Chapter Text
Both groups stared at each other. The waves rocked the boat a bit as it sat in the harbor at night. Each one having what the other desired and this was their best deal they could ever get. This deal however brought challenges.
Debates would be raged over this deal by others, but they couldn’t do much. Soon they would soon be the most powerful union in all of Runtera.
Silco stared at the woman in front of him. He could feel Sevika shift behind him. She was uneasy about this idea, but was too loyal to the cause for what they would bring. The woman has a smile like a predator staring down its weakened prey.
She moved and held out a box of Noxus cigars. “I was told you enjoy this blend. I thought you could use them after we've struck out the most wonderful deal here.”
“Thank you.” Silco takes one out as she offers a clip and light. He lets her and he takes a few puffs of it. Its rich smoke fills up his already damaged lungs. “A perfect blend like always general Medarda.”
“Please call me Ambessa.” She laughs a bit as she tosses the clipped part into the trash. “We are to be married after all so calling each other by our names is expected.”
┫⊗⚈┣
Mel placed the floor of her office in her manor. It was a habit she only indulged in due to her brother being here. At sixteen she was young, but not naive. Her mother had sent her here to “grow the family business” in Piltover. An excuse for her exile from Noxus.
“Mel, I’m sure mother will be here soon to explain what she has done.” Kino placed a hand on her shoulder.
She huffed, “Right. Like mother will explain why she had summoned you here and went straight to the undercity in her war ship.” Mel wanted to knock off his hand, but didn’t. It felt comforting. Something she hasn’t felt in the last few days since this surprise visit was sprung on her.
Kino pulls her into a hug. “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can weather it.” He looks down at her and smiles. “I doubt there is anything mother can do that would surprise us.”
Mel smiles back at him and hugs him. The door opens and her mother walks in. Her hair was slightly damp from the rain that had started not too long ago. She had that look and aura about her that meant there was nothing good going to come from this.
Ambessa smiles warmly at them. A sure fire way that trouble was on the way. “Children, we will be having special guests for dinner tomorrow so I want you to dress up.”
“Special guests? Who are we-“
“Now now. It’s late and you shouldn’t be up.” Her mother grabbed both of their shoulders and began to corral them towards the wing which houses the rooms. “You’ll need plenty of sleep for tomorrow.”
“What is going on?” Kino looked at her dubiously.
“Nothing you need to worry about for now.” Mel made a noise when she pulled them into a big hug, “I just want you to be prepared for tomorrow.”
“We can be more prepared if you tell us.” Mel huffs as her squirming seemed to make her mother let them go.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Ambessa smirked. It seems she was in the mood to play one of her games it seems. Mel however didn’t as she went back to pushing them towards bed. “Now get some sleep. I have to handle things on my ship so I won’t be back until a little after noon, but I leave Rictus in charge of getting the dinner ready.”
“But Elora-“
“Can help him, yes yes.” They stop when they get to Mel and Kino’s bedrooms. Ambessa plants a kiss on each of their foreheads. “Now get to bed you’ll need your sleep.”
Mel huffs as she is nearly thrown into her room and the door closes. Her anger was boiling but she knew it would get her nowhere with her mother. Perhaps Elora could find out before this dinner at least.
She went over to her dresser and pulled out one of her night gowns and sleep bonnet to start getting ready for bed. Whatever her mother was planning had made Ambessa jumpy for some reason and Ambessa was never jumpy.
Mel felt her mind swirl and thoughts rushed in and left as fast as they appeared. She needed to know what was going on and she would get her answers.
┫⊗⚈┣
Jinx ran her finger over the dress Silco had brought for her. She had fallen asleep on his bed before he had come back and awoke with him still not there.
In his place laid a beautiful looking dress. It was a blue, almost a soft purple, with pale yellow and gold. Tracing her fingers along the soft fabric she smiled. Rubbing her eyes she got out of bed and headed down to the bar for breakfast or more like lunch now. There in the nearly empty bar she saw Sevika getting her morning drink from Thieram before she went home to sleep.
Sevika looked up at her and huffed, “What do you want Jinx?”
“Where’s Silco?” She stayed at the top of the steps looking down at her just barely above the bars.
Sevika scoffs, “Probably trying to find something for tonight.”
“What’s tonight?” Jinx leaned on the railing making it creak a bit due to her weight.
“You’ll see brat.” Sevika smirks and finishes off her drink before leaving. Passing by the two cleaners who probably owed some money to Silco.
