stormycs15

[stormycs15]

⸻ Whispers of The Prophecy, Male Oc x Reader ⸻

Chapter One: (All Eyes on Him)

Characters: The King, Clara, Nikole, Malik, Alexander, ...

genre: Original Story

summary: Every action has consequences, so maybe think before you take ahold of that power...

word count: 2673

Previous / Next

Your POV

I let my eyes drift down as they traced the lines on the palm of my right hand. Each wrinkle, each scar, was mapped by my tired eyes. I raised my left hand and traced the scars I remembered getting, frowning at the memories. A sigh escaped my lips as I let my hands fall to my sides. I glanced around the room, reflecting on how slow the day had been so far. I pursed my lips and sat up in my chair, lifting my hand to run it through my hair. My eyes fell tiredly onto the document in front of me. I read the black ink that had bled into the paper. As I read, it felt as though the black lines were bars, bars holding me down. I scanned over the paper without paying much attention to the content, before setting it down and grabbing my ink pen. I signed the document at the bottom and pushed the paper away from me.

Taking some melted wax, I poured it onto the paper and pressed my seal into it. I leaned back, waiting for the wax to cool into the mold. Lazily, I looked up. The double doors to the room were shut, as they always were while I worked. When I wasn’t in my study, they stayed locked.

By some stroke of luck, no one cared enough to visit my study, whether I was here or not. I had to admit, it wasn’t much of an impressive space. The room wasn’t very large, so not many people bothered to come up here. The two cushioned chairs across from my desk stood unused, ready and waiting for company. They were perfect for reading, and the bookshelves on either side of the chairs were filled to the brim with books—books I had read many times, each covered with a fine layer of dust. None of them were the books I wanted to read. These books were about laws, countries, and other boring things.

My gaze drifted back down to the desk where the parchment lay.

The desk was dark mahogany, with plenty of surface area for work. Aside from the sealed papers and the wax seal I used every day, there wasn’t much else left on my desk. My eyes moved over to a small vase of wildflowers, pushed to the edge of the desk. I glanced at a stack of papers already sealed with the royal crest of the kingdom. A few candles sat nearby, ready to light up the room when darkness fell.

Behind me was a large window, the source of light in the room for now, as well as a breath of fresh air. The breeze drifted in, bringing with it a refreshing coolness. Gray curtains swayed gently in the slight breeze, causing the flames on the candles to flicker. The day was drawing to a close, and the sun cast a golden hue through the window. It was the golden hour—the brief time before dusk, when the day’s light hung on just a little longer, refusing to fade into night.

I looked around the room, bathed in warm, golden light. The stillness was so relaxing that I almost let a yawn slip out. The only sound was the quiet rustling from outside the window, nature offering a peaceful backdrop to my thoughts.

I enjoyed the solitude of my study far more than I ever let on. Beyond these walls, life could become overwhelming. Here, in this room, I could find a brief respite.

I turned my attention back to the paper in front of me, removing the wax seal. The solid wax was dark green—alpine green, to be precise. It would have been my favorite color, if it weren’t for that damned royal crest embossed in it. That crest seemed to taunt me, glaring back at me with its ever-familiar insignia.

I laid the tan, crinkled paper onto a pile of identical documents, each one stamped with the same seal. The only difference between them was the neat, black ink of my signature.

I reached forward and brought a candle closer. I blew gently on the flame, watching it flicker and die into smoke before I returned it to its holder. The smoke rose and curled into the air, leaving behind a faint scent before it dispersed into the room.

Sighing, I stood up, stretching slightly, feeling a few cracks in my stiff body. I reached behind me, trying to scratch an itch on my back but failing. Walking toward the window, I let the cool breeze wash over me, welcoming the relief it offered from the warmth of the room.

I felt an overwhelming sense of relief that the paperwork for the day was done, but I knew that as soon as I left this room, my tranquility wouldn’t follow me. I brought my hand to my forehead, massaging the faint headache that had begun to form. The relief only lasted for a moment before my gaze landed once again on the stack of completed papers. Each one—a declaration, a law, a permit—was a reminder of the kingdom's endless problems. And most of those problems were far from easy to solve. Almost every one of them required a seal.

Rolling my eyes, I found myself standing by the window again. The sun still had a long way to go before it reached the horizon, soaking the land in golden light. These final few hours of the day always seemed to pass by the fastest.

As I watched the sun lower over the landscape of rolling hills and forests, movement caught my eye. I narrowed my gaze and took a step closer to the window. Two carriages were approaching the castle along the red gravel road winding through the hills. As they drew nearer, I studied them carefully.

My brow furrowed. The flags they were flying didn’t look familiar. The design of the crest was new, and I wondered who the King had invited this time. The flags were white and gold, with hints of black, but I couldn’t make out the full design.

My mind drifted back to earlier in the day. I remembered the workers preparing for something, and the guards seemed on edge. There had been a strange aura surrounding the castle. I had assumed it was nothing important—perhaps just the King in one of his moods. But now, seeing the unfamiliar flags, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change.

As the carriages neared the castle gates, my gaze returned to the hills outside the castle walls. My study was on the highest floor, giving me a perfect view of the land below. For a moment, I closed my eyes and let myself soak in the peacefulness of the scene—the warmth of the sun on my skin and the cool breeze coming through the window. These were my last few moments of peace before I had to force myself to go down and be cordial with whatever guests the King had invited. A slight look of discomfort crept onto my face, causing my shoulders to tense. That’s when I heard a knock at the door. The pain seemed to grow as the door to my study opened just slightly.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but grasp the windowsill as my back felt as if someone had poured hot coals over my skin. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to focus on anything that could lessen the pain. I started to pant, hoping that the feeling might ease, but it never did. It was always so unreal, and I knew I would never get used to it. The sudden rush of pain could turn any peaceful moment into one of dread—just like that.

“My Lady… Are you alright?” I heard Clara ask meekly. I tried to steady my voice before answering.

“Ah, Clara, perfect timing.” I spoke as though I had lost my breath, turning to see her standing in the doorway, hesitant, eyes wide with concern. The look on her face told me that whatever had brought her here was urgent.

The pain seemed to dull slightly as she entered the room fully.

“Is there something I can get for you?” she asked, her voice still hesitant. I sighed, loosening my grip on the windowsill.

“No… Is there a reason you came to fetch me? Is the King making us be polite to his guests?” I asked, walking slowly over to the side of my desk where my blade lay. I saw Clara nod out of the corner of my eye, and I reached down to pick up the sword, fastening it to my belt. While the sheathed blade was light, the weight on my hip seemed to drag me down, tempting me to walk slowly. It felt more like a burden than anything else, but I held my head high as the weight seemed to dissipate. For a moment, I forgot about it—until the throbbing heat from my back reminded me.

It had been such a good day so far. Why did the pain have to start now? I turned back toward Clara.

“Yes, the King is requesting your presence in the throne room. I also wanted to go over your schedule for the upcoming weeks on the way,” she said, still unsure of herself. I nodded, letting my hand fall onto the desk and flexing it in a futile attempt to distract myself. I made sure to close the window and blow out all of the candles.

“Alright then, let’s get this over with,” I said, turning to lock the study door before heading out with Clara. We started making our way through the winding corridors and down countless stairs. As we walked, Clara recited the events lined up for me in the coming weeks.

“Then that leaves us with two things left. Your brother wants to have a duel with you sometime this week, and I should also mention that negotiations start next week as well,” she said, making me furrow my brows. I sighed and raised my hand to my face, rubbing my temple as we reached the final floor that led to the throne room.

“I assume the negotiations are with our unexpected guests?” I asked. “Well, that can’t be helped. We’ll have to fit that duel into my schedule too. Is it possible to do it tomorrow morning?” I added, thinking about how heavy my workload was. I almost felt like grumbling to my brother—after all, we’d just had a duel not too long ago.

