander's daughter and she wrote love letters to Vi, and continued to write them even when she thought Vi was dead, and Vi was at Stillwater. After Caitlyn gets Vi out of Stillwater and she is looking for Jinx and the Reader, Vi stumbles on a box that the Reader designed from before they lost Vander and all hell broke loose. She opens it and finds the love letters, and Jinx finds the pair, and she tells Vi the Reader is still alive and fighting Silco and has been for years ever since they were separated. Vi and the Reader reunite and they share a moment together and become an offical couple.

━ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐈 𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄

𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜(𝙨) - Vi x Fem!Reader 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 - Cursing, Angsty, Sad, Happy ending

𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙? - Yeah/Nope/Somewhat

𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧'𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 - I don't know how to feel about the title but I can't think of much else >:|

You had been drawing the same design for hours. Staring at it, your hand was beginning to hurt. Cramp with pain. So you finally gave up, dropping your red pencil onto the paper and leaning back in your chair staring at the ceiling.

It was something you'd been thinking of for so long. Yet on paper, there were so many kinks and lines and hoops you had to dodge and jump through. You weren't sure it was such a good idea now. Then again, it was too good to forget about.

You stood up from the chair, the only light in the room being your desk light. The darkness outside was almost comforting, rain lightly pattering on the window. Zaun was quiet at this time of night, every drunk or miserable person had gone home.

You walked out of the room littered in your drawings and other bits and pieces of things you've collected over the years. You paused, looking at one of the drawings on the wall, a rough sketch of Vi when she was just a kid. When you both were just kids.

You frowned, before walking out of the room. Rubbing your eyes as you made your way to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, you grabbed an old plastic water bottle from inside. Closing it as you walked to the living room.

But before you could make it you froze. Slowly turning your head to the tiny dining table fit for maybe two people. If you were lucky.

On the scratchy wooden surface... was a box. A box you'd created. A puzzle box to be exact. One you'd left behind. Left at a place you hadn't gone to in so long.

Then it clicked. Someone was in the small apartment. The small apartment with barely three rooms. Something else then seemed to click. Only one person knew where that box was. Only one. One fucking person knew where it was and how to open the box. Only one.

"Why'd you stop?" You closed your eyes. You'd fallen asleep at your desk again, that's all that happened. You've had this dream a million times before. Give it just a moment, you'd wake up...

"You stopped writing a month ago... and it..." It said you were done. You were giving up. You slowly turned around, eyes full of tears as you looked into the corner of the room where she stood.

Her hair had grown out, but was still half shaved. She'd gained a few scars, gotten taller. Then again, she was always taller than you. Just by an inch sometimes, she never was shorter. Your eyes ran over her body, she'd always had muscles but now they were defined. They were obvious.

You wondered where she had to go to still look like this. To look... okay. She was alive, and she looked okay. Despite the scars, it was still your girl. Your Violet. Those same, fucking eyes.

The same ones that comforted you when, when the war at the bridge had finally ended. When the war between the two cities had finally, finally taken everything from you.

"You're dead." "I'm right here." She stepped towards you but you stepped back. "Y... You're... I..." Your back hit the table, hard, the box falling from the top and onto the ground. It hadn't been locked properly, the letters you'd written over the years. The many tears that had ruined the ink were now displayed across the wooden floor.

"What... how..." She moved towards you, slowly, watching you like a hawk. Your reaction, how your body reacted as she moved. You were pushing yourself into the table like a scared child hiding themselves in a corner. "Y/n/n. Breathe."

Vi was now in front of you. Looking down at you but you had averted your eyes. Shaking your head. You couldn't believe it. Or maybe you didn't want to. Because that would mean you'd given up on her.

"Vi-" "Yeah, yeah I'm here." You felt her hands before you finally snapped. Pushing towards her, wrapping your arms around her waist. "Vi." You sobbed, squeezing her as if she was going to disappear. As if she was going to fade away and you were going to wake up in your dark room, tears down your face. Just like every other night.

"I'm here now." Her hands laid in your hair, her fingers running down the strands. Her right hand then rested on the back of your neck as she held you close.

Violet held you as if you were going to disappear. Because every night you did, you'd fade away. And she'd wake up again in her empty cell in the dark. Wishing that things were different. Because she didn't want you to disappear. Not again.

"I read your letters." "Every one?" She hummed, smiling a bit. "Why'd you stop writing to me?" "Because I never got a chance to put the last letter in. I couldn't do it Vi. I didn't want to give up on you." She held you closer, looking at the ground. "You wouldn't. Letters or not." You let out another sob, digging your face into her shirt.

"It's gonna be okay." You moved back from her, sniffling. "So... you read all of them?" You asked, now turning slightly red. "Yeah..." She blushed just a bit. "I'm sorry Vi." She shook her head. "No, no, it's okay. I just... I wish I would've known sooner. Before." You stared up at her, not realizing that you both hadn't let go of each other.

You weren't ready to. Both of you were too afraid that this was all some sick dream. Some nightmare that you'd wake up from, back in your empty rooms.

Her hand rested on your cheek as a soft silence filled the room. Her thumb running little, subtle circles on your skin.

"Vi?" "Hm?" "How'd you find me?" She shrugged, looking away with a smile. "A friend. I promise.. I'm gonna tell you everything. I just..." She stared down at you, wanting to never let her eyes leave yours.

Violet then decided that the many years you both spend apart was enough. Leaning down and pressing her lips to yours. She felt you freeze for a moment before you pushed back, kissing her softly, leaning farther into her hold.

She'd lightly pushed you back so you were leaning against the table once again. Deepening the kiss as you both took a sharp, quick breath for air. Connecting once again.

"Do you want the last one?" You finally pulled away, grabbing her hand from your cheek. Holding it in your slightly smaller ones. "Why not?" The soft smile on her face only got bigger as you led her to your office room.

The walls lined with art, notes, and letters. But one caught her eye, the drawing of herself as a teenager. You'd kept it, and you hung it proudly on your wall. She stared at it, listening to you rummage around in your drawer before pulling out a fancy looking envelope. Her name in neat handwriting on the front.

"Here. The last letter." She took it from you and looked down at it. "Just do me a favor and don't read it in front of me? I already feel stupid." "Don't. I think it's adorable darling." You blushed at the old nickname, one of many she'd called you.

"So... I want to know everything." "I know." You stepped forward, wrapping your arms around her as you gave her a hug. Tightening your arms when she did the same. "Everything. Understand?" "Mhm. Promise." She ran her fingers through your hair pushing it back from your face. "Good... I love you, Vi. I think I always have." "That makes two of us."

It was quiet for a moment as you thought. Pulling back from her and looking up at her face.

"Say it." Vi smirked. "I love you." “I love you more.” She teetered her head back and forth, humming. “I doubt that darling.”

A/n: So glad tmrw is Friday

#vi x reader #vi x you #vi x yn #arcane vi #vi arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane netflix #arcane #nevy writes

[a-gal-with-taste]

Timer [Prologue]

Summary: In the color of their eyes, there is a set of numbers on the wrist, that are counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds to when you will meet your soulmate.

AO3 link

Wordcount: 3161 | Silco X Reader (Soulmate AU)

000000.000000

000000.000001

000000.000002...

-

Silco frowns, mix-matched gaze leveled. The air around is stiff and still, but soon filled with a flow of quiet laughter slipping from your mouth. 

It’s not a happy sound.

Not that he blames you, nor did he expect anything different, but he frowns nonetheless as it reaches his ears. He isn't given a chance to make a single comment, observation or greeting, as you smile, strained and voice shaking as you hoarsely say the first thing your mouth could put together: an accusation. 

"You kept me waiting ." 

"... I am sorry."

A disbelieving huff of air, and a sarcastic edge in your tone as you murmur, "Oh yes, I'm suure you are-" "No. You misunderstand. I said, I am sorry , because I'm quite certain I must have heard you incorrectly." He closed his still-human eye, taking a short breath through his nose, feeling his teeth begin to grind with frustration. Unhealthy habit, but one that felt wholly warranted in this situation. " I kept…"

The tumbling cluster of frustration from the last hours, days, weeks. Years, if he wanted to pool it all together now. He might as well take every grievance of this life and let it all out now in one big, extended, and beautifully cathartic scream.