Jinx huffed and hopped down the stairs and to the bar. “Hey chucky!”
“It’s Thieram.” He said softly as he went to get her plate of food and her special cup filled with juice. “Here’s your lunch kid.” He whispers softly and sits it down in front of her.
Jinx giggled. Thieram was always scared of her. Could be because he once saw her play with a snake she didn’t know was a venomous Iona rattler, or the bombs she put in his work locker that never worked, or could be because of Silco. Who knows?
When Jinx looked at her plate and couldn’t help but make a face. It was instant mashed potatoes with wiry green vegetables that looked like vomit, and some cooked fish. The instant mashed potatoes and fish she could handle, but vegetables! Yuk!
“Mr. Silco said you had to eat them.” He mumbles softly as he goes to organize the bottles of alcohol behind the bar.
Jinx huffs and face plants on the bar avoiding the plate as she did so. “But I hate vegetables like this!” She kicked her feet as she said this. “They make my mouth feel funny.” She poked at them with the fork that was missing a prong making it a little trident. She had a certain texture she liked
Thieram glances at her as he sets some not so cheap stuff behind the others. What most people come here for when they order shots. “Mr. Silco said he was trying to find some different ones that would fit, but it might be a while.”
Jinx groaned, but her stomach was demanding food. She ate with her head on the table and very slowly at that which only made the texture worse. Once she was done she propped herself back up as Thierma took the plate and cup away. “Do you know where Silco is?”
“Sorry kid, but I don’t.” He finished organizing the bar for tonight. “I’m sure he’ll be back soon though.” Thieram looked at her as he wiped down the area she had laid on. “But if you're looking for something to do there’s a new box of scrap by the door.” He smiled softly.
“You're the best Chuck!” Jinx hopped off her stool and ran towards the back door eager to see what he had brought her.
Jinx had a soft spot for Thieram. After a while he started leaving her little scraps and such hoping it would distract her from messing with him while he was working. And it did so he started being more and more so Jinx didn’t mess with him. As much.
Finding the worn cardboard box in the alley way she dragged it into the bar and into her little lab. A cramp storage room Silco had let her use. Jinx eagerly picked through every piece of rusted scrap. It wasn’t much and not as good as she or Ekko- as good as she could have gotten, but it was still nice that he did it.
After a while she was lost in her mind with all the stuff she could build. Soo. The door opened and Silco stood there. “Having fun?” He asked.
“Silco!” Jinx stood up and rushed into him. “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied.” He pats her head softly. “Did you see the dress I laid out?”
“Is that for me!?!” Jinx was bouncing as she held onto me. “Really?!”
“For now, yes.” Silco ushered her out of the closet/lab and up towards their rooms. “We’re going to have dinner with some very special people, Jinx and the woman was very nice to lend you one of her old daughter’s dresses for this event.”
He pats her back as they stop at the bathroom. “I want you to go and get clean. I’ve left some nice soap for you, then we’re gonna see if we can get the dress to properly fit you before we leave.”
“How far away is the place?” Jinx frowned a bit as she looked up at him.
“A pretty good trip, my dear. Now go on and get cleaned up.” He traces his thumb around her cheek. Pulling it back Silco showed the grease on it. “We can’t have you look like you’ve just come out of the pit fights.”
Jinx nodded and rushed into the bathroom, closing and locking the door. Resting on the sink was a box of soaps and shampoos Jinx had never even seen or smelt anything like that before. It smelt like topside. Whoever Silco wanted her to meet he must have really wanted her to make a good impression.
After cleaning up and drying off. Jinx just slipped on her shirt and leggings before going to the bedroom where Silco stood there holding a brush. She sat down on the stool and let him begin to brush her hair. “You're gonna tell me who we're meeting?” She swung her feet a bit.
“Hmm. I think it’s best left as a surprise for you.” He worked on a particular bad knot that had formed on her head. “Just…” Jinx tried to meet his eyes or his good eye in the mirror but he didn’t. “Try and behave.”
“No promises!” Jinx smiled and giggled a bit.
Silco just shook his head as he worked on brushing her hair more. He didn’t do the usual two braids and instead tried at first to make two braids at the side of her head. However that didn’t work as they seemed a bit loser and had more fly aways.
No matter how much he tried he couldn’t get it to work. Eventually he did give up after jinx began to get more and more restless so he gave her the usual bang and two braids.
