///Six months ter after Oriourned from Factorywood///

  Ihe dimly lit Last Drop, Vander and Benzo, Vander's long-time friend, shared a drink in an otherwise empty bar.

  "He's taken a liking to the young d," Benzed, his pint of ale sloshing around as a faint smile tugged at his lips. "The clockwork book from Powder- it came from their Old Hungry adventure."

  Benzo chuckled deeply, taking a swig. "I guess stupid sometimes does pay off, aye?"

  "Ugh," Vander shook his head, gaze cast down at his drink. "I thought that boy would keep them out of trouble... It hasn't helped in the slightest."

  "They're kids," Benzo replied gently. His tone carried a yer of passion, his gaze steady and uanding. "You 't stop them from getting into trouble. But you made the right call, pg Orion with them. From what I hear, he's bailed them out of a fair few sticky situations."

  Taking a drink of his own, Vander sighed, "Aye, that he has." Pausing for the moment, however, Vander hesitated before weighing his words, speaking slowly. "Something's off... with the boy. He's getting help elsewhere- outside of topside."

  Creak-Creak

  The sound of the bar doors opening interrupted their versation. Vander and Benzo turned, freezing in disbelief. Vander's mug slipped from his hand, crashing against the ter and spilling out across the ter. Benzo slowly rose from his seat, eyes narrowing.

  "Sil-" Vaarted but was cut off by Benzo's deep growl.

  "Silco! What are you doing here?!" Benzo bellowed. The grip on his pint tightening, poised to hurl it across the room.

  "Mm..." Silco's presence cast a long, menag shadow across the bar, the crimson glow of his corrupted eye slowly shiftiween them.

  "'t I visit?" Silco's low voice resohrough the bar, hands wide in an exaggerated gesture, though his hollow gaze betrayed his mockery. "We were onrades in arms, after all."

  Gss shattered beside Silco's head as Benzo hurled his pint across the room. Silco didn't flinch, his expression remaining cold and unfazed.

  "Still have your temper, I see," Silarked, his tone dripping with mog disdain.

  "I should gut yo-" Benzo's snarled, stepping forward ready to charge Silco.

  "Benzo."

  Benzo stopped as he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. It gave him enough of a moment to pause, gng back with restrained fury at Vander who had stepped out from behind the bar.

  "Why are you here?" Vander rumbled, his sharp gaze locked onto Silco. For the briefest moment, something flickered across Vander's face- softness, regret, perhaps even unease. But as quickly as it appeared- it vanished, repced by hardened resolve.

  A momentary pause occurred iension, their eyes locked through vile and pt.

  Without a word, Silco's hand drifted into his tailored suit, causing Benzo and Vao tense further. Smirking, he pulled out a dusty part between two fingers.

  "Your pup's parents went missing because you were obsessed with finding me," Silco said with measured amusement, his voice cutting through the tension. "So, I decided to search myself- as payment to the boy for assisting with our vision for Zaun,"

  He let his words sink in, his satisfied gaze flig between their faces, drinking in their dawning realization.

  Silco's good eye shifted downward to the letter, his gaze softening. He held it softly in both hands as if it were something precious. "That's when I found an old letter."

  "The past is between us," Vander said, his voice tinged with remorse yet firm. His eyes still wide with disbelief and shock. "Why did you involve the boy?"

  Silco's smirk widened, his narrowing crimsourning to Vander. "Orion, now there is an iing boy." Stepping forward, his voice carried amusement and pt. "W topside, taking care of your little orphans, a," He paused for a moment. "Lending me his talents for Zaun."

  Vander's expression darkened, voice l to a growl. "He's not yours, Silco."

  A loud mog chuckle echoed through the bar, Silog voice following. "Oh, I don't own him. No one does. Orion serves himself like any smart person would down here. The boy learned a lesson that you refused to accept- pragmatism over idealism- for a better future. For Zaun!"

  Benzo's angry voice spat out beside Vander, his demeanor barely restrained. "He's just fighting for survival! You're twisting the boy's choices to fulfill yendas!"