It's taking every ounce of him not to give into the urge, but he manages. Barely, but he's nothing if not stubborn, even, especially for himself.

The simulation of life, and how absolutely infuriating it was. Yes, he had fought and clawed and nearly died just to continue it, but if anything had been proven to give him the never-ending migraine of the century, in these last weeks, it was the tedious nature of life.

That, and the sheer, utter gall of his soulmate.

"I kept you waiting?" 

Opening the one remaining again, the Eye of Zaun frowns a bit more when he notes you haven't lowered the gun.

The kingpin doesn’t attempt to duck, raise his hands to calm you or lunge to disarm. For one, you are too far away, and another, he has far too much dignity to scramble away from an irritated individual with a gun. Silco is also confident, truly, that you won’t shoot, but the symbolic nature of his soulmate holding a gun at him, still draws a pause.

He imagined a sting of betrayal would have accompanied the sight, if this were hours prior. He doesn't feel it now. Can't, really.

"Yes.” Unapologetic, flat, and the truth, as you finally respond to his dry-toned question.

That frown on the scarred-face gets deeper at the voice-crack you make when you take a step forward, hand reaching out half-blind to steady yourself on the railing. The gun jerks in your grip when Silco takes a step closer at the stagger you make, watching your bloodied nails curling into the rusty metal of the short railing. "You did. You know you did. You kept me waiting, and you took too long ."

The bottom of this pit is too far for any human eye to see, and the lights on the walkway are dim enough to cast darker shadows than normal. This mine is, for lack of better words, dreadful. Deadly even, given one wrong step, or one too-long inhale with unpracticed lungs. With the toxins of this mineral mine being as potent as death for one not used to breathing them in, even Silco, a man who was born inhaling them, distantly feels an urge to gag with every inhale he takes of this damned air in the depths of the Undercity.

He imagines the purple tinge in the haze in the air is adding to the effect. 

Or maybe that’s just the smell of blood from his walk over here. He’s never been one to shy from blood, Gods know, but he admits, it’s been a while since the last occasion he had such a direct hand in a massacre such as this one. Worth it, every step, considering where it brought him, but regardless.

Or maybe it has something to do with the blood splattering you as well. It’s dry, most of it, but as your grip tightens on the railing, you pause to take a ragged breath, and a single trickle slides down from your temple, all the way down to your chin. You swallow, and he watches it drip onto a sagging shoulder as you bow your head slightly, looking defeated. From exhaustion, your beaten and bruised form, emotions or everything else, he’s unsure of the direct cause. 

Silco would understand if it was all of it, and almost has to fight a rueful smile at the idea that you and him are both struggling to to scream out your every grievance. 

Instead, you fill the long-standing silence between you and the Kingpin of Zaun with a single, simple question.

“Did you want it to end like this?” Silco can’t help the disbelieving scoff that escapes him, watching you step closer to him with the gun still pointed directly at him. You don’t respond. Instead merely looking up at him in a way that has the disbelief quietly evaporating.

“ Did you. Want it. To end like this ?” Your voice is trembling, but your tongue is sharp with every harsh, stabbing pause between words. Your gaze, wary and more familiar to him than anything else, is fixated on Silco as you await his answer, and he has to frown even more at the realization:

You’re being serious .

Going quiet, he lets out a small breath, not quite a sigh, but close. “ Obviously not-" "But you're going to benefit from it, finally 'have it all' ..." There's a broken note of mirth at your repeat of his earlier written words, not quite mocking, but clearly finding humor in them regardless. You know exactly what he wants - and it's not this.

Or at least, not in this fashion.

There were benefits from this, he can’t lie about that. Cayn‘s downfall, allbut a guarantee even if the pathetic bastard was nowhere to be found, was something he would relish for years to come. Perhaps almost as much as Vander’s had been, though it was no personal betrayal, it was getting rid of a thorn in his side that he would greatly find satisfying, the removal of yet another obstacle in his path...

This pathetic attempt at an... uprising would be quashed, the minerals would rebegin their way into his factories. Production has fallen behind from the actions of these last several weeks, but considering the literal mountains that had been locked and barricaded tight behind this mine, Silco had no doubt the numbers would even out soon enough. And Gods know that after this, he might just need Shimmer more than ever to keep other minor, and yet restless, foolishly arrogant players to heel…

And the biggest benefit of all, Silco also got you .

That alone was a benefit he could never sit back and ignore. Not anymore, despite how juvenile it was, in it's own way.

Even in the worst of it, he had wanted his soulmate. As childish as it was, if he could have you, Silco felt that truly he could begin to feel like he had it all.

After mulling this through, finally deciding on honesty, he starts slow, "Yes. I can't ignore the fact this made things much easier for me to settle. I can't ignore the fact that I receive a sweeter conclusion to this than that of your… partner ," The word felt dry, tough on his tongue, but he forced it out without sounding too bitter. He imagined you and Cayn were no longer on the same terms as you had been, but the thought you'd been at all, irked him.

"I didn't want this. But I know, and can be glad that I am going to... benefit from it. Just that I can't ignore that this will-"

"What about me?"

A pause, as he raises his green eye over to you, the other smoldering slightly as it runs over your form. The finger isn't even on the trigger, and the grip is shaking; disarming and overpowering would be ridiculously easy. Silco turns. 

A brow raises, and softly, genuinely curious, "What about you ?" 

He watches those eyes, eyes he's known all his life, close. Another drop of blood speckled your shoulder, and Silco edges a bit closer. "... do you have any idea what he did to me? Because of what I am to you-" "Of course I know," He muttered fiercely but quietly. A hesitation, born out of habit, before he admits truthfully, "I felt it too."

Eyes reopen, and they immediately glance down at his wrist.

He’s kept the damn thing covered for years. 

Originally out of necessity, soon generated habit, which bred into normalcy. Silco freely admits that entire years have gone by, without giving it a single glance except in passing.

For you, Silco finds himself shifting the sleeve further up and turning it for viewing, watching your expression struggle to stay carefully closed-off at the sight of the ticking numbers, in your color. "... It stayed ." 

"It stayed…" He parrots the words in agreement, catching your gaze again as you swallow thickly. You raise your chin a bit, still leaning on the railing, and still exhausted, but you meet his gaze head-on. "And you… felt it?"

"It was… unpleasant." A laugh at his observation. It sounds wretched, weak, but you smile with it all the same. It's just as twisted, and close to breaking as the sound that comes from your lips. Silco looks at it, and...

Silco is far from a good man.

Silco is far, far from a caring, kind person. Has hurt, tortured, bribed, blackmailed, kidnapped and killed. He regrets… a few things, yes, but has done everything in his life, to this very moment, without hesitation. Without a second-glance or a waver in judgment, unless to ensure his end goal remains in reach. Hesitation is something he couldn't afford, for it would cost him everything if he were to falter.

Perhaps it's the powers-that-be, the ones that gave humanity their flipping numbers to their skin in the first place, but when he looks at you - Gods, his soulmate .

He looks at you, sees that crumbling look behind hard eyes, and he hesitates . Breathes out nearly-silently. And then slowly speaks the obvious, even though there's so much more to, and probably should be said:

"You're in grief ."

"That's…" You squeeze your eyes shut, another titter of strained chuckling as you deny it with a shake of your head. Then, with your words at the loud silence he grants you from such an action, "You're right here … why would I grieve ?" Another crack in your voice, earning another hesitation from him. "Why would I be grieving now? You know how much I… I wanted this." He ignores the fact that you sound regretful about it. 

It's not really about him , he understands that, and takes a step forward, again, hesitating.

"We both know why. You know what's making you feel this way… you know why your body is feeling the need to grieve," It doesn't need to be said. The wound is too fresh, but you understand his words without him needing to clarify further.

