Chapter Text
Friday October 8 (Cont.)
“Okay that was fun.”
“Fun?” Allie huffs. “You didn’t do anything except sit around and make unhelpful jokes!”
“Dude, you were the one who told me, and I quote: ‘stop making suggestions, they’re not helpful’.”
She can’t defend herself against that, so instead she scoffs. “I still could have done without the jokes.”
“They were distracting.” Marcus adds.
“Sorry,” you grin, not sorry at all. “Next time I’ll be as quiet as a church mouse.”
“No you won’t, because this is the first and last time I’ll ever invite you to do an escape room with us.”
“Ouch, that really hurts my feelings. Hold on while I find my handkerchief to cry into.”
She scowls. “Jerk.”
“Look, I really am sorry you didn’t finish the room in 55 minutes, but you still placed 2nd for fastest time and got a nice basket of your favorite things at the end of it. That has to mean something, right?”
“Yeah. That was pretty sweet.” Allie admits grudgingly.
“And then there are the pictures I took.”
“I can’t wait to see how they come out,” She answers, her excitement returning. “I was probably making that stupid concentration face in most of them though.”
“I can confirm that is 100% true.”
“I like your concentration face,” Marcus says. "It makes you look very...”
He stumbles to a halt.
"Very what?"
He turns bright red, and mumbles something you can't hear.
"What's that?"
Whatever he says next makes your sister practically glow. She tugs her gift basket out of his’ hands and shoves it into your arms before wrapping her arms around his neck and going in for a kiss.
You turn away to give them some privacy, and cast a bittersweet smile to the sky.
It’s nice to finally be free of the emotional burden of micromanaging your sister’s love life, but with that acceptance comes an empty ache inside of you.
Will you ever feel about a man the way Allie feels about Marcus?
Will any man adore you like Marcus adores your sister?
Even as you ponder these questions, you know you aren’t thinking about just any man.
But the man in question is nothing like Marcus. Marcus is earnest, adoring, and completely willing to make a fool out of himself for love. You can’t imagine Silco being any of those things. Passionate? Yes. Attentive? Absolutely. But would he compliment you, then blush when you throw yourself into his arms and kiss him like nothing else exists in this world…?
You shake your head forcefully as heat rushes to your cheeks.
Don’t do this to yourself.
To distract yourself you dig your phone from your pocket and hit the home button several times. Nothing happens except the appearance of a small red blinking battery.
Did it die already? I swear I charged it last night!
As you slip it back into your pocket you mutter incoherently about old phones and battery life and planned obsolescence.
“What’s that?” Allie asks.
Her cheeks are flushed, and Marcus looks like a man who was just woken up by a hypnotist.
“Nothing,” You clear your throat. “Hey, you guys want to get some breakfast? I think there’s a cafe around the corner.”
“I could eat.”
“Sweet,” You hold your hand out to Marcus. “Give me your keys. I’ll put this in the car while you guys grab us a table.”
He relinquishes it without any argument. As you head towards the truck, you look back over your shoulder and watch Allie tug the sheriff along after her.
They really are perfect for each other.
It's baffling. Who would have thought things could work out between a straight-laced, socially awkward sheriff and an emotional, enthusiastic tattoo artist with purple hair? And if they have a chance at making love last, as different as they are, then theoretically so does anyone else.
Like a dangerous, compassionate manager-to-be and a mysterious, snarky middle-aged man with a teenage daughter.
As a random, non-specific example.
You bite your lip to stop a smile as you unlock the truck.
Why are you like this?
Probably because you’re still tired from your night spent with that random example.
You heave the basket into the backseat.
Though your sister was the one who invited you to come along on this date, and you’re genuinely glad you did, it’s probably time for you to bow out. Your job here is done. You've confirmed that Marcus isn't a creep and only has eyes for your sister, and if he made other plans for this three month anniversary (which seems likely), it would only be fair to all of you if you gently uninvite yourself.
Which makes you wonder how you’re going to do that when you have no car. You could Uber, except your phone is dead and you have no way to order a driver.
You climb into the front seat to rifle around in the middle console, but the only thing you find inside is a couple of straws and a black Samsung charging cord.