Then came the dress. Silco turned around as she slipped it on and it nearly swallowed her whole. Jinx struggled with the sleeves as they were cut at the top and she slipped it through letting the rest of it dangle under her. The neckline was big, as well the rest of the dress that hung off her making her look like she was playing in a grownup's closet.
Silco grabbed some small safety pins and began to pin the dress up. Folding the bottom of the dress so it didn’t get tangled up in her feet or lay nearly two feet long on the ground. It was made to where it’s nearly two inches off the ground, the slits on the side were pinned up, as was the neckline but not to the point it would choke her, her arms were guided in through the sleeves, and those were rolled up. They still hung off her arms, but not as long as before. The open chest piece that looked like a sunburst couldn’t be pinned together so she got to seeher neon blue shirt underneath it along with her leggings. “There. You look beautiful.” He brushed her small baby hairs back.
“Are you finally gonna tell me where we’re gonna go?” She bounced a bit as he helped her put on her shoes.
Silco hums softly as he goes to grab a cape. “We’re going deep into Topside to meet up with them for dinner.”
Jinx huffs and frowns. Her brow wrinkles a bit as she looks at him. “Were Having dinner with Pilties?!”
“No. Not Pilties.” He nudges her off the stool and wraps the cape around her and pins it to where you couldn’t see the dress. “Noxians. We’re having dinner with a Noxian warlord and matriarch of clan Medarda. Her name is Ambessa Medard and we’ll be meeting her children.” Silco tugs the button a bit and goes back to the dresser to start getting himself ready. “A young man named Kino and a teen daughter named Mel.”
Jinx huffs and jumps on the bed. Its old springs bounce back a bit, but not as bad as most mattresses down here. “So we're gonna play nice with the rice people still?”
“In a sense.” He took his comb and brushed back his already slick hair back more, making sure it was perfect.
He was already dressed up really well that he must have done that when she was showering. Jinx looked him over as he pulled out one of his hidden cologne bottles she isn’t allowed to touch after she made a stink bomb with them. “You must really wanna impress them if you're putting that stuff on.”
She goes to mess with the quilt on the bed as he nodded. “Yes.” Silco went to throw on his long coat and held out his hand to her. “And I hope you’ll do the same.”
“I’ll try.” Jinx takes his hand and squeezed it.
“That’s all I ask.” Silco smiles at her and leads her down to the back.
Jinx quickly hid some of her bombs and smaller weapons before they left and after Silco searched her for them. He got distracted by Sevika talking about whatever was going on. She then followed as they sneakily made their way towards the bridge where a carriage was waiting for them. Jinx jumps in. She’s never rode in a carriage before and was eager to do so.
‘He’s gonna regret bringing you jinx.’ Mylo hisses.
‘You killed us. Wasn’t on purpose, but Mylo is right.’ Claggor says softly, ‘you’ll mess it up.’
‘Don’t listen to them!’ The overly sweet Vi said. ‘You can do it!’
‘NO SHE CANT YOU JINX!’ The mean Vi yells.
Jinx covered her ears. “Shut up! I won’t mess it up, I won't!” She squeezed her fingers, nails digging into skin and pulling her hair.
“You won’t.” Silco grabbed her shoulder and she jerked her head upward towards him. Silco was smiling softly at her, pulling her close to him. “I know you’ll be good, Jinx. They’ll love you.”
Nodding Jinx hugged him as the carriage stopped. They get out and jinx looks up in awe. They stood in front of a beautiful castle structure done in white stone with gold, dark blue, and red accents. “Woah! This is amazing! We’re having dinner there?!”
Jinx bounced as Silco chuckled. “We are.”
┫⊗⚈┣
Mel looked herself over once more. She was wearing one of her new dresses. A white sheath dress with red and gold accents along the sides running down in straight lines. It went up to her collar bone and wrapped around with glittering gold sheer fabric around her shoulder.
Red rubies were along the gold fabric in the shape of drops. A white gold pendant in the shape of the Medarda family crest was in the center with diamonds on it.
“You look stunning as always.” Kino walked in smirking. Unlike her, he just wore his usual suite he wore for these types of events. “I think this new look is good on you.” He tossed an arm around her, messing up her perfectly symmetrical off the shoulder sheer fabric. “We’re matching now.”
Mel shoved him off and looked at the old suite. “And you could do with a new one. I’m shocked mother hasn’t burned those yet.”