Silco lets out a small, tired sigh when the gun finally lowers, and a sharp movement of your throat as you swallow thickly. Stepping forward, your eyes crack open to watch him where he remains standing in place, only a step closer, his own green and blackened-red, familiar gaze calm as you now stand at an arm's-length. Silco doesn’t reach for you, but he doesn’t back away either.

This is the first time you've even been this close to one another.

The first time you're together.

Both of you are close enough to touch one another for the first time, and neither of you reaches.

"... I blame you for some of it."

"Understandable if you were to blame me for all of it." 

A small quirk of your lips; it's a trembling smile. He expects that cleverness he's come to admire, the intelligence and sharp wit that he knows exists behind those tired, pained and bloodshot eyes. Behind those eyes, in your mind, and reflected in all those damn letters of yours… he is wholly unsurprised when you instead, rather crudely point out, "You're an asshole ." 

The man tilts his head, giving a small hum, considering briefly. "I've heard worse… hearing it from the mouth of a soulmate is a new experience, I admit-" "But not incorrect." You tilt your chin in challenge, the wit finally flaring, as he looks over the arch of his nose calmly at you. A beat, and after his attention flicks to another drop of blood dripping off from your temple, Silco quietly concedes to move things along, for your sake.

"I suppose… in this situation, no. No, I don't think you're incorrect to think it."

You nod, more akin to a jerk. Another drop of blood drips down, and his gaze follows it.

"I am sorry." You raise a brow, likely thinking that he means for keeping you waiting. The man of crime shakes his chin, wishing he was better at this, and admits near-silently, "I'm sorry I didn't… we didn't find one another on-time." A blink and there's a harsh swallow and another jerky-nod from you.

There's a lot more he could apologize for. But it's a start.

"Yeah, well, um…" You square your shoulders. Wince at the action, and force a shrug despite the bruises he knows must make the action ache. "We seem to have… frankly, shit-luck with missing one another. By design or by purpose, so it… it shouldn't have been a surprise." 

Voice is as taut and strained as your muscles are, he notes, and quietly calls your name. Looking up at him, with the same color that adorn his skin, he takes another moment to find his own voice before carefully. Cautiously saying the words he'd been practicing on uttering to his soulmate one day, for years and years now;

"I'm here now. And I don't intend to leave you again. I don't want to leave you again, and I… I won't leave you to this."

A blink, after he sees your eyes widen at the cutting words. The last part is ad-libbed, but fits the situation - it'd be cruel to abandon you now, he knows, even if he wanted to. And Silco doesn't.

You open your mouth, probably to reply in a calm, orderly fashion, and the first sob rips from you. For you, it's almost a shock, but Silco has already braced for it though the sound still makes him grimace. He's not one for tears, but he's largely uncomfortable with the fact it's coming from you.

And once that first cry tears itself out of you, it's far too late for the ones that follow to be contained. Even as you mindlessly leave the gun to clatter and echo onto the metal railway beneath you, reaching up with your palms to frantically stop the sound bursting from your lips, the tears are overflowing down your cheeks. There's apologizing, for the tears, the sounds, for both, or perhaps everything...

You shouldn't be, he knows this. Hardly any of it matters now.

Silco hesitates a single second more. But he just made his intentions known, and he is a man of words and action. So he hesitates no further to close the distance, and though stiff and unsure at the unfamiliar action, he's rewarded with you sagging, and then clinging desperately into the pitiful excuse at an embrace.

Sobbing, shaking and surely dotting his coat with blood, Silco holds his soulmate for the first time in his existence, and… It's funny.

He'd committed himself to not caring, or at least, saving that insufferable, internal want for his other half, to be accomplished in some other lifetime. Committed himself to other goals, giving it all to the vision he'd spent so much of his existence, given so much of his life to. 

He remembered that day with his then-still Brothers, so many years ago. Benzo's had been symbolic, as his own timer had faded out not months prior, not running down, simply fading out in a way that had the other boys scrabble to assure that their own still remained bright on skin. 

Besides Benzo, Vander had done it in tandem with him, wrapping a spotted, dirtied bandage over the marked skin, and burying the glow of his soulmate's eye color behind the thick layer of wrapping on his wrist.

"When we get our nation, we'll go looking for 'em," Vander had grinned, a front tooth missing then. And even in childhood, had bright, wolfish grey eyes Silco was sure was making Vander's other half eager to look at the real things, instead of flashing numbers on their skin. "Say we'd earn it at that point, dontcha think, Sil?"

Earned it.

Earned the chance to be with his soulmate.

Has he earned you? Silco imagines not. 

A part of the Eye of Zaun is honestly surprised that you're even willing to cling to him in such a way now, though he can't complain as he cups the nape of your neck, guiding you to press your face into his shoulder. He couldn't have earned this from you, even if he tried - and he's only really started trying in these last few weeks.

You did most of this, did most of the work that brought the two of you together, knowingly or not - he's only reaping the benefits of it, though as your tears seem to soak through his coat, Silco knows there will also be plenty of repercussions to come. 

They can wait. Even the ones that come from further in the mines, in the forms of yelling, fighting and occasional bursts of gunfire or explosions. Or the ones further outside, in his city, where the task of readjusting, strengthening his grip on the reins of this nation will be arduous, at best. At worst, he'll need assistance.

It can all wait though.

Because now, whether he's earned it or not, even with you broken and holding onto him like he's the last tether you have to cling for support, Silco has his soulmate. And though it's been too, far too long for him to consider the possibility of even being allowed to have you in his life in the first place, now, he has no intention of letting you slip from him. Not again. Not after all of this.

His timer, silent, and flashing in the color of your teary eyes, clicks on with ease at his wrist, to mark the occasion of the shared union.

-

000000.000832

000000.000833

000000.000834…

-

Join the Taglist: @ironandglass @dropssofjupitter @nahigm @sweatandwoe @syx-00 @bb-8 @agoutighost @atalldrinkofcaprisun @lackofhonor @betasuppe @thereading-nook @az-alvilag-ironovendeke @littledollll @zillahvathek @boredanimatr @aadelynn @ladykatakuri @intpthinkinginquiet @mazikomo

#first multi chapter in the ring #lets go baby #arcane #silco #arcane silco #silco x reader #my writing #soulmate au #soulmate #hurt/comfort #slow burn #we'll get there when we get there #Timer #Timer!verse #this is rewritten timer #and i am working to ensure this rewrite is a RIDE #angst #enemies (?) to lovers #guess it'll depend on your perspective #oh nelly here we go #arcane fanfiction

[silcoseye]

Volatile P3: Do You Remember Seeing the Stars for the First Time?

info: "It's been years since Silco, Vander and (Y/N) split up. When Silco searches for his old friend again, asking them to help him teach a child he had recently taken in their 'explosive' craft, their feelings for him are reignited. The question remains if he burns for them just as bright as they do."

part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8

warnings: gender-neutral reader, bomb-making, bomb exploding, mentions of child labour, mentions of murder, violence, claustrophobic settings, big fish, swearing (this one is pretty wholesome ngl)

i kept getting distracted trying to write this by "cupcakke - Squidward nose" so at least you all know my heart was in a good place. honestly, as i was writing towards the end i was like 'omg this is so good' so if you all don't think the same I'll cry (/j) IMPORTANT (/srs): I have a fair amount of uni work to do in less than 2 weeks so these updates are gonna slow and I'm going to try and focus on getting my work done before deadlines thank you all, happy reading

7556 words

Jinx came over almost daily to learn the art of bomb-making- and her progress was astonishingly fast. Something you found endearing was that she always doodled on the outsides of her projects. In fact, she doodled on whatever she could get her hands and those neon markers on- clothes, walls, paper, skin. She used them up so quickly, Silco switched to buying her easily accessible crayons, pencils and cheap markers- they were nothing compared to the markers, but she wasn't complaining. She loved it.

Another thing she loved- arguably more than tinkering and creating- was blowing things up with them. Nearby was an abandoned air shaft that you'd visit with her and Silco, testing her creation and smiling brightly at her excitement whenever they'd work, emitting colourful explosions.