“[y/n]?!” I heard, and I turned to see who had called. My eyes fell on a group of people I didn’t recognize. In the midst of them stood a woman with red hair, making me do a double take.

I walked over to them with Clara trailing behind me, clearly unhappy about how late we were going to be in meeting the King. But the King would have to deal with it.

“Nikole Martin… Is that really you?” I asked, as we neared the group. A small smile crept onto my face, despite the urgency of the situation. I didn’t pay much attention to the rest of the group—I knew we were in a hurry.

“It is! It’s so good to see you again!” she exclaimed, her grin wide. “You don’t look like you’ve changed a bit! How’s life here? How’s Malik? Still as mature as ever? Oh, it’s been so long! Please, let’s catch up!” She embraced me, and I could hear Clara gasp behind me. No one had acted this familiar with me before. I let out an amused chuckle and returned the hug. She seemed genuinely happy to see me, and that always made me smile. I noticed her comment about the fact I hadn’t changed, but I chose to push past it for now. This was neither the time nor the place.

Pulling back from the embrace, I saw everyone else watching us. Their eyes shifted between me and Clara. I smiled politely at them and gave a small bow in greeting.

“Well, I’d love to catch up, Lady Nikole,” I said, my tone apologetic. “But I’m afraid I don’t have much time right now. The King and all… You remember how cranky he gets when we’re late to meetings.” I gave her an apologetic smile, though I noticed her expression falter. Her face fell slightly, and I could tell she realized that maybe I wasn’t the same as I used to be. Maybe she’d figured out that some things had changed.

“Ah, right, yes. I remember,” she mumbled, her voice losing its earlier cheer. I can see her eyes float down to the sword at my hip. The new sadness on her face made me frown. I glanced at Clara, who gave me a nervous look and silently gestured for me to wrap things up. Both Clara and I knew that being late to the King’s summons could bring consequences.

“Don’t worry, Niki,” I said, offering her a warm smile. “We’ll have time to catch up, I promise. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures. I also hope all your travels went well. But, forgive me, I really must get going.” I gave her one last apologetic look before turning to Clara, who nodded and began leading me away. I nodded back, and we made our way out of the conversation, heading toward the throne room.

“Was that the same Niki?” I heard Clara ask softly from beside me as we walked.

I looked down at the dark green carpet, a few memories bubbling up uninvited. I nodded in response, and we both fell into silence, neither of us saying anything further. We arrived at the throne room doors, and I quickly adjusted my outfit—a white, long-sleeve, flowy shirt with a cravat and black pants. Clara helped with the details I might have missed before we entered the throne room. As I stepped in, I saw the King sitting on his throne, speaking with a member of the royal guard. The moment I neared the throne, I bowed, and the guard was dismissed with a signal from the King. After receiving a grunt from him in acknowledgment, I rose and stepped closer to his side.

“Very sorry, Your Majesty. Our guests found me before I could make it here,” I said, offering an explanation. He listened in silence, though I could tell from his rigid posture that he was displeased.

“No matter. We must meet with our guests now. This will have to wait until after,” he replied, his voice flat. I nodded in understanding and gave another bow before moving to his right side. I went over the list of activities Clara had mentioned earlier, hoping to clarify what the King wanted me to do.

As we spoke, the doors to the throne room opened, and the guests began to file in.

“Your Majesty, Prince Alexander from Althira and his court,” announced Samuel, one of the royal guards, making me fall silent. We both turned to face the guests as they approached the throne, each of them offering small bows to the King.

I remained in my spot, watching them carefully. I studied each individual, silently trying to assess if there were any threats among them. My gaze briefly met Niki’s. Her eyes locked with mine for a moment, and I quickly looked away, my heart unexpectedly tightening.

Just as Prince Alexander steps forward to speak, the doors to my right suddenly slammed open catching every ones eyes.

Prince Malik strode into the room with a confident smirk plastered across his face, completely unfazed by the fact that he was being obscenely rude and late. And like every other day of his life… all eyes were on him.

[stormycs15]

⸻ Topside, Male Oc x Reader ⸻

Chapter Four: (Family Revelations)

Characters: Female reader, Vi, Powder, Ekko, Mylo, Claggor, Vander, Oc, Enforcers, Vander, Kiah.

genre: fanfiction, Arcane season 1

summary: Life has been hard for you're friends and family in the Lanes. Doing odd jobs to get by is second nature for you, but will one job topside really change your lives?

word count: 2506

Previous / Next

Your POV

My breathing was short and fast as we ran from the enforcers. I figured they weren't used to the terrain, so I was using it to my advantage. We managed to gain some distance between their shouts and us. I turned the corner of an alleyway, seeing the rest of the group. They had just turned around, having just seen enforcers cut them off, only to quickly realize we were being chased as well. I could see a moment of panic flood Violet's face. She had nowhere to go. We were trapped, definitely going to get arrested. Hearing light footsteps, I looked up and saw Ekko pop up and look down from a pipe.

"Over here!" he yelled, kicking down the ladder. I grinned, starting to get everyone up. I followed them up, turning to offer my hand to Cal. He took it, and I pulled him up. Without wasting a second, Vi kicked the ladder down on the enforcers. I turned to the pipe and didn't stop. I didn't want to chance our narrow escape. Not now. I needed as much space between us and the enforcers as I could get.

Our trip back to The Last Drop took longer. Violet asked me to lead so I could keep us away from the enforcers. So I took us on a little detour. Because of them, we were all quiet as I held my hand up, stopping them. We had gone over the rooftops to avoid any obvious enforcers. We were so close to The Last Drop, and there were enforcers under us.

I felt a presence appear behind me. Turning, I saw Cal looking down at them from next to me. He had been bringing up the back in case no one was left behind or if we were followed. I bent down, finding a small rock. I handed it to him. I could feel his fingers as he took it from my hand. He didn't even take his eyes off the enforcers. I pulled my hand back and brushed over where his fingers touched.

It felt like he left a spark of electricity there, but as my eyes moved back to him, I watched as he threw the small rock to the other side of the street. The small rock made a rather large clang. This immediately caught their attention, and they walked over, pulling out their weapons. Using the distraction, I jumped over the gap and landed swiftly, turning and motioning for the others to follow me. We moved swiftly back to The Last Drop. I led them to the back door, but as I went through, I was met face to face with my mother. I immediately winced, seeing her harsh glare. I felt Powder bump into my back, thinking I was entering the establishment. I quickly looked down, avoiding her harsh stare. She moved out of the way, and I entered. She pulled my bad wrist and dragged me behind her. She glared over at the rest of the kids, who also avoided her stern look. I looked up to see Cal was the only one to look at her in the eye with a look just as stern.

"I need to have a word with my daughter." My mother's voice echoed through the building, and the group immediately started up the stairs. I felt a prickle on the back of my neck, and I turned to see Cal watching me.

"I'll catch up with you," I said, trying to sound reassuring. But his eyes were filled with doubt, and I knew he was hesitant to leave. I quickly turned and followed my mother, knowing she wouldn't be pleased if I lingered.

As I sat across from her, the sounds of heated arguments filtered down from the attic. "We should hit them back. We have the numbers to beat them," a voice boomed. A frown creased my forehead. How much trouble had this job brought? Was this the thing that finally pushed everyone over the edge? I sighed. The people here weren't happy, and I knew it.

"You hear that, darlin'? It's finally happening," my mother said, a strange smile playing on her lips.

"This isn't just because of what happened on the top side, is it?" I asked, cautiously glancing up at her. To my surprise, her smile widened.

"No, it's not," she said calmly. "I know you've been hearing this kind of talk since I sent you out to gather information. Vander has finally lost his grip on everyone. In fact, it's exactly what we need." Her calmness was almost more frightening than her anger. I hadn't seen this side of her before.

"Where's Dad?" I asked quietly. She turned to me swiftly.

"He's up there in that meeting, trying to help Vander. I don't understand how he doesn't see things from my side. Our time to strike is now. Now get up there and do what you were meant to. I have to meet someone for a job. I want all the details. Be a spider on that wall." She hissed the last words before disappearing out the back door. I sighed, remaining seated as she left.