“She wouldn’t.” Kino chuckled and picked up one of her gold hair accessories she forgot to put in. “She still keeps your old outfits.” He puts it in one of her braids that didn’t have it on.
“She does?” Mel frowned and looked over at him.
“Yes. However I was sent in here to tell you she did have to lend it out for tonight. Apparently the man we are meeting with, his daughter, didn't have an ‘appropriate dress’ for this.” Kino looked over her hair giving it a final check.
Mel frowned a bit. How could whoever they are soon to meet not have proper clothing for their child? This was adding to the very small list she knew about who was coming. “Oh?”
“Yes oh.” Kino helped fix the dress. “As well as mother sending one of your less noticeable carriages to the bridge next to the undercity.”
Mel hummed softly. Their mother had taken an interest in the undercity a lot recently. Buying a lot of property down there, sending several groups of “new citizens” when really it's spies and soldiers that slipped past the council, and increasing their trading vessels by a lot when the cargo they should be getting shouldn’t take that many.
She has often bought a lot of land from Bolbok and Salo that’s near to her’s and is planning her own castle here. something big was happening and Mel hated being out of the loop. “Did you find any more?”
“No.” Kino rolled his eyes and straightened his already straight tie. “And mother is becoming far more tense than normal. She’s cancelled my ships from coming and picking me up next week. Told all of them not to come until she says so.”
That gave Mel a really big pause. Her mother had never stopped them from leaving. While yes she would question them and make sure they had prepared sufficiently enough. “Odd.”
“Very.”
They both looked at their mother as she walked in. Ambessa Medarda was decked out in all of her war armor but she was missing weapons. Except her hidden ones that Mel could make out after knowing her mother for so long. “Look at you two.” She smiles. “So perfect as always, except you Kino.” She walked over and brushed off some non-existent dust on his shoulder. “I’m pretty sure I’ve told you to get some new suits.”
“Yes, well.” Kinl chuckled at her annoyed face. “Can’t beat perfection like you’ve called us.”
Ambessa rolled her eyes at that. They all make their way to the dining room where Mel looks over the two people. “Children, this is Silco and his daughter Jinx.” She waved a hand towards them. “Silco, Jinx. This is my son Kino, and my daughter Mel.”
They wave softly as Mel smiled. “It’s wonderful to meet you all.” The man, Silco she presumed, caught her eye first. She was surprised by him. One, a turquoise green, while the other a black scar with an orange pupil. Analyzing him further, she noticed he was wearing a fine red and black outfit with golden accents. A deep blood red undershirt with a vest type wrapped around his waist. The top was a very nice black leather with gold around it.
It went down with two leather stripes underneath it. His tie was a soft cream colored. His pants were a matching leather black and gold with a small red stripe down it. His boots were like the rest of him black and red with gold. He also held a small box. It was very undercity while looking especially fine. Much more than the average person down there could afford
The girl seemed very nervous to be here as she was wearing one of her old dresses that was far too big on her tiny frame. Mel could see the soft shine of silver from where the dress had been pinned at. The bright neon blue of her undershirt stuck out a lot. Not to mention the striped purple and pink leggings and black boots. Her hair was done in two braids at the back.
It was odd that the man was dressed so well and the girl wasn’t. She was young, younger than Mel herself and much younger than Kino. If she was from the Undercity like her mother claimed, it would make sense the little blue haired girl didn’t have a fancy dress. Similar to the man, her father Mel presumed, she was holding a box.
“We’re glad to be here.” The man, Silco, said and nudged the girl. “We brought you and your brother some gifts.” The girl looks up at him and he nods softly. “Go on.” He whispers softly.
The girl walked over. Her hands shook a bit as she held out the small wooden box. “This is for you Miss. Medarda.”
“Thank you.” Mel took the box and opened it. Inside were several gold looking hair clips. Something her mother had obviously commissioned for her. She glanced over at Kino who got a gold pocket watch, something else commissioned by her mother for them to give to them it seems. “These are very lovely.” She smiled at the girl. “Thank you very much.
“You’re welcome.” She backed up quickly to cling to the man. He pats her head softly and the girl beams. “You did a good job, Jinx.”
“Thanks Silco.” She mutters back hugging him.
Ambessa smiled, “Now that we’ve gotten pleasantries out of the way shall we eat.” Her mother turned to the table.
They all moved towards it when Jinx gasped. “SPIKE SPICE!” She rushed over to the table and jumped on it to get to the peppers in the middle of the table.
