Night.
Tap...Tap...My footsteps echoed through the quiet cells of Stillwater Hold.
It was too late to be awake, so only the sounds of waves crashing could be heard.
Tap...Tap...I walked through the halls, many cells at my sides. My nose failing to ignore the dense smell of sewer mix with sardine.
By the controlled way the mana moved in the air, I could confirm that all inmates here were sleeping.
Badum--Three heartbeats across four corners--Badum--and another low beat two floors up confirmed that the guards were too.
I had to make sure they were.
No time to play guard anymore.
Tap. The very echoes of my steps were willed back by the vibrating wind of their sound. Nullifying any noise.
Twk-twk--My nostril twitched to the familiar scent.
Sweet meat and alcohol. The smell of a woman. The smell I'd picked up before. Violet's.
My eyes sharpened, piercing the dark corridors and tracking a torch at the far end, its yellow falling to the cell next to it. The source of the smell.
I reached it shortly.
My steps silent.
Violet.
She was lying in bed. Her back to me.
"..."
Even without super senses I could hear her heavy breathing. The muscles of her back gleamed, sweat slid down as she shook her body, shoving her hands between her legs.
"..."
'Whataheck mam.' I protested in thought.
I brought my fist onto my mouth; "Cough-Cough." Clearing my throat.
Vi stopped at once. Her back straightening.
"Yawn," She stretched her arms as she turned to face me, her hand supporting her head. "Who the hell are you?"
My eyes widened.
"Such... Audacity. To use that phrase on me, you've changed the whole memory..." I said, not really caring she would understand.
In Arcane, that was the first thing she said to Caitlyn. But in a totally different set of events.
"Don't know what you're talking about." Vi shut her eyes to my words.
But then her eyes raised again, just a slit. Staring at me sharply and uttering:
"You're not one of the guards."
"...Touché." I answered. Genuinely impressed. "Violet, Violet," I looked at her with a smile, "You're full of surprises today."
She stayed silent for a moment, sitting straight, then standing.
"You," She zapped forward, with a loud bam of the cell bars, she stared me in the eyes. "You're one of Silco's? You're gonna kill me now?"
I didn't flinch. "Your actions are really similar to the show. Almost like you are her... Oh wait." I said in mockery.
Her expression hardened. Eyes fierce.
Behind the mask, my eyes sparkled blue as the atmosphere around me intensified.
She noticed, leaning back.
My boots touched the bars, then through them. Vi pushed off the bars and launched herself back. With a low warbling noise the space bent and my knees went through. The rest of my body next.
Vi took her boxing stance, eyes completely wide as she said:
"You're not with Silco. There's no way he can pay for this."
I paused.
"What do you mean by 'this'?"
She answered by looking me head to toe and giving a strange stare.
"...mnm." I hummed. Considering for a moment before taking off my mask.
Vi's eyes twitched.
I grabbed my vest and swept my mantle to the side. Then quickly grabbed my bracers and twisted them off, my chestplate unsnapping at the back, throwing both to the side with a low clang.
Vi arched a brow, looking at the body revealed. Wide shoulders, full chest and a narrow waist with carved abs.
Vi's mouth fell open before snapping shut, swallowing hard.
"H-Hey man," She stuttered, "I don't know what you saw earlier but," Her eyes slid down my abs into my— "A-Anyways, I don't even know you."
I leaned back, staring down at her. Once it clicked. I coiled forward and forced my eyes shut with my fingers. 'I didn't expect this. I don't even know if this would cause any problems… Probably not…'
I considered going with it. But the image of an overwhelming stare with white hair and sun eyes flashed in my head.
"I'm not doing it, I swear!" I let out.
Vi was reading me.
"Cough...I lost myself there. Let's get to the point," I cleared my throat again, bringing back my composure.
The mood changed.
I looked at her.
"...Violet. What do you know about helplessness?"
She dropped her fists, "What?" then sighed hard. "What type of crap is that," She walked to her bed and sat.
"You're weird as heck man…Did you take off your clothes to mess with me?" She massaged the back of her neck. "How did you get in here anyway? Was that—"
"Answer."
She looked at me.
Then leaned back.
"...Helplessness," She said, "I don't know."
"What? The word?"
"Of course not, you fucker."
"Then what? Spill it clean."
"And why should I anyway!"
Silence.
"You're right. Then let's do this—you tell me and I'll answer any three questions. I'll also… leave you with something."
She studied my face. Thinking about my words. Once done she opened her mouth.
"Like an odd, pervert genie. I like that." She spat on her hand. "That's a deal." Then offered it as a handshake.
I halted for a breath before doing the same. Shaking her hand, feeling the wet palm and hardened knuckles.
"...So about your question," She said, letting go, "Like I said before, I really don't know the answer."
I waited.
"But if you really want something... then all I can say is that sometimes, taking a few punches to the face works better than any drug could."
I gave that 'Are you serious?' look.
"Getting hit?"
She nodded. Then I thought for a moment.
"You better be right. C'mon, get up."
"What?" She said.
"Let's fight. Bare fists, your style."
She got up and smiled.
"Are you sure about that, pretty boy?" She took her stance. I took mine. "Just don't go using that trick of yours from before."
I started pivoting, warming up.
.