I rose silently and made my way to the stairs, where the steps lead to an open attic door. But before I start climbing the stairs I see my friends gathered on the other side of the door to the bar listening to the Argument that was happening within the bar. I took a step forward, a smile playing on my lips. Then I stopped, looking down at my hand. A spider, its web stretching down from the ceiling, had landed on my palm. It crawled around, exploring its new territory, its tiny legs drumming against my skin. I frowned gently, letting it stay as I stand there for a few seconds. She was right I was going to be a spider on the wall. But not for my her… So I turn to rush back. My plan… weaving into action, but as the cobweb comes into view of my mind there was a tangle stopping me.

As I turned to leave my ears heard voices that made me stop in my tracks.

Ekko, Powder, Vi, and Calyx were standing in behind me. I slow taking my place next to Calyx. I glanced over at Cal only to get a roll of his eyes. Whatever they were talking about, wasn’t something he was particularly happy about. I didn’t even have to ask what was happening because Violet turned to me with a harsh expression.

“Vander has a deal with the enforcers…” She says malice oozing from her voice. But I just looked at her… that was what she was worried about right now? Not when her and our friends where in danger. I stay silent as I turn so I can see up the stairs where Vander and my father stand talking. I move my gaze back to her and i fold my arms with a shrug. I knew she wanted me to react a certain way but I refused to.

"Did the both of you know?" Powder asked, looking between Cal and me as if she were offended. Calyx didn’t say anything and I just frown looking past them to see if I could see my mother still to catch up with her. Not seeing her I sigh bringing my hand up to my face rubbing my forehead.

“I didn’t know… But you kinda have to understand why he did it, right?” I ask looking between the three shocked faces staring at me. Ekko and Powder looked shocked at my statement and Vi looked Irate.

"What do you mean understand? Look what they did to us... Look where they put us while they are living like kings," Violet argued with me, and I grew a stern face.

“Vi, I’m not saying I agree with his actions. But look at the situation, Vander is in charge of all of you kids. He needs a way to protect you and the people of the underground. Maybe in his eyes making that deal was a way to protect what little he had left.” I say taking a step forward. Silence fallowed my words and I sighed…

“Piltover doesn’t care about us down here. But I know that Vander does. In my eyes he made a safe decision.” I say sternly. Her glare didn’t back down but I could tell she was pondering my words.

“It might have been a safe decision, but it wasn’t the right one.” She practically snarled at me grabbing her sisters arm ready to pull her off with the others. I just frowned.

“Violet you aren’t thinking. How far would you go to protect your sister?” I say earning a look from her. I could tell she wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t either. Neither of us were old enough to make these decisions yet.

“Just think about it okay. I know your mad, but that won’t make anything better.” I hear Cal say from right next to me. I start to turn to walk back up to the bar when a voice I wasn’t expecting speaks.

“You would really make a deal with an enforcer?” I could hear Powder ask in disbelief. I turn enough to see her sour face. I look over it and sighed shaking my head. I know what happened to her parents, that’s something that would live with those us forever.

“I’m not really sure Powder… But if it was to protect us, then I think I would.” I say continuing to walk away. I could hear footsteps fallow after me but I didn’t look back. I want Vi to know I am no longer wanting to go down that path. Our argument stuck with me longer then I wanted it to. I sat on the cold metal waiting for the first rays of light. It was already the next morning, I had sat out here pretty much all night after leaving the Last drop. I rose to my feet and watched as the sun started to rise over Piltover. The sunrise was beautiful, It was the only beautiful thing you could find in the underground. But as the sun gets over the top of some of the buildings I sighed getting up. The sunrise wouldn’t be the same once the rays hit the border. The Sun never reached the underside.

Hopping down from the roof I found myself tailing the figure I had been tailing all night. They were heading towards the east side. I furrowed my brows looking back in the direction of the west side of the Lanes before looking back at the familiar figure as it disappears around a corner.

The air hung thick with anticipation as I trailed my mother, her hurried steps a stark contrast to my own cautious pace. The familiar lanes of our neighborhood faded into the unfamiliar territory of the east side, a place where my mother's business dealings were unknown to me. A gnawing curiosity, coupled with a healthy dose of fear, fueled my pursuit.

Slipping into the abandoned building she entered, I found myself in a cavernous space, the silence broken only by the echo of my own heartbeat within my ears. Where was she? Who was she meeting? The minutes stretched into an eternity, and I began to wonder if she had already left. Then, the sound of footsteps shattered the quiet, and I froze, my heart pounding against my ribs.

Peering around the corner, I saw the imposing figure of the Enforcers' second-in-command, Marcus. His presence here was a puzzle, a contradiction to everything I knew about my mother. As he paused, his voice, laced with a hint of arrogance, echoed through the room.

"It's the first time I've been invited to the Lanes... This better be worth my time."

Two figures emerged from the shadows, one a stranger with a jagged scar across his face, the other, my mother, leaning against a pillar, her expression unreadable.

"You see, that's your weakness, Marcus," the stranger said, his voice smooth and deceptively calm. "You carry your chin so high, you fail to see the opportunities beneath you." He stepped closer, revealing a discolored eye that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Who are you two?" Marcus demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.

"You're looking for five children," my mother's voice cut through the tension, her words sending a wave of dread washing over me. "The ones running circles around Piltover's finest." My breath disappeared from my throat, each word a hammer blow to my already shattered composure. The scene before me was a whirlwind of betrayal, danger, and secrets.

"What about it?" Marcus growled, his voice dripping with venom. He didn't like being mocked, and I had a feeling this encounter was far from over.

“Calm down kid, we are about to make your day.” My mother says and I can see a evil gleam in her eyes. I wanted so badly to step forward and make my presence and issue with this known but I knew that would blow my cover and ruin any chance I had with helping the others. I back behind the wall once more knowing I’d do something rash if I kept watching. I heard what sounded like a piece of paper being handed off. I stood their horror in my eyes as it was silent for a few moments.

“Our troops are being called back till tonight. I’ll have the place searched. Piltover owes you for this information.” The Enforcer Marcus says before his footsteps slowly disappear. I clutched myself trying to keep silent.

“We will see how long those rats lasts…” I hear my mothers voice say with distaste. There was a small chuckle from the other man.

“I do have to say I am surprised Kiah.” The man spoke saying my mothers name. “That information must have been hard to give, after all your own daughter is one of those ‘rats’” The man chuckled and I could hear her let out a sigh.

“Silco, my daughter made her decision. Anything is expendable, you taught me that.” I hear and I furrow my eyebrows. I knew my mother didn’t like me but did she really think that?

“Yes well, I try not to be nostalgic… we got work to do. C’mon.” I hear Silco say and I watch as they walk out, I wait till they fully leave before I even move. So many thoughts were flying through my head. And suddenly it’s like my body moved on its own sluggishly moving through the abandoned warehouse bumping into the side of the doorways, or stumbling down stairs. I needed to warn them, and soon, before it was too late.

[stormycs15]

⸻ Whispers of The Prophecy, Male Oc x Reader ⸻

Chapter ?: (Prologue)

Characters: unknown...

genre: fanfiction, Original Story

summary: Every action has consequences, so maybe think before you take ahold of that power...

word count: 1779

Previous / Next

The silence would have been absolute if not for the crackling of fire consuming everything, mocking the place the woman once called home. Her blue eyes burned as they shakily surveyed the scene—her village engulfed in flames. Time seemed to slow as she knelt before the horrific spectacle. Dust caked her sweaty, burned skin. She had tried to save so many, yet no one emerged from the inferno. She longed to leap into action, to find survivors, but the lump in her throat weighed her down. Her head hung, eyes closed and tearing up. She couldn't bear to see those she failed to protect, yet their faces haunted her each time she blinked. Moments stretched as she remained motionless on the ground, flames billowing around her.