As the weeks became months, you noticed her hair beginning to grow rapidly, and, bless Silco, the poor man clearly had no idea what to do with it. Fearing it would get caught on fire, or caught in something that would injure her during your lessons, you offered to put it up for her, as she had no clue what to do with it either. At first, it was styled into a simple long ponytail but she grew bored of it quickly and wasn't much safer. You then offered to braid it for her, which she was hesitant to at first,

"How about two braids then?" You asked, "to make it more fun and interesting," Her eyes lit up at your proposition and she smiled. Carefully instructing her to sit as still as she could, you started by sectioning her hair in two, while she began to eagerly tell you about whatever came to her mind,

"Silco took me to see the water," She said at one point. You froze as you combed her hair. That place. The place where you had almost lost him to Vander.  It startled and confused you,

"He did?" She nodded, before mumbling an apology, knowing she wasn't supposed to move her head while you worked, "How was it?"

"I liked it. I wanted to swim but he said no. He said it's dirty water, and we have clean water at home," She explained, "He told me that there's huge fish underwater. I saw some of them too.  They're so beautiful, and they don't even know it," You smiled at that, "That's what he told me," she said, as you tied one of the sections into a loose ponytail and let it hang over Jinx's front,

"He did?" She hummed, to indicate a 'yes', tongue poking out as she focused on the detailing of her portrait of Silco,

"He did," She confirmed, "He likes the fish, so I'm drawing him one!" flawless logic,

"Like a pet?"

"Like a friend," You smiled at her innocence, a sigh escaping your lips,

"What's the fishy's name?" you asked, brushing her hair back to begin the first braid,

"The fish can be called (Y/N)!" She grinned, causing you to grimace and then laugh along with her,

"Are you teaching her to draw now?" Silco's low voice cut through your laughter, causing both your heads to turn to Silco, who had just returned. Jinx ran to him quickly, the hair slipping from your loose hold on it, and hugged him tightly. You did find it strange that Sevika was the one who dropped her off today- with a glare and grumble as you thanked her. You eyed the cape she wore over her shoulder and the blue scar on her cheek as you let Jinx inside, "Hello, Jinx," He said affectionately patting her head, before looking at you with a puzzled expression, "What are you doing with her hair?" He asked intrigued, eyes flicking to the brush in your other hand,

"I'm making sure Jinx's hair doesn't get in the way of her work," You said, patting the stool, indicating for Jinx to return. Giving you another apology, she returned, quickly moving the drawing she was doing and flipping it upside down to hide from Silco, and beginning to draw on a new sheet of paper, "I'm giving her braids,"

"Ah," He nodded, leaning on one of the workbenches next to you and watching as you brushed through her hair once again in silence, "Are they easy to do?" With a surprised glance at him, you shook your head,

"No, you just section it and criss-cross," You said, splitting the section of blue hair into three sections and beginning to braid,

"Slow down," He asked suddenly, moving from where he was leaning and moving to stand next to you, watching intrigued as you now slowly braided her hair, "Hmm. It's a pattern," You nodded,

"Right over the middle, left over the middle. You wanna try that side?" You offered, gripping the end of the amount of hair you braided so it wouldn't fall loose and handing him the hairbrush. Tentatively, he took it from you, undoing the hair with such delicacy that one would have thought it strings of porcelain. You smiled, "It's already mostly brushed out so she shouldn't have any tough knots in there," You assured him, and yet still he still brushed through it gently, building up some courage. He finally set down the brush and sectioned the hair as you had previously done,

"Like this?" He asked for clarification, eye-widening as he saw you were already finished and tying up the braid so it wouldn't come undone. Running your hand gently under the braid to make sure it lay smooth against the girls back, you looked in his direction,

"Mhm, that's great, Silco. Now you just have to braid it," you reminded him, "Let me show you," you offered, moving closer to him and gently reaching to take his hands in yours, moving them as you had instructed him, "Right over the middle, left over the middle," You said softly, letting go of his hands once you felt him figure out the pattern, "Make sure it's tight so it doesn't come undone so easily," You added quickly, watching his braid. It was so sweet, so caring. How focused he appeared on making the braid look good, and how his long, slender fingers wove the hair together. It took him significantly longer than you, but you could tell he was being as careful as possible.

Once he reached the bottom of her hair, you handed him a hair tie and watched as he delicately finished his work, standing back and sighing as he placed a hand to his aching back, comparing the two braids,

"You did so well, Silco," You smiled at him before he could say something self-deprecating, turning to see Jinx smiling brightly and showing him she finished fish drawing- one of its eyes was a red 'x' while the other was just a blue dot- you thought her Silco Fish was adorable. Smiling at her, you spoke, "There's a mirror just outside if you want to look at your hair, and then we can start our lesson" You and Silco turned your heads to watch her race out of the room,

"Thank you for teaching me," the words almost knocked you off your feet and your brows raised in clear shock. You couldn't hide the slight blush that dusted your cheeks and caused them to warm as Silco looked at you, "I had no idea you knew how to do things with hair like that. To tell the truth, it was getting unmanageable," He sighed. You could tell he was tired through the bags under his eyes and a slight slouch in his position. Testing the waters, you reached a hand up to pat his shoulder,

"No problem," you said, surprised again that he didn't brush you off, "Where were you this morning? Savika dropped Jinx off to-"

"She arrived on time?" He asked sternly now. With a small sigh, you nodded,

"On the dot," You confirmed, hoping it would keep the woman out of trouble. Jinx returned, declaring she loved the braids and hugged Silco first and then, surprisingly you. You smiled, patting her head as Silco had done,

"Okay, we can start now!" She said eagerly as she pulled away and hopped back on the chair. With her hair out of the way, you cleared the papers and made sure to set her Silco, Jinx and (Y/N) fish portrait to the side so she could continue at the end, and your lesson began.

For the next few days, Silco would come in with Jinx- even on the days where she had an allocated break from learning- staying while you braided her hair. This continued until eventually, he got so good at doing it himself that she would come with the twin braids already hanging down her back, excited to learn as usual.

The longer she was with him, the more you saw Silco's normally icy exterior melt with her childish innocence. It was so abundantly clear to anyone that he cared deeply for the girl. You had been to his office a few times when he called for you to check on her progress. Just scanning his desk, you could tell she had been there; the ashtray he used with his cigars was painted with neon blue and pink details, and considering he hadn't just opted to get a new one, he must have been proud of her artwork. You always had positive things to say- not out of fear that he'd replace you if she wasn't satisfied- but because you recognised her brilliance and creativity.

The only thing still dragging you down was your curiosity to know her origins. You were torn between going out and searching for the answer on your own and waiting patiently for Silco to tell you himself when he was ready. In the end, you decided to remain as patient as you could be. Silco would tell you eventually- you hung on to this belief. He trusted you... Right?

Why else would he turn to you right after he found Jinx? Why else did he ask you to help him teach her, and not someone else with more professional practice and experience in this line of work? Why else did he value your opinion of her when he clearly didn't give a shit about the others?

You've seen the glares Sevika gave to the child plenty of times when she thought no one was looking, and you were still unaware as to why she disliked the poor girl so much. Often, Silco would begrudgingly ask her to watch her while he attended to his cryptic 'business' to attend to, and watching as she begrudgingly accepted.

Jinx quickly grew to adore the time she spent with you, as it meant she could focus on her creativity- in bomb-making and art. Your conversations were always light chatter, and sometimes she'd tell you about her life before Silco. Only small details- like a boy named Ekko learned the basics of welding, and other metalwork alongside her, and they both learned from Benzo, a merchant that lived nearby. You recognised him as being Vander's friend. Jinx took to making bombs because "they were more fun", in her words, and you laughed along with her. However, you still couldn't shake she wasn't okay. Sometimes when you asked for more information on her past, she got very quiet and almost refused to speak with you anymore until you changed the topic. You never pressed her for more after that. One day, she mentioned it was her birthday, just out of the blue. Her older sister had taught her the date and month, and your eyes widened. What followed was a day off, and an incredibly messy attempt to bake a cake.