“Jinx!” Silco yelled and quickly pulled her off the table.
Mel and Kino and her mother stood there in awe as this girl had six in her mouth. Speka sprite peppers are the hottest peppers in all of Runtera. They hold a significance in all of Noxus as being the pepper of choice for the strongest of warriors. It’s said that if you could eat one without succumbing to the heat you were destined for great things. Mel could barely handle eating two with milk and the most she’s ever seen anyone eat is four without milk.
Jinx swallows them whole and frowns. “They're not as spicy as the ones back home.”
Silco pinched the brow of his nose. “Jinx you can’t just hop on someone’s table like that. It isn’t nice.”
Jinx looked at them and looked ashamed. “I’m sorry.” She mutters softly and kicks her feet.
“It’s alright.” Mel looked at the bowl of Speka peppers and back at her. “You said they weren’t as spicy as the ones back home. Those should be the spiciest peppers in all of Runtera. How are the ones down there more spicy?”
Jinx shrugs and Slico looks up at them. “We use spices to help us be able to digest the food down there.” He pulls out a chair and Jinx sits down in it. “The food down there isn’t very palatable and would be seen as disgusting up here. We used spices to cover up the bad taste and we’ve been using spicier spices to try and keep the food edible. Speka peppers are one of the few things that can handle the air down there.”
Silco moved and pulled a chair out for her mother which she took with a smile. “We have to get dirt from the topside for it, but they can grow in the harsh environment if handled right.”
“Jericho can grow them on leftovers!” Jinx bounces a bit as everyone takes their seats. “He’s got the spiciest ones around!”
“There’s no reason to yell jinx.” He scolds her softly.
“Let the girl be excited, Sil.” Her mother takes her goblet of blood red wine. Mel and Kino both looked at her when she used that nickname. “After all i'm very interested to hear about how Zaun has spicer Spekas.”
Kino looked back at Mel and she looked back. The servants brought out the plates of food as Jinx messed with several of the silver wear. “Why are there so many utensils?” She didn’t seem so scared now as she held one up in the air before making it fight the spoon.
“They are for different parts of the meal.” Mel points at one of the forks. “This is the salad fork.” She then points to the one beside it. “Entree fork, fish fork, and the knives are the same. Salad knife, entree knife, fish knife. Then you have the soup spoon and the oyster fork. Each one-“ Mel stops when she sees the bored look on her face. “They all do different things.”
“That seems like a waste and a lot to clean.” She tries to pick up a knife but Silco takes them all. She pouts, but doesn’t fight it. “Do you Pilties always use them all?”
“Pilties?” Mel raised an eyebrow at that.
“It’s what we call people on this side of the river.” Silco touched her hand and she sat them down pouting. “And they aren’t Pilties. Ambessa, Kino, and Mel here are Noxians.”
Kino looked at him as the servants placed down their appetizers, small tea sandwiches, shrimp cocktail, and some spicy crackers. “And what are people on your side of the river called?”
“Zaunites.” Silco moved back towards his cutlery. “Or for those uncultured they call us trenchers.” He looked disgusted at that.
Mel did her best to keep herself calm. She hasn’t had much interaction with anyone from the undercity, but she hasn’t heard pleasant things. Granted she hasn’t heard nice things about herself or her family from people, but still.
Mel looked back at Jinx as she began to chew on some shrimp. “Do you enjoy seafood, Jinx?”
She nodded and she slurped down a whole bunch. “Yea! It’s the main type of food down there.” Her mouth became full of stuff as she ate like a hungry wolf.
“And school. How do you enjoy that?”
“I don’t go to school.” She shrugged as she swallowed it all.
“And why not?” Mel began to eat some of her food.
“Cause no school down there.” Jinx’s body was shifting as her legs swung in her chair. “And no school you pilties build will take us.”
Mel winced a bit as Silco touched her arm a bit. He whispered what she assumed was they’re Noxians’ from Silco to her. “Ahh, perhaps I could help with that.” She straightens up. Jinx tilted her head as Mel smiled. “I could easily help fund some public schools down there so you and other children could learn.”
“There’s no need for that child.” Ambessa stops her before she could go on. “I have agreed to help fund several schools and even free meals for all the children so they don’t need to worry about breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”
“So you're doing what you do for your lands then?” Mel raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.” Ambessa smiled, “I’m funding this personally so we can work on other things.”