"Why… why did you do this?" Her voice rasped, desperate. The figure she addressed halted behind her. She refused to turn and face him. He stood tall and stone-faced, his gaze shifting between her and the burning village. The firelight cast his features in an eerie red glow, seeming to dance with the flames. His piercing eyes never left her form, ready to pounce if she made any sudden moves. He offered no response to her question.

The ensuing silence seemed to aggravate the man, despite his apparent victory. The woman finally turned to face her tormentor. Her dark brown hair, now short, singed, and burnt, framed a face marred by bruises, scars, and burns. Her eyes, brimming with remorse and hatred, met his. Her jaw clenched as she glared at him. Her fists were balled tight, the gloves that once covered them either burned off or fused to her skin. Her outfit, torn and charred, was unrecognizable. Yet her unwavering gaze spoke not of her own suffering, but of the innocent souls lost to the smoke and silenced by the flames.

As she shifted to kneel before him, she winced, her weakened limbs protesting the movement. To an onlooker, it might have appeared as submission. But the Mad King knew better—this was her final act of defiance.

"I did what I had to do," he intoned, his voice devoid of emotion. His cold words only made the woman clench her teeth harder. She knew, with grim certainty, that he would one day regret those words.

"You didn't have to do any of this…" Her voice came out pained and angry. She longed to use the last of her energy to run a dagger through his heart, but she had nothing left.

"You wouldn't understand. They were threatening our power," he exclaimed, watching her head droop. As her eyes teared up from his words and the smoke around her, she clenched her teeth.

"The Gods chose us to be Kings and Queens—to protect all people across the earth and everything they lived for. You're abusing the power they gave us. You're messing with the same magic you swore to defeat. You're no one's king." She spat at him, rage filling her gaze. His face turned to the side, saying nothing to her angry words at first. He raised his hand, wiping the spit off his face before looking back at her.

"That is where you're wrong. I thought you of all people would understand… I thought you would join me, but you chose the wrong side. With this power, I will be everyone's king. I will keep MY legacy safe, always be here to stay on top. The real God for all the mortals." His voice dripped with an evil tone as he stared down at her.

"You made a bargain with Death himself, didn't you? How do you expect this to turn out well? I wasn't expecting the Great King to stoop so low. After this, you will no longer be known as the Great King. You will gain no one's trust. People will never see you as their king!" She yelled at him, tears falling down her face.

"If I can't kill you tonight, I will at least make sure your death will be prophesied. It might not be by my hands, but that doesn't matter." She said, using her energy to stand. The fire in her eyes flickered like a match about to be blown out. The King growled, stepping back, his hand on the hilt of his sword. The woman stood, outstretching her hand. Her eyes faded to a white color.

"By the time the dark sun rises,

The youngest born shall rise,

Symbol of fire presented upon the skin,

Will end the Mad King's Reign, and all his sin."

Her voice, a rasping whisper, was unlike the one that had spoken before. This one held authority, a stark contrast to the gentle tones of the past. The voice fell silent, and her eyes faded back to their dull gray. The flame that had flickered within her was extinguished. As she looked into the piercing brown eyes of the man she had once called friend… lover. His arm came down, his hand holding his sword. The blade silenced her, and she fell to the ground with a small thud.

The Mad King stared at her body, his face contorted with grief. He closed his eyes as a tear slid down his cheek. Without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving the Queen to fall with her Kingdom. The fire still crackled, a stark reminder of the violence that had just transpired, as a new, bitter silence filled the air. Through the burning alleyways of the village emerged a child. Walking slowly out into the open, he had been watching what the Mad King had done. His purple eyes, filled with an overwhelming sorrow, welled with tears as he fell to his knees by his mother's body. He sobbed, knowing that he was utterly alone. He kneeled there, his skin dry and cracked, marred by the flames.

His once blonde hair, now charred and singed, framed his tear-streaked face. As the night deepened around the young boy, the rain began to fall. It started as a few drops, falling here and there. But as more and more drops fell, the rain grew into a torrent, leaving the boy enveloped in darkness. It was as if the Gods were crying, mourning for the Queen who had protected so many, sharing the young boy's grief. A small light appeared, catching the boy's attention. He looked up and stared at a vibrant blue light that seemed to grow brighter with each passing moment. The wispy blue light grew into a large blue Phoenix, hovering over the Queen's body.

The glowing phoenix turned to the young boy, its gaze piercing his soul. He watched in awe, tears still flowing down his cheeks. He sniffled, standing up. The words of the prophecy echoed within his mind, reminding him that the mark of fire would appear soon, and when it did, he would be ready to avenge what he had lost.

[stormycs15]

⸻ Topside, Male Oc x Reader ⸻

Chapter Three: (Not Much Time)

Characters: female reader, Vi, Powder, Mylo, Claggor, Vander, Oc, Enforcers, Vander

genre: fanfiction, Arcane season 1

summary: Life has been hard for you're friends and family in the Lanes. Doing odd jobs to get by is second nature for you, but will one job topside really change your lives?

word count: 2522

Previous / Next

Your POV

I run my hand through my hair before entering the bustling bar. I'm not looking forward to talking to Calyx—I have no idea how he'll react. With a lecture? A disappointed speech? The place is packed tonight, no doubt buzzing with rumors about what happened in Piltover earlier today. I'm sure my mother is busy gossiping with strangers, trying to stir up rebellion among Vander's followers.

As I enter, I spot Calyx working behind the bar. With a sigh, I hop over the counter to join him. He glances at me through his shaggy, brown, medium-length hair before returning to mixing drinks for patrons. Before I can even don an apron, orders start flying at me. I wince while shaking drinks—the pain isn't too bad—and carry on. We work in silence for a few moments before Calyx speaks up.

"That from the explosion?" I hear from my left. I look over to see Calyx, his eyes still on the drinks. I frown as I pour one. I knew I had no idea how he'd react, but I wasn't expecting this. I sigh, getting some ice for the drink.

"No, some idiots who were waiting for us at the border," I grumble, pouring a beer from the tap. I hear him pause, and I turn to see him looking down at the drink in his hand, emotions clearly bottled up. I roll my eyes and go back to making drinks. "I'm fine, Cal. It barely hurts," I say, handing some drinks to regulars.

"Why didn't you guys wait for me?" he finally asks, a slight hiss in his voice. I stretch my arms, tired from today's excitement.

"Violet really wanted to go. They were going with or without me... I didn't want them to get lost in Piltover, and Violet said you'd tell Vander no matter what. It wasn't my plan—you would've been on my list." I look at him, and he finally meets my gaze, raising an eyebrow smugly. I roll my eyes before pouring more drinks.

"We'll talk about it after the shift. I'm glad you're back in one piece, though," he says. I can't help but look down at the drink in my hands with a small smile. I hand it off, mulling over his words. We work the rest of his shift in comfortable silence amidst the bustling bar. I honestly enjoy it—I don't need to talk to have a good time with Calyx. It's why I like hanging around him. A few hours pass, and as we near the end of the shift, Vander emerges to take over for Calyx.

"Calyx..." Vander says, making both Cal and I turn to his father. Vander glances at me before focusing on his son, his expression grim. "Make sure they lay low and stay safe," he says in a low voice. Cal nods seriously to his father, then turns and motions for me to head to the back. But I frown and step forward instead.

"I'll catch up with you, okay?" I say, stuffing my hands into my pockets. I notice his eyes flick to where my hands disappear. His gaze meets mine briefly before he nods and walks off. I turn to see Vander surveying the bar, clearly waiting for me. I take a seat on a stool, feeling his eyes on me. It's slightly uncomfortable. I swallow, resting my arms on the table, trying to hide behind them a bit.

"I know why you went with them," he finally says, and I sigh. "Even if it was in vain... why didn't you talk them out of it?" he asks, sounding tired.