  "What's wrong with survival?" Silco shot back, his voice sharp and cutting. "He pys all sides because he uands the way the world works. Dang with the topsiders for scraps, babysitting your kids- helping build the nation of Zaun! That isn't loyalty, Benzo. But it is admirable."

  "You're just using him," Vander growled, his words ced with fury as he ched his fists.

  "I'm giving him the tools to survive." Silco retorted coolly. "Orion sees Zaun for what it could be, not for what you wish it was. And don't worry, old friend. He knows better than to trust anyone. Not me, not topside..." Silco's crimson eye gleamed, leaning in slightly. "...aainly not you."

  Vander flinched, his eyes softening as he hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "I've never fiven myself for what I did to you. You were like a brother to me. When Felicia died, I lost my head."

  "But your path," Vander's voice gairength, his gaze sharpening as he stood taller. "It's not the way. Was her death not enough for you? You were willing to sacrifice half of the Uy for this nation of yours."

  Vaepped forward with his own vi rising. "What about their lives, Silco? Felicia's kids? Are you willing to risk everything- everyone's lives- for this dream of yours?"

  ch

  "It was a dream we all shared!" Silco roared with rage, crumpling the paper in his fury. "Your weakness spat in the faces of everyone who died, making their sacrifices meaningless! Including Felecia's!"

  Hurling the letter to the ground in a crumpled heap, Silco stepped forward, now inside Vander's personal space as he seethed. Their faces were inches apart. Vander's beastlike fury was on full dispy after Felicia's name was mentioned.

  "You act as if I didn't care for her! We shared drinks together- we had the same vision." Silco spat. He gred up at Vander, his voice hoarse with emotion as spittle tio fly out.

  "And now you sit here, pying pdog with her killers- meeting with the sheriff i. Letting Orion walk topside- I wonder how Vi and Powder would feel if they found out?"

  Vaook a steadying breath to calm himself, refusing to take the bait. His gaze lowered to the crumpled paper, his tone calm and measured.

  "I'm doing what is necessary to keep the people of the Uy- of Zaun- safe."

  His gaze returns to Silco with a disgusted scowl, "I'm not proud of every decision I've made, but we both know Zaun wouldn't survive another war."

  Leaning over without a care for Silco, he picked up his crumpled letter. "I want a future for Vi and Powder where they don't o pick up ons just to survive. The same goes for Orion, and if that means w with Greysohat's what I will do."

  Vander shoved the letter bato Silco's chest, whose fury was yet to subside, and tinued, "Felicia wouldn't have wanted us like this. Nor would she approve of you tearing everything apart and calling it progress."

  Silco's expression darke Vander's words, grabbing the crumpled paper from his chest with restrained fury. For a long moment, they both said nothing, with Silco's hands shakily holding the paper before sighing. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them, his gaze nding coldly on Vander and with fresh resolve.

  "You were always good at pretending to be the better man." Silco said, his voice low and brimming with disdain. "Let me tell you what Felicia would think. She wouldn't want her daughters groveling under Piltover's boots- or their father groveling to keep them safe and fed."

  "Safe?" Silocked, turning around toward the exit, both Vander and Benzo's gazes following him. "You think any of this is safe? It's cowardice, Vander. Nothing more."

  Taking slow, deliberate steps toward the door, he added, "Don't worry. When the world es crashing down around you- and it will- I'll be there to pick up the pieces. Just like always."

  Reag the exit, Silco paused, his haed on the frame. Without looking back, he spoke in a soft, but cold voice. "And as for Orion? You're lucky he follows you now. But mark my words- when he sees you for what you've bee, chasing hollow ideals, he'll leave you. Just like I did."

  "We'll see," Vander's reply was firm, resolute. The two held each azes, sharing a moment of disdain for each other. her spoke again, with Silco slipping out of the Last Drop and leaving it with a heavy tension.

  "What are we going to do," Benzo asked, his voice low but urgent as he looked to Vander.

  Vander's fists were ched tightly, his gaze downcast ihought. After a heavy pause, he exhaled and turo Benzo. "We o talk with Oriohings straight."