That was something Mel had to give her mother. She did a lot to help families. All schools under the Medarda family offered free meals to students and will even send food home for holidays and such. While nice, Mel knew it was just an easy way to brainwash them into submission and more eager to fight for her.
┫⊗⚈┣
Saying Kino was a bit surprised as dinner went on was a large understatement. Their mother was apparently doing a lot for the undercity. Much more than a normal partnership should be. She was funding schools, food banks, hospitals, community centers, and a lot more than normal.
She would normally do this stuff for any territory she conquered in order to make the population more complacent. Perhaps that was her goal. Making those Piltover wasn’t treating right more willing to fight for her.
But Piltover’s council shouldn’t allow this. How had she’d gotten them to agree? They technically controlled the Undercity and should be able to put a stop to it. Yet the man before them seemed like he was in charge. He wasn’t getting much out of either of them, and the only one really talking about anything other than what their mother was giving them was the young girl, Jinx.
However she wasn’t saying what their mother was getting in return, nor seemed to understand what was going on. Mel wasn’t getting very far as the girl either didn’t quite get what she was saying or steer the conversation so far off. They were currently talking about bombs and weapons. Something that Kino specialized in. It was shocking to see how many weapons and bombs this girl had on her. Something her father didn’t seem to like much.
“This one will clamp on and EXPLODE! His name is Chomper!” Jinx held up a colorful looking one with an open metal mouth. Chocolate covered her face as she had eaten a lot of dessert when it was brought out. She placed a fork in between its teeth, then pulled the pin.
It snapped down, shattering the fork as it rattled. Kino without thinking grabbed Mel and pulled her down under the table expecting an explosion. However there’s a huff and a thud. “Doesn’t work though.”
They both stood up to see the bomb laying on its side on the table. His body had that survival shake with the adrenaline rushing through him. “Well, that would have been nice to know beforehand.” Mel huffs and gets back in her seat.
Kino looked at his mother who was smirking and Silco who had his hands in his face. “Perhaps I could help then.” His body was Calming down as he got up. “May I?”
Jinx shrugged. “You can.” She pulled another metal contraption out and began to mess with it.
Kino took the bomb and looked it over. Pulling out one of his hidden screw drivers that drives his mother up the wall over he opens it up carefully.
“It’s very well built.” He looked at it over looking at its very complex components. Kino opens the liquid container and frowns seeing the problem.
“You don’t have the right metal for it. If you change this.” He points to the metal container holding it. “It’ll go off.”
Jinx was looking at him now. She got on the table to crawl over to him, but Silco pulled her back. “Go around, not over.”
She huffs, but walks over to him. “What’s wrong with the metal?”
“The metal is keeping the liquid chilled. It’s stopping your powder” Jinx twitched a bit when he said that. Odd. “From dissolving. If you switch to either a rubber or a plastic metal mix that should help. And depending on the type of plastic you use, it’ll either melt when exploding or become sharp shrapnel.”
He offered it to her as she nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Perhaps I could help you make it.” Kino felt having an in with this girl would be very beneficial. “If you’d like,” he leans down and whispers softly, “I have some of my equipment up in my room. We can work on it after dinner.”
Mel huffs as she hears that. Kino smiled at that as Jinx widened her eyes and began to bounce. “Really?!”
“Yes. If it’s alright with your father.” He looked at Silco who still kept a stone face, but he could faintly see the approving nature of it.
“It is, but perhaps we should wait till after we say what we have to.” Silco looks at their mother.
“Children, Silco and I have reached an agreement.” Ambessa straightened up. Everyone looked at her as she and Silco kept exchanging glances.
“We’ve talked it over and have made the best deal we can for both of our needs.” Silco’s voice was smooth, but had that gravel sound to it of someone who’s a heavy smoker or worked a long time in the mines.
“In exchange for the Undercity’s freedom from Piltover and creating its own nation of Zaun we will be given Shimmer.” Ambers pulled out a vial of a strange glowing purple liquid. “And in order to secure Zaun’s future Silco and I will be getting married.”
“What!?” Jinx yelled what he and most likely Mel was thinking.
“Jinx, it’s alright we-“
“YOU'RE REPLACING ME!” She screeches and backs up. She grabs her head. “YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T!”
“Jinx.” Silco stood up and went to her. “I’m not replacing you.” He reached out but she pulled back. “It’s alright.”