"I tried to... I even tried to stall them so Cal would find out, or we'd run into you. But Vi had her mind made up, and I knew if I didn't go, they would've gotten lost or caught," I grumble, knowing I should've tried harder. Vander is silent at my words; I can tell he agrees with me.

"I don't know what to do with her... She has a different kind of fire than Cal does... he at least listens to me. She just reminds me of her father," he grumbles, pouring more drinks for customers. I just sigh. I never met them...

"She's unhappy with how we're treated down here. She wants to change that. She thinks she can be the one to do it," I say, watching as Vander fills a cup with beer and hands it off before turning to me.

"I was like her once," he says, looking down at me. "I thought I could solve our problems with my fists. But life only gets harder when you live that way. And it hurts the people around you more." I avert my eyes at his words.

"I'll try to help Cal keep them in line," I say, starting to get up from my seat.

"Hey, [y/n]..." Vander says, making me turn back. He doesn't look at me as he speaks. "I'll try to talk to them."

I sigh with a huff. "You don't have to. It won't change anything." I turn to go downstairs and meet up with Cal.

At the bottom of the stairs, I find Mylo, Vi, and Cal. They all look at me, and I quickly scan the room, gathering this wasn't a happy conversation. I avert my eyes as I walk down the steps.

"Oh, and don't forget about her," Mylo says, trying to deflect attention. "She gets hurt on every mission we go on." I raise an eyebrow at his words.

"Mylo, will you stop?" I say, halting a few feet away from him. He looks up at me with furrowed eyebrows. I rarely raise my voice.

"Yes, Powder made a mistake. Yes, I made a mistake. You make mistakes too, Mylo. There won't be another mission—can't you wrap your thick brain around that? What we did today was a mistake. Half of the underground—no, half of Piltover knows what we did. While Vander does his best, he can't hide us forever. It's only a matter of time before someone snitches on us." I growl, poking his chest as he gulps.

"[y/n], calm down," I hear Calyx say. I don't look at him, keeping my glare locked on Mylo.

"Instead of talking, maybe you should make yourself useful. I don't know, try to pick some locks or something." I turn and jump up, grabbing onto one of the beams to pull myself up. I grunt as I haul myself onto my loft, slamming open the hatch door to show how angry I am. On the roof, I look down at my bandaged hand and sigh, moving my good hand to my side as I close my eyes.

"You know, it's extremely hard to get up here. Not everyone is as acrobatic as you," I hear. I look up to see Cal. I huff, amused, and crawl over to hold out my good hand. He takes it, and I help pull him through the hatch. He sits down next to me silently and starts to unwrap the fabric on my hand. I watch as his delicate fingers prod my swollen wrist. I wince a few times before looking up at his face. A look of concern shows, and I can't help but stare. He's always so quiet, but never shy.

"I'm sorry, you know," I mumble, earning a look from him. "I didn't say it earlier, but I really wanted to at least tell you."

"I know how Violet can be, [y/n]. It's okay. Everyone's safe," he says, shaking his head.

"No, it's not, Cal," I say sternly but softly. "You deserve an apology either way. You won't be getting one from Violet, so you're getting one from me."

"Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asks. I quickly avert my eyes, and he reads my silence. He sighs, rewrapping my wrist. "Where?" he asks. I don't move, causing him to furrow his brows further. Slowly, I move my good hand to my stomach, near my ribs. He sighs, drooping his head.

"Is that from the explosion?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. I nodded slowly, eliciting an exasperated sigh from him.

"How did it even happen?" he inquired, absently fiddling with the edges of my shirt.

"I'm not sure... Something about that place was weird, Cal. This inventor—I've never seen anything like his plans. I went through some of his journals; whatever it was had to do with these small blue stones. I saw Powder playing with a few before that jerk came back." I grumbled, finally lifting my shirt just enough to reveal the large bruise on my side. "As I was trying to get everyone out, something exploded and I collided with something," I added quietly, earning a silent, worried stare from him. I avoided his gaze, but I could tell the bruise was bad. He took what remained of the bandages he'd brought up and began wrapping them around my stomach.

"You need to be more careful," he finally said, taking my hands and lowering them, my shirt falling back into place. I looked at him, studying those green eyes carefully.

"That's why I'll be sticking around with you," I smiled, earning an eye roll from him. I just smirked, squeezing his hand that hadn't left mine. He didn't say anything—he didn't need to. I could hear a commotion from the bar and frowned, looking away from him, knowing they were here.

"Let's go find the others. We were told to look after them anyway. They're probably at the arcade—let's go," he said, already knowing who I'd sensed entering the Last Drop. Pulling me up, I followed him down to the hideout. There, I saw Vi using the boxing machine, Mylo and Powder at the shooting range, and Claggor just standing around. It was eerily quiet when we arrived. I surveyed them all as they continued with their individual ways of passing the time. I walked over to a spot under the rafters, jumping and quickly pulling myself up with my good hand. I turned and offered my hand to Cal; he quickly took it and joined me on the loft.

"Remind me why we even bother with this dump?" I heard Mylo ask. I started bouncing my leg, listening to everything going on.

"Vander said to lay low... Enforcers never come down here, so it's as good a place as any," Violet replied, throwing a few punches at the machine.

"What's the matter, Mylo? Scared Powder's going to beat you again?" I teased from my perch, smirking. I heard his mocking grumble in response.

"I'd win if she didn't keep fixing these things up," he said defensively. I rolled my eyes, lying down with my legs dangling over the side. I closed my eyes, trying to relax a bit.

"You know I wouldn't take you guys on a job you couldn't handle, right?" I heard Violet ask, making me open my eyes and turn to look at Calyx. Our eyes met at her words, and neither of us said anything, knowing it would be an unpopular opinion. We loved Violet, but her anger sometimes clouded her judgment, putting us at risk. As they continued to talk, I sat up, narrowing my eyes. I pulled my legs up from their dangling position; Cal noticed my sudden focus and followed my gaze, though he couldn't see anything. I started to see enforcers harassing some people and frowned. I didn't notice Powder getting closer to the window, and before I could say anything, a man was thrown out, landing motionless on the ground.

I turned to Cal with a worried look, which he returned, shifting closer to me to watch the unfolding scene. I observed the enforcers entering the arcade through the now-shattered window. As they started to circle the rest of the group, a blue shine caught my eye. Blinking, I saw Powder hide her pouch where I'd spotted the blue glimmer. My eyes widened as I reached out, clutching Cal's shoulder. I slowly began to piece the information together. Those blue stones... the shock I felt. The energy that had been pulling at me. Those weren't stones—they were Arcane crystals. I'd only heard of them before, but it made sense now: the explosion, the blue flecks in my vision. I'd thought I was just seeing stars from the blast.

Those things were dangerous. As my mind filled with worry, a hand placed itself on my arm. I looked up and nodded at Cal. We needed to find a way to get them out. This wasn't good—what if they found what Powder had? I tried to get into a good position, but just my luck, the enforcers walked right under us. I looked to Claggor, noticing him already eyeing Vi. I shifted, ready to jump, and just as the lights switched off, I leapt down onto the back of the enforcer below me. I turned to Powder and ushered her over the counter. Jumping after her, we both dodged the illuminated moving figures with ease.

I went to duck when I was yanked back by my wrist and pulled face-to-face with an enforcer. I tried to tug away, but his grip only tightened. He started to drag me back through the arcade. Scanning for anything I could use to break free, I spotted one of Powder's new experiments. It had big jaws with spiky teeth, and we were walking right past it. Using the little momentum he gave me, I pulled him back so his arm was between the jaws. I reached up, trying to slam it down, but quickly realized my bandaged hand wasn't strong enough. I heard his triumphant laugh. Looking up into the enforcer's face, I gasped at the chilling glint in his eyes. Suddenly, the jaws snapped shut on his arm—enough to leave a nasty bruise. That was definitely going to hurt later. I felt a gentle hand grasp my good arm, pulling me away from the enforcer. I started running, my knees wobbly.