Silco returned to your home to find the girl's face and clothes dusted in flour, hands sticky with dough and icing and grinning up at him, bouncing on her feet as she eagerly declared you made a cake. His gaze turned to you, situated in the kitchen, sympathetically smiling. Instructed her to wash her hands, he joined you in the kitchen, remaining quiet as he watched you place the top half of the cake onto a layer of cream. Washing your own hands once you were done, you gave Jinx free reign to decorate it with the colourful icing you made in separate bowls. Once you finished, you dried them and joined Silco across the counter from Jinx, observing her with an amused smile. You leaned your elbows on the counter and reached for a discarded spoon you used to mix the icing with,

"She said it was her birthday today," You explained to him, licking some of the icing off your finger. You blushed to see his eyes lingering on your face as you did this. You turned to watch the young girl instead, slathering the cake with the blue icing, "I thought she deserves a cake at least... Had I known earlier I would have gotten her a gift," you looked back at him apologetically, once you felt the burning in your cheeks subside, and he simply smiled and shook his head,

"It's alright, (Y/N). Thank you for at least giving her a fun day off," You nodded, and remained quiet for a moment, watching as she worked away,

"So what business did you need to attend today?" you tried, expecting him to remain also quiet and not tell you,

"I was buying Jinx a birthday present," You blinked for a moment, turning to see him with a sly smirk on his lips. Jinx let out a small gasp at his words, and clumsily set the flat spatula she was using to decorate the cake with back into the pink icing bowl, moving from the small stepstool you got for her and running to the side of the counter you two were on, watching him eagerly.

He crouched beside you, and it only then did you notice he was carrying a small wrapped parcel behind his back. He crouched before her and offered it to her.  Taking it from him with a small 'thank you', she eagerly unwrapped the paper and gasped in surprise at the contents. You smiled, seeing the bright neon markers she had taken from you all those months ago. A cacophony of eager thank you's burst from her, and she ran quickly into Silco's arms, hugging him tightly, shoulder shaking slightly as she cried from happiness.

The markers had been ridiculously difficult to find apparently for both you and Silco. A while ago, you thought to surprise her and buy her the markers she had fallen in love with all those months ago but came up empty, returning home exhausted and neon markerless. And considering it took him a whole day just to find them and bring them to her, you guessed he may have had to go to Piltover or... Somewhere else. Perhaps he has a neon marker dealer you didn't know but needed to seek out. You had to ask him.

Jinx pulled away with the brightest smile you've ever seen on her lips. She was clearly so overwhelmed and happy it just warmed your heart to see. Like you, she'd likely grown up with very little around her. And you realised this may be the first cake she'd ever had, considering her excitement when you showed her the size of the cake pan. Once she calmed down (and you assured her they were not edible and couldn't go on the cake) she resumed her decorating, eager to finish so she could draw again. You settled next to Silco, looking over the markers and trying to see their brand, only for him to cover it with his pale hand. You sent him a playful glare, but it faded quickly and you only smiled. His gaze went to you as he felt your eyes on him,

"What?" His asked expectantly, looking down at you amused,

"Nothing... I was just trying to see what brand those markers were," You said innocently. You regretted not paying attention to what it was when you first got them and gave them away, not knowing she would take to them like that,

"I'm not revealing my secrets," He said plainly,

"Silco? Keeping secrets? Unheard of," You mocked surprise, making him exhale some air out of his nose in a silent laugh. Studying him, you turned your attention back to Jinx, "Seriously where did you get them, they're really good markers," You hissed,

"When's your birthday?"

"Haha," You said sarcastically, rolling your eyes. With a small sigh, you went quiet, watching as she finished up the cake,

"Thank you for baking with her," He said sincerely, and when you met his gaze, his eyes held emotion in them. You gave him a nod,

"She deserves it, doesn't she?" You told him, and with a nod, he agreed with you.

Jinx ate about a quarter of the cake, ran around your house, completed 6 drawings, before passing out across Silco's lap on the couch. He had undone one of the braids and delicately ran his fingers through her wavy hair, separating the strands. You watched the domestic scene before you, sipping some tea and watching.

He casually smoked a cigar, an ashtray placed on the side of your couch to tap off the excess ash. He was focused so hard on Jinx's hair he barely seemed to register your staring. His head was tilted slightly to the side, giving you a clear view of his corrupted eye and the scars indenting his cheek and forehead. Everything about him was sharp in such a handsome way, and yet this time his body no longer held its usual tension. The longer you spent time with him, you slowly started to notice how he'd emerge from his office with his shoulder's squared, but they'd slump and relax slightly whenever Jinx tackled his legs into a hug and you delivered her back to him. Although it was hard to tell now, due to the position he was sitting in, he was relaxed too. One of his arms leaned against the back of the couch, the hand that held the cigar carefully poised over the ashtray to not land on your couch, smoke slowly dissipating into the air and filling it with the scent of tobacco. His other was brushing out Jinx's hair,

"Are you enjoying yourself?" His voice was soft but carried deliciously through the air between you. You set the steaming mug of tea down from where it was resting against your lips, and  looking at the brown liquid to avoid looking at him at the realisation he knew you were observing him,

"It's nice to see you like this. You look comfortable and relaxed," You explained, trying to match your tone and volume to his, finally looking up to meet his curious gaze. It was his turn to openly stare, however, you lacked his unapologetic confidence and looked away, brushing a hand through your hair, "So-"

"It's nice to see me?" He repeated with a small smirk, and you rolled your eyes,

"I haven't seen you in a long time. Not since..." You trailed off and watched his smile fade away, his gaze turning to look to the floor. Rubbing his forehead carefully with the hand holding the cigar, he brought it back to his lips and inhaled deeply, and let the smoke slowly rise out of his thin lips. You watched him place it back into the ashtray,

"Since Vander tried to kill me," He finished for you, eye squinting with an icy glare above your head,

"You... Haven't told me what happened after that," You reminded him, looking from the dark brown liquid in your cup, back to him. He focused on you,

"You were there. You pulled me from the waters and took me to shore," He reminded you,

"Yes, but what happened after that?" You finally said, sitting up in curiosity. It took him a while to reply, figuring out how to form the words in his head, figuring out how best to tell you. Or perhaps he was thinking of another clever way to distract you,

"Once we split, I gathered those who opposed Vander. Safe to say they were surprised to see me alive. He apparently told them I was dead," There was venom in his words, and you only nodded along, ignoring the tightness in your chest as the memories of heartbreak come flooding back. "I gathered those who still wanted to send the topsiders a message with violence and would continue to do so. His lie did me a favour... It allowed me to disappear," He picked the cigar back up, "I found Singed, the scientist, and became a sponsor of his... Projects," He explained, "When you found me, my eye was beyond repair-" Letting go of Jinx's hair, you watched as his delicate fingers traced along one of the marks on his face, "-I could barely see you helping me out of the toxic waters-" his hand travelled down the scar, down his face as he spoke, "-When I found Singed, by some luck he managed to salvage it-" The scar stopped at his lip, and he took his hand from his face to place it back into Jinx's hair "-only the toxins had eaten away at most of the flesh," With a slight shake of his head, he continued, "he managed to salvage my vision, what was left of it that is. Regardless, I was then forever in debt to him. Whatever he needed, I would supply it," He uttered, eyes focusing on you, "And then he showed me... A private project of his... You know it as Shimmer," you nodded in agreement, "He cultivated it and I lent him a helping hand," he finished,

"Right," You said, thinking for a moment, "He fixed your eye," He leaned his head down in a nod, "And in turn, you helped him create the drug that took over Zaun," He nodded again, "Is that all you did?" He laughed at that,

"It kept me busy," He raised a brow, "Is that all you wanted to know, (Y/N)?" He asked,

Of course not. You wanted to ask so much more. About Jinx, her origins, more questions about him. Specifically his feelings for you. If they were strictly platonic or did he yearn for your affection like you his. Did he find you beautiful too? Did he fantasize about falling asleep entangled together too? If his feelings for you were still in his cold hear somewhere,