Maybe Allie brought her portable charger.
You lock the truck behind you and meander through the parking lot at an angle, in no hurry to get back to third wheeling.
As you breathe in the crisp air, you take your time looking around at the commercial complex. It’s like so many other commercial buildings on the outskirts of Piltover county. Utilitarian, sparsely decorated, and without color or defining features beyond basic black and white store signs placarded above doorways. The City of Progress truly lives up to its name in the epicenter of the city, showing off the skills of its artisans through metalwork and design, but out here on the outskirts their architecture leaves much to be desired.
Not to mention the landscaping. The trees (if you can even call them that) are widely spaced, ill-grown evergreens packed into beds of wood chips through which spindly weeds are struggling to grow.
Sure, Zaun can be a bit dicey and run down in some areas of the city, but you’d have to try hard not to see something to pique your interest. Abandoned buildings tend to be left alone to be decorated by moss and street art, and the boulevards are populated with businesses thriving among colorful plants, trees, and eclectic decorations. Things get especially interesting in Zaun during this time of year, making the blank building before you seem even more depressing in comparison.
Just before pushing through the cafe doors you stare Southward, towards the orange and yellow hills, and the river that separates you from your hometown.
No matter where you go or what you’re doing, everything seems to lead you back to Zaun.
The question that lingers is why.
“I’ll trade every single hashbrown I have for that pancake.” Allie says, pointing to your plate.
“Done,” You reply, already nudging a half sodden flap-jack onto her plate from across the table.
“Right on. Want half this egg too?”
“You know it. And you can have that dollop of whipped cream with the sprinkles for no extra charge.”
“You’re a very generous person.”
“I know.”
Marcus chews his steak with a look of intense concentration as he watches the food exchange plates.
“I thought you didn’t want any pancakes,” He says to Allie.
“Well I didn’t want them twenty minutes ago.”
“And you also said you’d kill a man for some potatoes.”
“I didn’t mean it literally Marcus.”
“Yeah,“ You mumble around a mouthful of her potatoes. “But say that she did. Could that be considered premeditated murder? As a sheriff, would you legally be required to arrest your girlfriend for mentioning she would commit that kind of crime?”
The poor man looks at you, flabbergasted.
“Ignore her,” Allie says with a roll of her eyes.
“No, but seriously. Say you didn’t arrest her, and she actually does murder a guy for a tater. Would you then have to arrest yourself for aiding and abetting a murderer?”
The man is saved from answering your only half-joking question by his phone. He stands abruptly as he looks at the caller ID.
“I have to take this.”
“Is it work?” Allie asks anxiously.
He shakes his head with a frown and stalks outside.
“Speaking of phones,” You say around another mouthful of hashbrowns. “You wouldn’t happen to have your portable charger on you, would you?”
“Nope.”
“Bummer. Well how would you feel about ordering me an Uber? I’ll pay you back later.”
“And Uber? Why?”
“I guess I figured you’d want to spend the day with Marcus, and that I’d only get in the way.”
“That’s not true. If you’d rather go home though, that’s up to you. I mean, it’ll cost you a fortune but…”
She breaks off as Marcus walks back inside.
“Everything alright?”
“Fine,” He hands you the phone. ”It's for you."
“Really?"
Your surprise is quickly overcome by a grin as you get to your feet. “I'll bet it's the chief of police who called to answer my question about the murder thing –”
“It’s Silco.”
Adrenaline spikes.
“Oh. Did he say what he wants?”
“No.”
The sudden reappearance of abrupt, recalcitrant Marcus feels like a bad sign.
Something must have happened to Jinx.
A lead weight seems to have replaced all the potatoes in your stomach.
“Hey,” Allie says, brightening. “Why don’t you ask your sugar daddy to chauffeur you home? It’ll be way cheaper!”
Marcus shoots you a slightly horrified look.
You force a laugh, even while you silently curse your sister’s horrible sense of humor. “She’s kidding Marcus.”
He doesn’t look convinced.
Seriously Allie?
You hurry away before she has a chance to say anything else, and put the phone to your ear as soon as you step out onto the sidewalk.
“Hello, Silco?”
“You’re a difficult woman to get a hold of.”