I turned my head to see Calyx practically dragging me out the back door. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I fell into pace with him. I needed to stay focused until we were safe, so I intertwined my fingers with his as we ran after our friends. I didn't want to trip or accidentally lose him, but in the haste, I couldn't tell if he squeezed my hand back.

[stormycs15]

⸻ Topside, Male Oc x Reader ⸻

Chapter Two: (Nice Haul?)

Characters: female reader, Vi, Powder, Mylo, Claggor, Vander, Oc, Vander, Goons

genre: fanfiction, Arcane season 1

summary: Life has been hard for you're friends and family in the Lanes. Doing odd jobs to get by is second nature for you, but will one job topside really change your lives?

word count: 2366

Previous / Next

We entered the underground as the setting sun cast a warm glow over the nearly deserted streets. I savored each moment we passed an alleyway that let the sunlight through. The comforting warmth made me slow my pace, embracing the sensation—it was unbeatable, the best feeling in the world. We walked in silence through the empty streets. Nobody lingered this close to Piltover; it was a death sentence. No one wanted to tangle with the enforcers.

As we walked, I sensed eyes on us and shifted my weight, alerting the others. They understood the meaning of that action. Footsteps approached from behind, and I clenched my jaw, knowing trouble was brewing.

"Nice haul?" I heard from behind. I didn't dare look at the blonde kid we'd passed. I wasn't in the mood to deal with these guys.

"You could say that," Mylo replied, trying to shake them off. Vi shot him a look—if anything, his comment would only pique their interest. We needed to get home before causing more problems.

"I heard there was some action across the river... Someone really stirred up the nest, huh?" the blonde said. I finally turned to glare at him. Couldn't he just leave us alone? He smirked at me, and my eyes narrowed further. I remembered this guy from before the incident on the bridge years ago. Even if I recalled him, it didn't mean I liked him.

"Is that so?" Vi asked, turning to resume our long walk back, only to find a few kids blocking our path. I turned back to the blonde and watched him carefully as he stalked towards us. I lowered my stance, preparing for a fight. His eyes gleamed with amusement as he saw me, itching for confrontation.

"But now you're tracking this mess of yours through my streets," he said, making me blink and crack my knuckles.

"Your streets? What makes you think—" I began lowly, stepping forward, only to be interrupted by Claggor. I briefly glared at him before refocusing my anger on the blonde.

"Listen, we don't want any trouble, okay?" Claggor said, trying to defuse the situation. I wanted out of this as much as he did. We didn't need a fight after what we'd just done. No doubt word had already spread to Calyx and Vander. We were so screwed…

"Hear that, Deckard? They don't want any trouble," I heard from my left, my eyes shifting to the speaker.

"You know, in my experience, trouble finds you. There's no reason this has to get ugly. How about you share a little taste of your treasure, and we'll call it even?" Deckard said. I rolled my shoulders and stretched my neck, bracing myself.

"No, no, no. We worked too hard for this," Mylo protested. I placed a hand on his shoulder, earning a confused look from him before Vi stepped forward.

"Just a taste?" she asked. I could see an evil glint in Deckard's eyes. I clenched my jaw, letting my hand fall, and watched closely as Vi took the bag and swung it up, hitting him under the chin. I raised my head, chin held high. Just like that, Vi tossed our loot to Powder, and the fight broke loose.

I stayed in front of Powder, keeping her safe as much as possible. That was until I saw a second guy go after Vi from behind. Jumping into action, I slid forward, kicking his feet out from under him. As he hit the ground, he glared up at me. I just smirked, letting him get back to his feet. He snarled and threw himself at me, and it was like my body moved on its own.

I dodged every hit he tried to land. I couldn't help but smile as I grabbed his outstretched arm and swiftly pinned it against his back. Chuckling, I slammed him harshly against the wall as he struggled to get free. But as I went to do more damage, an arm slid around my throat and pulled me off him. Losing air quickly, I raised my arm, trying to create space between his arm and my neck. With my other hand, I felt around for the perfect spot and swiftly jabbed my hand into his Adam's apple. He quickly let go, and I blocked the hits from the guy in front of me. As I threw an attack at him, I felt my feet swept out from under me, and my arm collided harshly with the ground.

I let out an uncomfortable grunt, feeling the now obvious twist in my arm. I was being dragged by my foot through the dry dirt, kicking up dust. Growling, I pulled my knee towards me, causing my body to drag closer to the guy before I kicked him over. I saw him hit his head and fall unconscious. As I helped myself up, I saw the others had finished dealing with their opponents.

"This day is turning out alright after all," Mylo exclaimed, looking at the bodies on the floor before turning to the rest of us. I rolled my eyes, grabbing a roll of fabric from a crate nearby. I started to wrap my wrist, which was already beginning to swell.

"Wait!" We all turn to see Deckard pointing a knife at us. I raise my eyebrows. The guy looks terrible—there's no way he'd win just because he has a knife. Rolling my eyes, I continue wrapping my wrist uncomfortably. I watch as Vi walks up to him, getting closer to his blade.

"You wanna see how that ends?" she asks, unfazed. Deckard slumps away into the darkness. Vi quickly looks around, noticing Powder's absence. "Where's Powder?" she asks, and I frown, scanning the area. I figure she's just hiding, but when she doesn't come out, I start to worry. We head to the meeting place and find her waiting for us. I sigh with relief, patting her blue hair. Everyone seems relieved she's safe... until we find out she lost the loot.

"You did what?" Mylo yells. I roll my eyes. Suddenly, the uneven stone under my feet seems more interesting than watching Mylo berate Powder.

"I'm sorry. I tried to fight him off with Mouser, but... she didn't work," Powder explains timidly. I frown, letting my shoulders droop. I can sense everyone's annoyance.

"Who saw that coming?" Mylo asks, raising his hand. I lean forward from my spot against the wall.

"Lay off, Mylo," I warn, earning an eye roll from him. I know he isn't happy with me either, but he needs to calm down.

"We never should have gone over there," Claggor groans, banging his head on a wall in shame as I stare down Mylo, who glares back.

"Doesn't matter. The stuff's gone. It's all right, Powder. At least you're okay," Vi says to Powder as we enter the building. The dusty place makes me want to sneeze.

"Okay? What about us? I get my face bashed in, and she just gets a pass?" Mylo asks, walking up next to Vi. I keep glaring at him.

"Yup," Vi replies simply. A throb draws my attention, and I look down at my wrist. I notice the others didn't get hurt as badly. While a twist is better than a sprain, I won't be at peak performance until it heals. We all walk to the elevator as Vi turns it on. The entire elevator room sways unsafely as we start to descend.

"Every time... Every time she comes, something goes wrong. She jinxes every job," Mylo says, giving me the same frustrated look he gave Powder.

"Just drop it, Mylo," Vi says before gazing over the underground as we descend into its hazy glory. I watch with a dull expression as the green glow from the lights illuminates the shadows through the haze.

"Vander and Calyx aren't going to be happy with us... are they?" Powder comments as we survey the city. I huff—I hate this place so much. Being topside all day only intensifies my dislike.

"Definitely," I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. We exit the elevator and start walking towards the lanes. I ignore Mylo as he snags a fruit from a stand we pass. I keep my eyes peeled for anything interesting—and to make sure I don't see my parents. As we near the Last Drop, I avert my eyes and slow my pace, heading for the alley next to the establishment. Not wanting to risk running into my parents, I glance around before ducking into the alley.

With a few nimble jumps, I make it to the roof. I traverse the unsteady surface until I reach the hatch Vander let me install. Opening it, I silently slide onto the ceiling beams. I skillfully walk across them to a board I'd placed between two beams. A piece of fabric stretched between the boards serves as a hammock. Sighing, I flop down into the fabric, swaying slightly. I don't move as the door opens, knowing it's the four of them.

"Did he see you?" I ask from my perch, making Mylo and Claggor flinch.

"Holy shit," Mylo swears. My successful startle brings a smirk to my face.

