Evading capture and staying in the dark was relatively easy in the Sump. The problem was finding a safe location to hide everyone and the only place they could all agree on without freaking out was the Arcade.
Powder's hideout would have eyes on it.
Abandoned or old prisons of any sort were a no-go.
The ventilation tunnels would be watched and the mines held more danger than safety, especially without any Hextech equipment and Vander's werewolf form.
Compared to the original group, they were just a ragged bunch of Undercity dwellers with a necromancer. Hardly the heroic bunch.
Especially now as Vi and Powder comforted Vander, who twitched and winced at any sharp sound or ping of metal. Powder occasionally had to dart off to misdirect Silco's men and during those periods they had to hunker down and hide from any potential spying eyes.
He's a husk of a man with intense PTSD, Xander observed. Like a wartime hero scared of fireworks except it isn't fireworks, just a man who's been released from years of torture.
He won't be normal for a while. Fuck, I'll be surprised if we can get any help out of him anytime soon.
Underneath the dark cloth the sisters had covered Vander with, Xander knew the damage. Even with months, or even years, there would still be scars and chunks missing that would never heal. Hell, even Vander's face was distorted with strange patchwork. That might heal but the changing skin tones and stitch marks would always be visible like Frankenstein.
But that's two objectives down, Xander thought, his mind returning to the bigger picture. Silco's men will be searching for us and Caitlyn is a potential problem.
We could give her the gem but she may never return because Marcus is still in power. Marcus hates Silco but won't act unless his crimes are buried with him…
As they huddled in a dark crevice, waiting for Powder's return, Xander's fists clenched. Underneath the mask, he felt the dampness of his cold-sweat accompanying the pain he kept to himself.
Taking down Silco first is a must. Regardless of…
His eyes snapped up when Powder's head popped into view. She didn't say anything, just silently waved everyone forward with wide eyes and a sly grin.
Everyone shifted slowly, tired from the whole ordeal. Xander glanced over at Caitlyn and tilted his head. She was glaring at him.
"What?"
"I don't trust you."
"Cool beans."
"What?"
Xander couldn't help but chuckle softly when the conversation came full circle with her confusion. When they began moving again, she started furiously whispering beside him.
"You know, if it wasn't for them, I'd have you arrested!"
"Really?" Xander snorted, small flames puffing from his nose. His jagged smile widened. "How were you planning to do that?"
"We would've figured it out! You're not invincible- that much is certain!" Caitlyn's gaze dropped to his wounds covered with nothing but dirty cloth tightly wrapped and soaked in blood. She paused, looked away, and then looked back with a bitter expression. "That's going to get infected."
"Really? Here I thought I'd be fine. Maybe you can help me out?"
"I'm not helping you!" Caitlyn snapped back. "You're a cold-blooded murderer! Figure it out yourself. Better yet, turn yourself in! We'll treat your wounds and you can enjoy your new cell fortified this time with runes and wards!"
"…Tell me more about why I'm not going to turn myself in, why don't ya."
Caitlyn quickly grew flustered after realizing what she'd said and scowled before turning away. Xander exhaled slowly, wincing before he looked forward again and spotted Powder glancing back at him worriedly.
Help me, Obi-wan Powder. You're my only hope!
------------------
"I need to get back before they put out a search warrant," Caitlyn announced once everyone had settled into the Arcade. "Vi, you're coming back with me."
"What?" Vi shot up from beside Vander, who she'd just finished checking over. The sight of him, stitched, broken, and barely holding together, had her teetering between fury and heartbreak. "No fucking way. Can't you see the state of our dad? Silco's men are gonna be crawling all over the place. I'm not leaving him."
"That may be," Caitlyn said tightly, "but I need you beside me. That was our deal until we put Silco behind bars. I can't have you getting caught because of these..."
Her eyes flicked toward Powder, who was tightening clean bandages around Xander's chest with a small bottle of disinfectant and a small needle and thread. His mask lay on the dusty table beside them.
"These what?" Powder asked flatly, narrowing her eyes. "Psychos? Criminals? Weirdos with weirder tastes?"
Caitlyn's lips pressed into a thin line but before she could fire back, Vi stepped forward, her voice heavy with emotion.