You can’t tell from his monotone how he’s feeling, and that only puts you more on edge.
“Sorry. My phone died and I don’t have a charger on me. Is everything alright? I texted Jinx this morning but she didn’t answer.”
“I didn’t call to deliver bad news, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Oh. Good.”
Unease is replaced with confusion.
“Then why did you call?”
“I had a question which needed an immediate answer. And when you didn’t answer your phone, I called someone who I believed would know where I could reach you.”
“And you thought of Marcus?” You ask, incredulous.
“He and your sister are dating, are they not?” He drawls.
The comment doesn’t make any sense until you remember you'd texted him about your sister yesterday morning. So much had happened since then that it feels like an age.
“I have to get back to work, so I’ll keep this brief. There is a dinner with the ZCC board of directors tomorrow evening, and due to a previous business arrangement Jinx is required to attend. I’d like to request your presence, for the sake of my daughter. Considering her current… fragile condition, I know she would benefit from your support.”
“Mine?”
“Yes. Jinx regularly declares her fondness for your company, and I believe she is anxious that yesterday’s events may have damaged your friendship beyond repair.”
“What? No! Absolutely not!”
“And so I assured her.”
“Good,” You say forcefully. “And of course I’ll come, but I work a mid-shift tomorrow so I’ll probably be late.”
“Sevika will find someone to cover your shift. And as I will consider your time spent at dinner an operational meeting, I will pay you accordingly.”
“Oh you don’t have to –”
“It isn’t up for discussion,” He clips. “I’ll have Thomas pick you up at 4:30. Formal wear is required.”
“I don’t really own any formal wear.”
“No matter. It will all be taken care of.”
Taken care of? How?
“Okay. I’ll be ready for him.”
“Good. I’ll send you his number so you can connect with him directly. As soon as your phone has recharged, that is.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m currently locked up in a series of business negotiations, but if you need him, I will dispatch him immediately to your location.”
“Excuse me?”
“I believe your sister mentioned you needed a ride home.”
“Oh! Oh.” You moan. “Oh lord. Don't tell me you heard that?”
His chuckle sends a thrill up and down your arms. “Your sister and my daughter appear to share many similar traits, one of which is an unhealthy degree of meddling in the lives of their loved ones.”
Your cheeks flame with embarrassment. “Yeah. Thanks for the offer, but I couldn’t possibly accept.”
“Why?”
“It’s too much trouble.”
“I assure you it isn’t.”
“Okay, but… I mean, you have no reason to do it.”
“I disagree,” He replies, his voice strangely tight. “If you hadn’t been with my daughter last night, or had the foresight to call me and stayed until I arrived, I don’t know what would have happened. In the past she has been known to commit acts of great violence while in that state. You bear the marks of it yourself. I owe you a great debt.”
You swallow back a lump in your throat.
“You don’t owe me anything. I only did what I thought was right.”
"Of course you did," He says in exasperation.
Or amusement, it's hard to tell.
"Now quit arguing. I’ve already alerted Thomas and he’s on his way.”
Call it a knee-jerk reaction, but you actually look towards the parking lot as if the black sedan could appear at will.
“But you don’t even know where I am,” You try feebly.
“Marcus has already informed me, and you're not far.”
The man certainly has an annoying habit of being an immovable object, but at the moment you don’t have the energy to fight him on it.
You release a huff. “Alright, fine."
You can imagine the smug smile tugging at the corner of his scarred lips.
"I just hope you know what you’ve unleashed. My sister will never let me live this down. Or you. She’ll forever brand you as my… my sugar daddy.”
Your face burns suddenly as you say the words.
“I shall bear it as best I can," He answers drily.
When you at last hang up and head back inside, Marcus is waiting for you in tense silence. You hand him his phone after dropping into your seat.
"Everything alright?" He asks gruffly.
"Yep. All good in the hood."
"So?" Allie asks impatiently.
"So what?"
"Do I still need to order you an Uber?"
Your silence makes her slap the table, practically sending Marcus through the roof as she crows, "I knew it! My sister has a sugar daddy!"
Curse you Silco!
"Shut up."
But even you can't bury the grin as you dip your head and get back to your breakfast.