He tried to grab her but she ran holding her head. “SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP AHHHHH!” She yanks hard on her hair screaming. “YOUR WRONG YOUR WRONG YOUR WRONG YOUR WRONG! ITSNOTITSNOTNOOOYOUCANTICANTAHHH!”
Jinx was running now screaming. Both Kino and Mel stood up unsure of what to do. Silco was trying to grab her and calm her down but Jinx could easily squirm her way out of his grasp.
Neither of them realized their mother had stood up and scooped Jinx up. She wrapped her thick heavy cape around her, subduing her limbs into them. “Easy child. Take some deep breaths.”
Jinx wasn’t she was trying to thrash but Ambessa’s arms held still. She screamed still. “LIARS ALL OF YOU ARE LIARS!” It was fast and in one breath.
Ambessa moved to the floor while still holding on to Jinx. It was a comfort hold. Something that she did when they were younger.
“It’s okay. Just follow my breathing child. Deep breath in and out.” She placed one of her scarred hands on Jinx’s chest. “Breath. It’s alright.”
Jinx was hiccuping as she struggled to breath.
Mother was holding her tightly as she sat down holding Jinx in her arms. “Shhh deep breaths. It’s alright. You are not replaceable.” Jinx's breath was shaky as she began to calm down. “It’s okay. Can you tell me five things you see?”
“I- I can’t- I don’t- monsters! I see monsters! I-“
“Shhh deep breath now.” Ambessa held her tightly and looked towards Silco.
“She can see and hear things that aren’t there.” Silco walked closer and sat beside them.
“Jinx, what do you feel? Can you tell me four things you feel?” Ambessa kept her face back a bit as Jinx squirming became less.
“I- I don’t-“ she takes a deep breath. “I can feel your cape fur. Feels funny. The metal of some of my tools, the dress, the hole in my sock.” She was crying, but her tears weren’t coming down like two small waterfalls now.
“Three things you know about this room.” Ambessa rubbed her back giving her some pats.
“Too many forks, a stupid looking paint splotch painting, and there’s white crystals on the lights above.” She mumbles softly.
Kino did steal a glance at the painting. It was some type of gift from councilman Hoskel. Four random colored paint splotches that made no sense. He agreed with her on that. He watches as she moves towards Silco more. They went through the rest and she was given to Silco to hold.
They silently move to a sitting room and Ambessa nods her head for them to follow. They do so. Mel and Kino sit opposite of them as Silco holds on to Jinx. She was looking off as he rubbed the back of her head. Her braids all messed up as he rests her head on his shoulder.
“I want to make this very clear.” Ambessa snaps him out of the strange haze he found. “We’re not replacing or getting rid of any of you. This marriage is a marriage of business, but to the outside world it will be a marriage of love.”
“So you plan to take Silco and his daughter with you back to Noxus then?” He leaned back in the plush seat. This sitting room was meant for family and those trusted so it didn’t have that same stiff feeling as the other rooms he’s seen. “Leave some of your armies here to help them and get this shimmer.”
“Not quite.” Ambessa looked over at them. “You see, Silco and his daughter will be staying here in order to make sure Piltover behaves.” she threw her arms over the back of the couch and Silco. “As well making sure shimmer production goes well.”
“So where does that leave us?” Mel raised an eyebrow. She left no pretense she was caring anymore.
“That leaves you two here. You’ll-“
“Wait us two?” Kino leaned in. “Mother, we had an agreement that I was free to travel-“
“Until you are needed and you are.” She nodded towards his sister. “Since I’ll be doing this I doubt Piltover will treat your little sister well so I want you here to help protect her when I have to go.“
“I’m not calling him father.” Mel crossed her arms and leaned back.
“And I don’t expect you to.” Silco said as Jinx seemed to calm down. “I don’t expect you two to see me as anything more than your mother’s husband if you wish. I will respect your boundaries. All I ask is for some respect out in public.”
He adjusted Jinx so she’s looking up at him, “The same goes for you Jinx. You don’t have to call Ambessa, mom or Kino and Mel siblings. I just ask that you respect them and their boundaries.”
Kino huffed a bit at that. At least he was saying something good. Kino had no need for a new father and neither did Mel after theirs died. “Is that all?”
“For now, yes.” Silco let Jinx squirm and get out of the cape. “Unless you have anything to add.”
No one said anything. “Now that that’s settled.” Their mother smiled and pulled out a deck of cards. “Shall we play?” The way her mother always tries to defuse tension with them.