"Nothing comes to mind, Silco," You settled, with a polite smile that was soon hidden behind your teacup again as you took another sip. Looking back at him, you noticed him staring at you, clearly unconvinced by your answer. He didn't push you for more, thankfully. The truth was you weren't ready for such forward confessions, and you were so unsure and afraid of his reaction.   Jinx being in his life brought the best out of him, you thought. He had desperately tried to push all human care and love out of his heart to replace it with bitterness, only for Jinx to crash into his life and remind him what it was to feel again. Looking down at the girl you smiled softly, "I've never seen her as happy as she was today" you told him, "It's sweet that you got her those markers. If I knew it was her birthday I would have got her something too," you repeated with a sad sigh,

"I'm sure these markers will keep her busy for the foreseeable future," His hand affectionately went back to Jinx's hair, now undoing the other braid and gently undoing the hair, "Besides, I don't think you'd be able to find them, even if you searched the entirety of Zaun," He teased. You smiled at him, narrowing your eyes,

"Does that mean you got them from Piltover?" Mimicking your earlier movements, he only raised his brows and bought the cigar to his lips inhaling. You shook your head, "One day I'll find them and hoard them here so you won't find them,"

"You'll never find my supplier," he murmured, leaning his head back against the back of the couch as he exhaled the smoke into the air,

"An art supplier from Piltover," You put two and two together, "Thanks Silco," you said playfully,

"Good luck finding the right one," He chuckled, his head leaning forward again to look at you, "Stars know the amount of pretentious 'artists' that city produces," there was a sting to his words, and you only nodded along,

"Course it does," You agreed with a sigh, "Such freedom must be wonderful," You said softly, "I wish I could have painted or drawn when I was a child... Instead of working the mines," You looked at Jinx, "It's... Why I was so nervous about teaching her how to make bombs. The fact that she's still so young. I constantly have to remind myself that she's only a child, and I feel horrible for corrupting her mind with such violence..." You said sadly, "I lived through it. I know how bad it gets. I didn't want her childhood to be like this too," you admitted. Looking back to him, meeting his intense gaze, "But you... Silco, you clearly care for her so much. You would never let anything bad happen to her intentionally and I know that," You assured him, "I just.." you sighed, words escaping you.

"I understand your fears, (Y/N)," He said smoothly, "I have them too... I had my reservations on taking in a child," His voice had a twinge of sadness to it, "But she was alone. She had lost everything- everyone in her life. I realised I was all she had left. I realised without me... She would die," He admitted, "It's not an ideal life for her. I know this. So I try my best to give her the best I can find. All so she doesn't see the shit we went through," His eyes locked with yours, "You do too... And I appreciate your efforts too, (Y/N)," he said, the gratitude clear in his voice. A comfortable silence settled as you ate a biscuit and drank some tea, and he finished with her hair. His cigar stopped smoking, but the tobacco still hung in the air thickly, engulfing you, "Thank you for teaching her," He broke the silence eventually, "I'll make sure to repay you in the future,"

"You don't have to do anything for me- you gave me this apartment," You quickly told him, watching as he smiled and shook his head, "That's more than enough,"

"This is a necessity. I'll get you something else,"

"Like what?" you asked

"Anything," He let out a breath, "Anything you would want,"

After finishing your tea, he picked Jinx up from his lap, gently cradling her close to him and moving to the door. You took his coat from the rack, draping it over his shoulders and relishing in the overwhelming scent of smoke and vanilla that surrounded him like an invisible cloud,

"Thank you," He exhaled,

"I thought you were incapable of using those words," You teased. You were so close to him that you felt the air exhale from his nose as he laughed lightly,

"I live and I learn..." He said softly. He lingered near you for a moment, and you took this as a cue to open the front door for him. Before you got to it, he interrupted you, "I'll take you somewhere nice tonight" He offered,

"Somewhere nice?" You asked, looking at him, to see him nod and approach, "It better not be a rooftop again. I'm not dragging you off there like last time," You narrowed your eyes, a hand resting on the door handle. He smiled at you,

"It'll be nicer than a rooftop. I promise,"

"You promise?"

"Be ready in an hour and we'll go," He said,

"Why this sudden proposition?" You asked curiously, "What changed?"

"I'm repaying your kind work," He said, and as he saw you beginning to protest he raised a brow, "Don't start," He commanded, and even at a whisper, you could tell he was stern, "Please. I just want you to join me,"

"Alright, Silco. I will," You opened the door for him and watched as he momentarily left you, taking the girl back to their home.

"When I said I didn't want to go to a rooftop I didn't expect the exact opposite," You said, moving after him cautiously into a run-down building. Bits of it had been singed and covered in black soot, and it was long abandoned, the signs being obvious in the abundance of dust and emptiness. The thick smell of smoke and gunpowder still hung in the air- you'd need to wash these clothes when you got home. You eyed an elevator that was in an equally bad shape that Silco was slowly approaching, the floor numbers flashing weakly in the dim room.

Silco smiled softly once you got to it. He had walked with his usual confident swagger, hands behind his back and footsteps confident, heavy and slow. You moved next to him, catching up after taking in your deteriorating surroundings, and got to the broken doors of the elevator shaft. He grabbed it and grunted as he pulled it back, the door promptly falling back into its sliding hinges with a creek. He turned back to you, indicating with his hand for you to enter first. Following his instructions, you frowned deeply as you looked at the dusty, run-down elevator,

"Is this even safe?" you asked, worry laced into your words, looking over the buttons and numbers that emitted a low buzz. He entered quietly as always and brushed past you, pressing the lowest floor possible, causing the elevator to jerk to life and begin its slow descent,

"So far," He commented, leaning against the brass metal casually,

"Silco, I swear to all the stars in the sky, if this elevator breaks while we're in it... Are you telling me there are no stairs we could have used instead?" the fear was clear in your tone, not at all comforted by his casualness,

"It hasn't broken and won't break," he said smoothly, and with only his word to trust, you sighed, standing by him and watching as light illuminated outside of the open door,

"How did it all break?" You asked, "Time?" he shook his head,

"Time..." He confirmed, "And external forces..." He added mysteriously with a sigh, turning his head to observe you, "You're still terrified of small spaces?" He asked out,

"Specifically ones that might kill me because they're not safe," You said, making him chuckle lowly,

"You wouldn't like this place when it was open," He said, "There are no stairs. Its a crucial design flaw. That's why it closed years ago. It almost burned down when one of the chefs caught their apron on fire and almost burned down the whole building. Maximum weight limit allowed 5 people in here at a time- old technology- and a few patrons sustained serious burns" he explained

"Was this a restaurant?" You blushed at the implications. Was he intentionally bringing you to a place usually associated with romance? Or was he-

You gasped again as the elevator shook and jolted again, creaks emanating from the heavy-duty wires above you. You could feel your heart drop in fear, and instinctively, you reached for his arm and gripped it, shutting your eyes tightly.

A moment passed and all movement stopped.

"We're here," He declared, but his voice was soft and soothing, intending to calm you. Straightening shakily and releasing the grip on his arm, you blushed as you watched this elevator door open- working correctly but covered in black soot- and blinked at the sight before you.

A laboratory was destroyed here. Shelves of empty beakers and surviving chemicals were scattered around, glass, ingredients and mysterious puddles littered below them. A fish tank, or terrarium of some sorts, had fallen and shattered, adding to the dusty, glassy, chemically mess on the floor, dirt spilling out of it. All of this was left to rot, abandoned. Everything was either covered in soot, burned to a crisp, or dusty. But what drew your attention the most was the bright azure window, as tall as the room itself, and the vast shapes moving behind the extensive crack splitting the window apart, drops of the water falling and puddling on the floor from the crevices.