"You need to learn how to make your presence known. It's so creepy," Claggor comments. I roll my eyes.

"That's the point. Did he see you?" I grumble, crossing my arms with a frown. They all flop into chairs.

"Yes, freak..." I hear Mylo mumble. I clench my jaw, feeling emotions threatening to surface.

"Vander learns nothing, alright," Vi says, looking around. I just stare at the open hatch. We really messed up today.

"No worries there... Powder took care of the evidence for us," Mylo sneers at her. I close my eyes, fed up with his whining. He messes up too; he needs to learn how to work with us.

"I tried, okay? You don't get it. You're older, you're bigger. It's not fair," Powder argues. I don't have to look at her to know she's already beating herself up over what happened.

"So stick with us! Take a punch or two!" Mylo shouts angrily. I run a hand over my face. That's when Vander enters the room, causing everyone to fall silent. He looks around and raises his eyebrows.

"Everyone all right?" I hear Vander ask. I purse my lips, staying silent.

"Never better. Good," Mylo mutters unhappily. I don't dare move, unsure if Calyx is with him. Part of me wishes he was... and another dreads seeing his disappointed face.

"I don't suppose you can explain why I'm hearing about an explosion and a foot chase topside? Five children fleeing the scene... What the hell were you thinking?" Vander asks. I gaze out of the hatch above me, longing to see the stars. They must be so clear in Piltover... I can't even see them from here.

"That we can handle a real job," Vi's voice reminds me that we're in big trouble.

"A real job?" Vander asks in disbelief. I sense Vi getting defensive. I shift my leg to push myself from the beam.

"We got our own tip, planned a route. Nobody even saw us," Vi starts, only to be interrupted. I sway gently, calming myself down.

"You blew up a building," Vander says, unamused. I trace the buildings above with my eyes. He's right.

"That wasn't—"

"Did you even stop to think about what could have happened to you? To them?" Vander asks, sighing. After a moment's silence, he continues, "Where did you even get this tip?" I wince silently, not wanting Ekko to be thrown under the bus.

"We just heard it at Benzo's shop," Powder says quietly. I know it's too late.

"From?" Vander presses, waiting for the bad news.

"Little Man..." Powder finally admits. I hear Vander's deep sigh. My eyes fall from the opening above to a spider crawling nearby. I place my hand next to it, letting it crawl over my fingers as I listen to the argument.

"I took us there. If you want to be mad, be mad at me. But you're the one who always says we have to earn our place in this world," Vi counters, defending our actions.

"I also told you time and time again, the Northside's off-limits. We stay out of Piltover's business," Vander argues back. I feel like a coward up here... I should be down there with everyone else getting lectured. But I know if my mother walks in, there'll be hell to pay. So staying up here is my best bet.

"Why? They've got plenty, while we're down here scraping together coins. When did you get so comfortable living in someone else's shadow?" Vi yells. Her words make me freeze. That was a low blow, Vi...

"Everyone out," Vander orders, waiting for them to leave.

"[y/n]... you up there? I didn't see you walk in with everyone else," he asks tiredly. I shift silently, figuring he knew I was here the whole time.

"Yeah..." I reply simply, not wanting to make him angrier. I know how people can get when they're mad, and I never want to see Vander truly angry.

"Calyx is taking care of the bar. Go and help him, would you?" he asks. I sigh, closing the hatch. As I start to hang, I remember my hurt wrist. Putting pressure on it, I hiss in pain and lose my grip, falling onto the couch.

"You okay, kid?" Vander asks, noticing my slip. I keep my eyes on the ground as I walk towards the door.

"I've had worse," I say before opening the door. I see Mylo and Claggor, but I slam the door, ignoring them as I head up the stairs.

[stormycs15]

Hello :)

My name is StormyCs, I like to write so that's what I do during my spare time... and the time I should be doing more important things. I do take requests. I'll try to update once or twice a week.

please do not repost my writing without credit

Master list :

Topside - Male! OC x Reader - Arcane

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 (coming soon)

Whispers of the Prophecy - Male! OC x Reader - Original Story

Prologue, Chapter 1 (coming soon)

more coming soon...

[stormycs15]

⸻ Topside, Male Oc x Reader ⸻

chapter one: (Everywhere the light touches)

characters: female reader, Vi, Powder, Mylo, Claggor, enforcers

genre: fanfiction, Arcane season 1

summary: Life has been hard for you're friends and family in the Lanes. Doing odd jobs to get by is second nature for you, but will one job topside really change your lives?

word count: 2496

Previous / Next

Your POV

I held onto the pipe I was climbing, my hands sweaty as I tried with all my strength to pull myself up. The pipe groaned under the weight I was placing on it. I swallowed, rethinking this idea. Once I reached a good position, I turned and looked around with hesitant eyes. I had to squint to see the extravagant town in front of us, since it was a bright and sunny day. Looking down, I noticed it seemed higher than I thought it would. Vi was taking us so high, and I was newer to this, so I felt like my actions were very clumsy and slow. But that didn't stop me. I looked up slightly, meeting Violet's eyes. She nodded down at me. I pursed my lips and hoisted myself up some more, gaining some confidence.

“We are almost there, come on.” She grunted at everyone, trying to encourage them, and I followed her gaze, looking down at the three underneath me: Powder, Mylo, and Claggor. They all seemed to be struggling to climb the vertical building. I just returned my thoughts to climbing up the pipe with ease.

“Aw, man!” I could hear Mylo groan, not the happiest about this situation. I quickly ignored his complaining and followed Violet up the rest of the wall. I reached the ledge, pulling myself up with strained lungs. I got to my feet, looking in awe at Piltover. My breaths were heavy from the climb.

“Woah.” I could hear Powder say from next to me, making me look over and give her a small smile as she returned it. We barely got to see the top side.

“It’s nice to get above it all, huh,” Violet says as my attention turns back to the clean trees and buildings that lay in front of us like an entirely different world. As everyone got up onto the roof, a large blimp flew past us. I looked at the view in complete awe.

“One day I am going to ride one of those things,” Powder says under her breath in a determined tone. I looked at her with a smile, I knew how much she was infatuated with seeing the new world, as much as I was. I probably fed her fantasy a bit since I told her the stories my father told me. I placed my hand in her hair, ruffling her blue locks.

“And one day I’m going to shoot one down,” Mylo says, pointing a finger gun at it as if to shoot it down. But I just roll my eyes, pushing his arm down silently. My attention was brought to Claggor as he looked over Piltover nervously. We weren’t supposed to be topside… Vandor made that very clear. Calyx wouldn’t be happy either, more because we didn’t invite him.

“Vi, you sure about this? If we get caught…” Claggor starts to say, and I turn to her with a hesitant nod, not liking the plan, because it would be more than just Vandor mad at me.

“We aren’t going to get caught. We will be in and out before anyone even notices. We have [y/n] after all.” She says, going to the edge of the building, looking for the town square, trying to figure out where we were in terms of finding out our jobs location. I gave a nervous sigh, letting it get lost in the strong winds that were flowing over the buildings. Violet looks to me with a nod, and I step forward, eyeing all of the possible paths on the way to our destination.

"How long is this going to take? I'm hungry," I hear Mylo say from behind me. After another second passes, I point in the direction of the town square, already having a path in mind. I turn to Violet for her approval, and she nods at me.

"Alright then, everyone, follow [y/n]... and just don't look down," she says as I jump into action, sliding down the roof onto an apartment balcony. I stand on the poles of the balcony railing and motion for them to come one at a time. Violet comes down first, leaping over the gap with no problem. I turn, seeing Claggor about to slide down, but Mylo brushes past him with a smirk, making Claggor roll his eyes and follow right behind. By the time Mylo lands on one side, Claggor lands right next to him, cupcake in mouth.

"Couldn't we have just walked?" I hear Claggor ask from the other side of the gap.