┫⊗⚈┣
Jinx huffed as she cleared them all out once more as she laid her hand down. A flush. Three tens and two kings. No one else came close to that as she pulled all the candy towards her.
“How are you able to win most of the time?” Mel tossed her hand down to show a two, three, seven, and a king.
“It’s just math.” Jinx handed her cards to Silco who gave them to Kino. “All card games are. It’s why I’m banned from all of the casinos.”
“You're banned from casinos?” Kino leaned in with an accusatory look towards Silco.
“When I was younger Sevie found out I was good with numbers. She took me with her to help her win.” Jinx glared at him. “She said I was her lucky charm when I helped her win a massive tournament.”
“They allowed you to sit with her?” Ambessa gave her cards to Kino.
Jinx shrugged. “Yeah. S’not like they could do anything.” She popped one of those hard candies in her mouth. “Too scared of-“ she cuts herself off. She really didn’t want to think about him right now.
“Perhaps we should be off to bed then.” Mel looked at everyone. “It’s late and-“
“No it’s not?” Jinx frowned as she looked at the darkness outside. “It’s nearly lunch time.”
“You eat lunch this late at night?” Kino leaned in more looking at some big fancy clock with strange letters instead of numbers.
“Yeah? Why wouldn’t we?” Jinx huffed a bit.
“Zaun is prominently more active during the night.” Silco patted her back softly. “We host a lot of clubs and other things you wouldn’t find on this side of the river. So for us we stay up through the night and sleep in the day.”
“Interesting.” Mel looks at Jinx and she glares at her. The stupid little princess and her family.
Honestly why was Silco even marrying into this stupid family?! She was enough! Wasn’t she?
No you're not! You’re never enough!
You really think he’ll settle for just you!
A hand touches her shoulder and she looks at Silco, “Perhaps we should get going.”
“It’s far too late for that.” Ambessa pulled Silco towards her. “I don’t want to risk anything happening to you two. Besides, we need to start planning the wedding.” Ambessa looked at them. “You know, my daughter here has some special glow fish from Noxus here. Why don’t you go with her and Kino out to the gardens to look at them?”
Jinx looks at Silco who nodded at her. “I’ll be alright.”
“Fine.” She huffs. “Let’s go look at the stupid fish.”
┫⊗⚈┣
Silco took the goblet Ambessa offered him. They both sat on a balcony and could faintly overhear the children as they walked in the gardens. “I do hope the children can get along.”
Ambessa sat beside him and pulled him into her lap. “I’m sure they will.“ Ambessa nuzzles his neck which shocked him a bit. “We’ve given them a common enemy to unite against.”
“LETS JUST USE MY BOMBS!” Jinx yelled from down below.
Silco rubbed his brow. “I feel there will be lots of paint and glitter bombs in our futures.”
“Then we can handle it.” Ambessa smirked as she leaned in. “We are both forged in the fire of suffering and war. I doubt whatever the children get up to will be too much trouble.”
Silco could feel her teeth against his skin. “That we are.” He watched as they grouped up. Most likely to plan on how to make them split up. “So what was it about your doctors being able to help Jinx?”
Ambessa leaned back and had him against her chest. “Yes. Believe it or not we actually have many programs to help mental illness. War can leave scars on the mind as well as the body.”
She sat her goblet down and squeezed his hip. “I myself have a few I was able to handle with the help of doctors.”
“I don’t want Jinx changed.” Silco didn’t look at her, just looked ahead. He was trying to ignore how good it felt being against someone’s chest again. “I don’t want her to become some zombie or more pliable. I want Jinx to be Jinx.”
“And she will be, I can swear on it.” Her hands began to roam his chest. “I don’t want that either. From what you’ve shown me and from the card game I can tell she’s got a mind like no other.”
She squeezed him tightly. “We can have her meet with a few tomorrow in a low down setting. Not tell them to their doctors, just people who help to ease her into it.”
“She won’t like being lied to.” Silco finally looked at her with his good eye.
“I’ll take the blame for it.” Ambessa moved his head down. “Now, I have a question for you? I know we agreed nothing too physical till after the wedding, but I would love it if you let me,” she leans down towards his neck. “Sample you.”
Silco leaned his head down more. How bad could it be? “Very well.” he smirked at her thinking it would be a little nibble.
Silco did not expect her to unhinge her jaw and bite down hard against his neck and all of his shoulder. He gasped out with how hard she was making his body shutter. Janna, he wondered how he got into this.