Silco appeared next to you, standing and looking over the area with hints of reminiscence in his eye,

"This was Singed's laboratory," He clarified for you, gaze shifting to watch your bewildered face, transfixed by the humungous fish slowly swimming in front of the glass, obscured and disfigured by the crack. Following your gaze, he scanned them, eyeing the break in the glass, "Since the explosion, I've only been here with Jinx," he explained. An explosion- perhaps that was the 'external force' he mentioned before. But that didn't explain the soot... Maybe it caused an explosion to occur here. There must have been a lot of flammable things stored here,

"So that's why she draws the fish," you marvelled. This was the water see was talking about,

"I'm surprised it hasn't caved in yet..." He nodded. "However the structure is severely unstable," He pointed out the obvious, gesturing to the large crack. The force of a bomb could do something like this... Was this why you were teaching her how to safely make bombs? Did she cause this? You thought about reprimanding him for being so reckless to bring a child here,  or sharing your observations, but the enchanting atmosphere kept the words in your mouth,

"What was this? Before it... was a lab," You asked, finally tearing your eyes away as the gigantic fish disappeared to the left, and looking at Silco, who began to slowly wander across the room, closer to the glass. You followed,

"It used to be an underground dining area, only available to the rich ones who could afford it," he said, "This used to be a Topsiders exclusive restaurant... Until we claimed it," He said, tilting his head slightly and running his hands over a blackened workbench, the soot staining his two fingers. He rubbed them with his thumb, before looking over his shoulder to watch you approach his side,

"Ahh... You got jealous and wanted free entry?" You summed up playfully,

"Perhaps that too," He smiled, his gaze travelling to the window again. Standing close to him, you marvelled at the fish together. It hadn't been just the two of you since that night he got into your old apartment and asked you to help him. This felt nice,

"Silco?" You looked at him and listened to the small hum he gave you.  You allowed yourself to admire his sharp, angular features, eyes scanning his face as if to memorise it, subconsciously expecting to lose him again. As he turned to look at you, now being able to see his whole face illuminated by the glow of the waters before you, you took a small steadying breath, "I don't know if I told you... But it's really nice to see you after all these years," You said, "I'd be lying if I didn't say I missed you. I am... Glad you're back in my life," you said honestly, and watched as his features softened and he relaxed, a small smile appearing on his lips again,

"As am I," He said softly, and as you gazed at him, the impulse to suddenly touch your lips to his grew stronger and stronger. You were so close to him, shoulders practically touching. You wanted to reach out and touch him. Your body screamed and begged for you to do so. Perhaps you'd bump into the desk behind him. Perhaps he wouldn't care about the soot or dust staining his clothes as you distracted him with your mouth on his. Perhaps you'd forget about the threat of drowning looming above before you and calm your racing heart.

But damn your insecurities cursed patience, and childish curiosity making you turn your head back to the window, so he was completely eliminated from your vision. You calmed as a silence appeared between you two, filled only by the steady echoes of dripping, and deep underwater noises. He finally spoke after some time,

"(Y/N)," he drew your attention, "I need your help. I need more help than I would normally like to... request from another person," He admitted reluctantly with a sigh, a hand running through his hair, causing a few grey-black strands to fall to his forehead, "With Jinx," He finished, looking back to you, "I can only provide her with so much... She has a home, she has safety, she has basic necessities, and her drawings and materials because of me... But truth be told, without your help, I don't think she'd be as comfortable or happy as she is," He admitted, "Being around you makes her happy- you should hear the way she talks about you," You blushed at that, smiling pleasantly, "I'm serious, (Y/N). She wakes me up at ungodly hours demanding that she needs to arrive at her lessons on time, and the days she doesn't, she's asking about see you anyway, and what you do when she's not there," you laughed at that, "You always had that natural charm with children," he complimented softly, his gaze caring and... full of an emotion you couldn't quite pinpoint. Pride? Adoration?

"Cause you always scared them off with your bluntness," You teased, giving up on trying to read into him. Your comment made him smile a little wider, "Thank you for the flattery Silco, but you shouldn't give yourself such little credit. It's clear she loves you and considers you to be a father figure for her," he looked away now, considering your words. You could almost watch as the gears turned in his head. Shuffling a little on your feet to move that much closer to him, you took in a small breath, "I'd be more than happy to take her in for a little bit if it made things a bit easier on you," You offered, making him turn to look at you, shock clear in the way his brow and eyelid were raised, "Not completely take her away from you, of course... But I do have that spare bedroom. Some nights, if you can't make it, or have... things to do with whatever shady business you have going on now, I don't mind letting her stay over. You'd pick her up in the morning, as usual" You said. He remained quiet, considering your offer, "Silco," You said, making him look at you, "I really don't mind helping you- and you don't need to do anything for me in return. I'm just happy to be with you a-and her," you said quickly, to try and save yourself from slipping up too quickly and scaring him off, "You mean a lot to me..." You finished bravely, watching his face. You were thankful for the intense monochromatic blue that shielded the intensity of your blush from his intense gaze, full of an emotion you just couldn't discern. Then he did something you hadn't expected.

Silco had only hugged you a few times in your life, despite knowing each other for so long. You could probably count the hugs on one hand. The first time was when he was convinced you had been killed by enforcers on your way back to your shared home many moons ago when the tensions were high and you were only a few minutes late to a meeting. The second was after he had lost his eye. When you got him home and cleaned and bandaged what you could, used to the grotesque task by now, he asked you to hug him until he fell asleep against you on your bed, not letting you go until the early hours of the following morning. He pulled you close now and hugged you. You felt like floating. Pressing your head against his soft, yet firm, chest you were lulled by his rhythmic heartbeat and the deepwater sounds around you. You felt the gentle weight of his head against your shoulder and the indent of his chin. The warmth his body gave off surrounded you, and the scent of tobacco and cologne overwhelmed your senses. This felt right... It was perfect...

The hug was long- it was almost as if you were both making up for all the physical touch you were both starved of for years, neither wanting to let go. Silco hated touching anyone at all, and just about tolerated you and Vander when he was alive; you were indifferent to it. Silco was a champion of words, master manipulator. He spoke and fell silent when he needed to, and miraculously always had the correct timings. He told you once that hugging made him claustrophobic. You were happy he had gotten over his fears for this moment alone.

This alone planted a small seed in your mind- the seed that reassured you of his reciprocated feelings. You wouldn't believe in them until you heard it from him clearly- no word games, no beating about the bush, no fancy, dramatic antics or metaphors. Straight to the point, a clear yes or no. A clear 'I love you' or 'I don't feel the same way'. You understood this was a lot to ask of a person like Silco, and therefore you had to be patient. Moments like this gave you hope.

Shamelessly now, you watched him in the elevator as it went back up to the surface, slithers of light filtering over his face as you passed by the various floors. He caught your eyes with a small smirk, causing your own mouth to bloom into a smile,

"What?" you asked, "Are you up to something?"

"I just missed spending time with you... That's all," He clarified genuinely, "This made me feel young again, and lord knows I need it," He ran a hand through his greying hair again and placed his hands against his sides, stretching out his lower back,

"You trying to relive your youth, old man?" You teased, making him laugh,

"Ahh, something of the sort," He admitted, "I was reminded of the thrills of sneaking out at night together and seeing how close we could get to the Topsider's barriers without getting caught," You smiled fondly at the memories,

"Yeah wow... That feels like a lifetime ago now, yeah..." You agreed, leaning against the metal back of the elevator next to Silco, eyes glued to him,

"Do you remember seeing the stars for the first time?" he asked softly, and you nodded dreamily, smile already widening,

"Yes... Sometimes, I dream of them, you know," You admitted, "The sky stretching out endlessly, covered in them. I never knew there were so many out there... Sometimes my skin is made from the stars- blue and sparkling- and I'm dancing across the air. Sometimes, I'm simply walking and staring at them endlessly... They're some of the best dreams I've ever had," You said, your smile now beginning to hurt your cheeks. Turning to see his gaze at you with admiration made you blush, "It was the best gift I've ever received. Thanks," you said, remembering the night he woke you and brought you up to Topside for the first time. He nodded, seemingly remembering that same memory, with a similar fondness to you. You noticed him fade away into the shadows as you arrived at the top floor, and realised something. The fucker managed to distract you long enough to forget you were moving in a broken-down elevator. Following him out and watching him slide the door back out of place, you walked close to him as he led you to a side door, footsteps synchronising, together. You made no comment to thank him, but just appreciated he was going out of his way to comfort you. You'd already probably annoyed him with so much 'thank you's' today that he'd slink back into his criminal sewers like a rat,

"Trust is something rare to find in people," He said, his blackened eye focusing on you, the orange-red glow around his pupil holding your attention, "The world is different now. Dog eats dog, brother kills brother," he sighed heavily, "I'm glad that I can trust you still, (Y/N). Even after all these years," He said. You were close again for a moment, and your breath hitched when you realised. You expected him to kiss you, with the way his head leaned closer. Instead, he pushed the door open for you, and your eyes widened at the brightness of the night sky, clear, dark, and a beautiful deep blue speckled with drops of glittering white.