"I'm not leaving. And you're not in a position to make me. Especially not with him here."
"What about me?!" Powder cut in, throwing her arms up. "I'm the one with the bombs!"
Xander let out a low snort, earning him a jab in the ribs from Powder.
"Ouch!"
"Yeah, ouch! That's how I feel!" she snapped.
As they squabbled, Vi and Caitlyn exchanged an exasperated look. A rare moment of shared understanding between a street rat and an enforcer. Caitlyn sighed.
"Fine," she muttered. "Just don't get caught. Stay here. Let the others handle supply runs until I'm back tomorrow."
"Yeah, no shit," Vi grumbled. "I don't need any unfriendly faces tracking me back to Vander right now anyway."
"So… we're in agreement then?" Caitlyn asked, clearly trying to keep control of the situation.
"Ugh." Vi groaned and nodded, moving back to Vander. Caitlyn, meanwhile, turned her skeptical gaze to Xander, her expression caught somewhere between distrust and reluctant acceptance.
"Marcus isn't going to act without solid proof," Xander said, watching her face. "And even if he had it, he won't move unless his own crimes die with Silco."
"You don't know a damn thing. We're not like you," Caitlyn snapped.
"Sorry to bust your we're-better-than-thou bubble, Pilty," Powder said, smirking. "But it's true. I've seen Marcus sell out Enforcers and silence witnesses just to keep Silco's pockets jingling."
She twirled her braid with mock sweetness. "He's like one of those nesting dolls. Crack one open, and surprise! A smaller, even slimier version inside. And then another, and another—"
"I get it!" Caitlyn snapped again, her composure cracking.
Powder giggled, twiddling a needle between her fingers while Xander just shook his head.
"Look," he said. "Now that this family's back together—" He glanced at Powder who froze mid-twirl, lips tightening. "And now that it's clear Silco lied about everything…"
A sudden slam from Vander startled everyone. Even Xander tensed before continuing, eyes still on Powder. "It's time we get the gem back."
Powder's fingers twitched. "You sure that's a good idea?"
"We've got to trust each other," Xander said evenly. "That's the only way this works."
"I don't like it," Powder muttered, but she dug into her satchel anyway and pulled out the Hextech Gem. Its blue light shimmered across her fingertips.
"You had it this whole time?!" Caitlyn's voice cracked into fury. "Why didn't you hand it over when we first met-" She cut herself off as realization dawned. Her hands curled into trembling fists.
"You…" she hissed. "You were testing me. Seeing if I was trustworthy."
Xander stayed silent. Vi and Vander exchanged a tense glance. Powder rocked on her heels, humming softly before flashing Caitlyn a toothy grin.
"Yup! It was me~" she sang, voice lilting with mischief. "I was the genius who stole the gem! Surprise!"
"You couldn't wait on that?" Xander muttered, giving her an exasperated glance.
"And let you have all the glory? No way, demon boy." Powder grinned innocently, jabbing a finger into his cheek and forcing his face back toward Caitlyn.
Caitlyn gawked at them befor pressing her fingers to her temples, breathing slowly to clam herself.
"I'll be back tomorrow," she said through clenched teeth. "What's your plan?"
"Mmm… haven't thought about it," Xander teased.
The moment Caitlyn's enraged eyes snapped open at him, he continued dryly, "I don't think Vander would enjoy his bar being bathed in blood. Or the Undercity. Or Piltover. If I just walked in and massacred everyone, that's why."
"It's easily doable," he added with a shrug, earning a disgusted grimace from Caitlyn. "But not exactly what I assume people would want."
"I wouldn't mind," Vi cut in, arms crossed. She shrugged under Caitlyn's sharp glare. "What? I wouldn't. Him and his men are scum."
"Could we…" Powder trailed off beside Xander, biting her lower lip. "Talk… it out with him?"
The room fell silent. Even Vander blinked in disbelief.
"I-It's just a thought, you know," Powder stammered, fingers nervously tangling in her braids. "He wasn't a completely terrible father— not that he replaced Vander, b-but…"
Xander exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose. Tightly, very strained but politely, he spoke.
"…It's an option."