"Gotta stay out of sight for this one," Violet says, looking back over at us. I am trying to get Powder to go next in case she falls; maybe I could save her. But she is just looking down and taking deep breaths.

"Called it! This is on you, Vi," Mylo says, referring to Powder, and I glare over at the male.

"[y/n] can carry her over," Claggor says, motioning to me, but Violet holds up her hand.

"No. Powder, look at me! What did I tell you... you're ready. So you got this." she says, looking at me, and I nod at her as Powder starts to get ready to jump off the roof. Keeping herself up with a small gasp, jumping over with ease, she gets to the other side, only to come up shorter than the rest. I could see Violet's eyes go wide, reaching her hand out, but I sprang into action and leaped over, catching Powder before she could fall backward. She looks up at my taller self, giving me a thankful smile. Us three girls sigh in relief.

"Thanks," I hear her say, regaining her balance as we turn to the others. I just nod. As we walk, I could see Mylo rolling his eyes at Powder and me. I reach my hand out, shoving him back, making it so he was walking behind Claggor. He was starting to get on my nerves. I start to lead them by shimmying along the edge of the rooftop. I focus on keeping my back glued to the wall, leading the others.

"What if Vandor finds out we are all the way up here?" Claggor asks, earning a few looks from the rest of us silently agreeing with his concern. I just keep moving, knowing if I stopped now, I would definitely turn back. I hear Violet sigh, annoyed, so I keep my mouth shut.

"Look around! Do you think anyone topside is going hungry? Besides, this is exactly the kind of job Vandor would have pulled at our age. He is probably sending Cal on missions like these. I'm going. Are you with me or not?" she asks, stopping and turning to look at them. I look down, not wanting to look at the others. I could hear no protests, so I stood my ground from the front as she took up the back.

"Vandor's going to kill us," Claggor says behind me. I nod at his comment. Even if this mission goes well, we're bound to get a good lecture from the man himself.

"Only if we screw up… So don't screw up," she says with a stern look before turning to me and nodding. I return the gesture and lean forward, catching myself as I land on the balcony below us. I peer through the doors and listen… it seems no one's been home.

"All clear," I signal to the others, indicating it's safe to hop down. They descend one by one. Mylo, eager to get to work, tries the door but finds the handle won't budge.

"Who locks their balcony?" he asks, pulling out a lockpick and getting to work. I turn to help Vi with the rest of our team. Claggor and I glance over the railing, exchanging frowns.

"There are a lot of enforcers down there," he says. I nod, scanning for possible escape routes.

"That means we're in the right place," Violet remarks. She turns to Mylo, "You going to get that door open anytime soon?"

"Working on it," Mylo says, aggravated. I remain quiet, not wanting to add pressure. "Seeing as I'm the only one who knows how to pick locks, I suggest—" But before Mylo can finish, Violet strides forward and kicks the door open. Mylo flinches, startled by her sudden action. Claggor brushes past him as he follows Violet into the apartment, with Powder close behind.

"Animals…" Mylo grumbles, turning to me. Seeing my outstretched hand, he reluctantly takes it. I help pull him up before we enter ourselves. I glance around, furrowing my brows—this place seems fancy, but everything's arranged in a chaotic order. Everyone soon disperses, exploring the room.

"You know, Claggor, for once you're right. We are definitely not supposed to be here," Mylo says with a mischievous grin. He admires the place, greedily rubbing his hands together before examining some gadgets. I scan the bookshelves but find nothing interesting. Spotting a few gadgets on a small table, I examine them briefly before tossing them into the bag in the middle of the room.

"Must be an inventor," Vi muses. I turn to see a huge chalkboard covered in equations and blueprints. Squinting, I try to make sense of it all. On the desk beside the chalkboard, I notice a book and pick it up, flipping through its pages.

"This man is either crazy or a genius," I mutter, struggling to decipher the scribbled hypotheses and outcomes.

"Whoa, I think this is a real Valdiani," Powder exclaims excitedly. I look over to see her holding a small object that opens and plays a delicate jingle. Gently closing the book in my hands—but not letting go—I approach her to admire the intricate invention.

"Oh yeah? What about this?" Mylo asks with a smirk, brandishing another gadget he clearly thinks is valuable.

"That's a nose hair trimmer," I say with a giggle as Mylo's face falls at my words.

"Keep an eye out for anything valuable, Powder. Before the boys fill the bag with junk," Violet says, making me chuckle. I reopen the book, reading it and wondering if I should bring it with us.

"Uh... guys?" Claggor comments, drawing my attention to a mechanism on the desk covered in papers. I blink, staring at the blue stone placed in its center. As I approach it with the others, my hand moves of its own accord.

"Wait, Vi... How the hell did we find this place?" Claggor asks, looking at the pink-haired girl. As my finger nears the stone, I feel a zap and wince, pulling back my hand. The tingling shock courses through my body, but I can't tear my eyes away from the blue stone.

"It was a tip from Little Man," I hear her say, and I roll my eyes.

"Little Man?" Mylo asks in disbelief, questioning our decision to trust the small boy's information.

"Just leave it. C'mon," Vi says harshly, finally breaking me out of my trance—though my eyes still linger on the small blue orb. I shake my head and return to searching the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Powder start to walk down a hallway.

"How can anyone have so much stuff?" I hear Claggor ask as I follow Powder, overhearing their conversation.

"Simple, just get born lucky," Mylo says, making me huff in amusement and roll my eyes. As I reach the hallway, I notice papers pinned to the wall. Examining them, I begin to understand what this person might be creating. Approaching the room, I see Powder opening a chest filled with the same blue stones as the one I just encountered. As I'm about to move closer, I hear footsteps. I freeze, then quickly retreat to the others.

"Psst," I hiss quietly. Vi turns to me, eyebrows furrowed. I nod urgently, and she frowns.

"Mylo," she says quickly. He springs into action as I dash back down the hallway. Mylo wedges a chair against the door handle.

"Powder, we've got to go!" I hiss. She flinches, grabs the stones, and follows me as I hastily tidy up. I help Vi gather our loot, but as I'm lifting the bag, an explosion rips through the apartment. We're thrown across the room. I slam into the bookshelf and crumple to the floor, groaning and clutching my stomach. I push myself up to see Violet already at my side, ready to help.

We've definitely been discovered. The balcony starts to give way, and I help Vi ensure the others are secure before we hear screams from below. I swear silently, staring at the spot where Violet and I had just been standing—now a gaping hole in the floor stories above the street.

We spring into action, running. If we don't move now, we'll certainly be caught. Violet motions for me to take the lead, and I don't hesitate. I guide us out of Piltover, Enforcers' shouts echoing behind us. I dart around a corner, gesturing for the others to follow. The pursuers close in as I round another corner, feeling more confident as we near the underground. I wrench off a sewer lid and motion for them to enter.

"Oh man, not again! I just got this shirt!" Mylo yells as Violet kicks him down the putrid shaft. Claggor follows, then Powder. I dive in after them, with Violet close behind. I land hard on my side at the bottom, hissing through clenched teeth.

"I thought last time was the last time we were gonna do this," Mylo complains. I roll my eyes, shifting into a sitting position.

"Well, this time's the last time," Vi says harshly, her annoyance with the boy's complaints growing.

"Guys, what was that? What the hell happened back there?" Claggor asks. Everyone turns to Powder and me. I furrow my eyebrows.

"I don't know… I didn't do anything," Powder says defensively.

"Yeah, come on. We all didn't expect the owners to return so quickly," I say, earning an eye roll from Mylo. My face falls and I clench my fists.

"You could fill a damn library with all the things you didn't do," he mumbles. I stand up, ready to knock some sense into him.

"Guys, we just emptied a Piltover penthouse right under the enforcers' noses," Vi says, gathering everyone's attention. Everyone smiles but me. We might have done that, but we got caught in the process. There's no doubt trouble will come for us—or be waiting when we get back to the Lanes. I sigh, shaking my head as I walk out of the trash chute into the underground.