The stars twinkled back at you beautifully, hypnotising you as you felt your heart clench inside your chest with adoration and love, mesmerised by their radiance. A tear slid down your cheek, the stars reflecting in the salty dacrocyte, a culmination of overwhelming happiness.

He did still care for you. So much more than you had ever expected.

#silco my beloved #arcane spoilers #arcane silco #silco x reader #silco #arcane league of legends #arcane netflix #arcane #volatilearcane

[caspercryptid]

Hi! Are you still taking requests? I would like some Silco/Jayce. Yeah, I know, a really rare ship but I can't find a single fic of them and I'm sad. Something like maybe they make peace without Silco losing Jinx and then after that they work together and with time they get to know each other better.

I'm gonna go ahead and make this a continuation of This just for ease since that'd basically be my premise anyway <3 thank you for the request! always happy to meet your rarepair needs, feel free to send me more requests.

-

It was done.

Jayce didn't quite know how he'd done it, but somewhere in the space in the council room where he'd stood and delivered the words and made an impassioned plea for mercy and understanding, he'd done it. There had been some questions about retribution and he'd- admittedly, kind of blacked out for a second.

When he'd asked Mel, afterwards, exactly what he'd said--- well, first, she'd laughed at him, because she'd asked him to explain and he had. But once she was done laughing at him, she said that he had given a very compelling speech about starting relations with a new city-state on the grounds of mutual respect, of understanding that a civil war had been raging for a long time now, a quiet one, and in a war both sides have acted in ways that were not proportional or right. He'd also said- and Mel had noted this with a certain glint of amusement- that every person in this war had acted to protect their families from the enforcers. That every person they could make an example of was someone's father, someone's daughter, had a family. It wouldn't just punish them. It would salt the ground they were trying to grow a better future in. Mel'd patted him on the shoulder, told him he'd done good, and left it at that.

He suspected he'd said more than he meant to, especially given that Viktor'd seemed similarly amused, but Viktor had been eager to get back to the lab and Jayce had been eager to let him, with promises he'd follow as soon as he could (and Mel had agreed to check on him, Jayce needed Viktor okay, too.)

So he had it all in hand. He just needed to go pay someone a visit.

Zaun seems... quieter. Than the last time he was down here. And of course it was different, his blood wasn't pumping, he wasn't alerted to every single sound, but he walks through the streets in his white coat and- ah.

People were getting out of his way.

He takes a deep breath, reminds himself that he was doing this officially and that was the only way to do it, pushes aside the feeling that he's going to die down here, and continues on.

The last drop is legitimately an impressive building. It looks a little rough- something's clearly come crashing through and he has a certain degree of suspicion about what (who) it was-- but there's a bouncer at the door and he can see that tables have been set to rights again, even through the door, though his view of it is immediately blocked by a man who's built like a brick shithouse.

"Councilman Talis." he says, his voice absolutely dripping disdain. "To what do we owe the pleasure." Jayce tips his chin up. "I'm here to see Silco." "No you're not." Jayce feels eyes on his back and all over him. He's probably surrounded, but he doesn't look back. He draws himself up, ready to retort, when the words are stolen out of his mouth. "Yes he is."

Silco himself pushes the bouncer out of the way, and Jayce... has to admit that the light of the last drop does Silco some favors. He looks completely in his element, radiating a kind of power he hadn't on the bridge. It's half in the way he looks in the neon glow, in the grime of the city, half in the way everyone scatters to get out of his way. The city's like an extension of his hands, the way it responds when he moves.

Jayce inclines his head and follows when Silco gestures him in, not bothering to spare the bouncer a second glance.

He glances around at the destruction, feeling a little pang of guilt in his chest at the mess. If he'd taken the gauntlets---

No. What was between Vi and Silco was between them. He couldn't have taken them back, couldn't have told her she was wrong. He could only choose a different way forward for himself, and he had.

He had.

He follows Silco up to his office, which is empty, and scans the room. There's... a little bit of dried blood on the floor. A glow catches his eye and he looks up. There are... neon paintings all over the ceiling, glowing phosphorescent.

Something-- oddly comforting settles in Jayce's chest. It shouldn't be, he realizes, distantly. But there's something about the scrawled writing on the ceiling of such a formal office that affirms that-- well. At the very least, Silco wasn't lying about how much she meant to him. The little marks of her presence are everywhere. It's not a portrait on the wall the way some of his coworkers would have, but, well. It's Zaun.

He was starting to really appreciate what that means.

Silco sits and just makes a diplomatic gesture at the other chair, and Jayce slides him the papers.

"We're going to have to build you a hexgate." He says, without fanfare. "Rather than giving you full access to Piltover's. Is that an equitable compromise?" Silco raises an eyebrow. "You'd hand over your technology that easily?" He asks, and Jayce snorts. "If you disassemble it, we're going to have problems. I trust that you're aware that what you might gain isn't worth that cost." "An awful lot of trust, Councillor." Silco muses, and it's almost a question. Jayce swallows, hard. "---you trusted me." He says. "Or at the very least, trusted me to- act within what you think of me. I know you're assuming i'm soft. That i'm balking at the first sign of danger. I'm not too prideful to admit I don't have the stomach for a war. I don't want one. I'm a scientist, not a soldier, and certainly not a general." He looks up at Silco, chin up. "I don't trust you either." he says. "Not on any personal level. But you showed your hand. You may be a monster, but you're a man, too. And I can work with that. You don't want a war. You're willing to do what it takes to stop anyone else from starting one." Silco is giving him a look he doesn't quite know how to define, but it makes his pulse do something fast and strange, like a bird trapped in a cage, beating its wings.

"You're uncommonly observant." Silco says, finally. Jayce's lips twitch. "Scientist." he says.

"Must not be easy, being their poster boy." "---It isn't." Jayce admits.

"You're not cut out for this."

"I'm not."

"And yet." Silco muses. "You manage it anyway. I'm finding myself impressed."

"---thank you." Jayce says. He's trying not to look flustered, and he pushes himself up from the chair, offering a hand. "Do you accept the terms?"

Silco stands too.

It happens very fast.

Silco's face is suddenly very close to his, and his heart just about stops, because Silco is holding his chin. His expression is still flat but his eyes are blazing.

"Don't misunderstand." he says. "I'm impressed with this little charade. But if you think for one moment that I trust you enough to let my guard down-" "No." Jayce says, firmly, cutting him off. "I dont--- expect you to. I expect you to distrust and hate me. I expect you to act as a citizen of Zaun. But don't misunderstand me either, Silco, I'm not unaware of the politics. I may not be suited for it, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. Despite that-" He pulls back, out of Silco's grip. "-I can't make deals with Zaun." he says. "So I am expecting you to act as a representative of Zaun's interests. And the second you don't, it won't matter that you're a man with a daughter, because there are more people than you who've staked their lives on this. Hold up your end. I'll hold up mine. Now do we have a deal or not?"

Silco is still giving him that look, and before Jayce can question him, his thumb presses against Jayce's lip.

"There's a traditional way to seal a bargain." He says, and before Jayce can question him, he--

It takes a second to process that SIlco is kissing him, and that he's kissing Silco back, on instinct, because his face was close and he was half prepared for it, half thinking about it, even though he was in no way prepared for it, definitely not thinking about it--

Silco pulls back, looking undefinably smug.

"We have a deal."

#Silco #Jayce talis #jayce #Jayce x silco #jailco? #i'm coining that now #Casper's haunted fic tag #canon fix it #netflix arcane