"You've suffered all these years. Vi O'Lai… I've come to take you home."
Stunned to hear her full name, Vi spun around and rushed to the cell door. Gripping the bars, her head practically trying to squeeze through the gap, she stared intently at Ren.
"Ren? Is that you?"
"It's me," Ren said, dangling the keys. "But let's talk after we get you out of here. Take a step back."
"You assaulted another prisoner—" Ren held up a hand to stop Caitlyn as he unlocked the door.
"She is not a prisoner for you to interrogate. We should leave immediately."
"Couldn't agree more," Vi cut in. "This is no place for a chat."
"Where have you been all these years?" Vi began, but her eyes flickered to the enforcer uniform on the woman beside them, and she clamped down on the wave of emotion. "Never mind. We can talk later. Let's just get out of here and find some food. You have no idea what the meals in here are like... God, I'm so sick of it."
——————
Back in Piltover, the trio walked the streets, with Caitlyn's questions flowing nonstop.
Vi, in high spirits now that she was free, deflected every query with cheeky, roundabout answers, much to Caitlyn's frustration. There was nothing Caitlyn could do about it; after all, Vi wasn't a criminal.
When they passed a clothing store, Ren tossed Vi a pouch of coins, telling her to get a new set of clothes. She was out of prison and starting a new life; a new outfit was in order.
Ren didn't feel it was appropriate to follow the ladies inside while they shopped, so he browsed a nearby stall selling small trinkets.
Caitlyn, however, couldn't let go of her questions and followed Vi into the store.
"This pendant is quite exquisite," Ren remarked, looking at the bluebird design on the trinket.
The vendor sidled up to him. "May the Wind Mother protect you," he said. "This design is based on the legendary wind spirit. They say wearing it brings good luck."
"Do you have any other styles?" Ren asked, tapping the bluebird.
The vendor said he didn't, but that they could take custom orders, though the price would be adjusted accordingly. He pointed toward a proper storefront not far away.
Ren clutched the pendant, channeling his magic into it as he laid out his requirements for the vendor. Upon hearing the quantity Ren needed, the vendor led him straight to the store, where the manager enthusiastically offered him a 20% discount.
After signing a contract and paying the deposit, Ren returned to the front of the clothing store, turning the now-enchanted pendant over in his hands. He could feel the runic array within it. The effect was decent.
[Enchantment - Barrier]
This was the result of the magic he had just infused. The idea had struck him the moment he saw the trinkets. He would distribute them to the core members of the Bluebird Gang and, later, to other members who performed well or made significant contributions. It would help foster their belief in the Wind Mother.
It wouldn't just be for the Bluebird Gang, either. He'd give them to kind-hearted and well-respected people in Zaun. He'd also find opportunities to gift them to key figures in Piltover, like Jayce, Viktor, Mel, and Caitlyn.
As for the entire population of Zaun... give him a break. Even if they drained him completely dry, it would be impossible.
"Hey! What are you spacing out for? Found a restaurant yet? I'm starving," Vi's voice called out. She walked toward him, followed closely by Caitlyn, who was still pressing her. "Silco? Isn't he that industrialist?"
Ren watched Vi approach. She looked almost exactly as she did in the show, having chosen a similar black hooded jacket in a striking red, paired with black pants and boots. The bindings on her forearms were fresh and new, giving her a sharp, capable look.
"Let's go. Twisted Fate told me the restaurant over there is pretty good," Ren said, then turned to Caitlyn. "Thank you for your help today. Please extend my gratitude to your mother. I'm just going to have a simple welcome-home meal with Vi. You've had a long day, would you like to join us?"
Caitlyn's mind was still on the case. She desperately wanted to know what role Silco played in all this, but she also knew it wasn't her place to intrude on a family reunion.
Just as she was about to decline, Vi turned and strode toward her. Caitlyn instinctively took two steps back, her back hitting the wall.
Thump. Vi slammed a hand against the wall next to Caitlyn's head, leaning in close.
"Have you really been tagging along all this time just for a case?" Vi's voice was a low purr. "Or did you take a liking to Ren and want to..." She let her eyes trail up and down Caitlyn's frame. "You've got a great body, Cupcake."
"I—what? No, I don't... I just met him today, and, uh... my mother is waiting for me to come home for dinner."
The flustered Cupcake quickly realized Vi was doing it on purpose, trying to get rid of the third wheel. Hmph! I was going to refuse anyway, and now you pull this stunt.
She was so close. Vi's sharp features and lips were almost... Cupcake swallowed, the motion barely perceptible.
Vi pulled back and rejoined Ren. "Is that so? Then you'd better hurry home. Don't want to keep mama waiting."
Ren gave her a little wave, and the two of them headed toward the restaurant, leaving Caitlyn leaning against the wall, speechless for a long moment.
"Order whatever you want. Don't worry about wasting it; we can pack up the leftovers."
Alone in the private room, Vi could no longer hold it in.
"Ren, where have you been all these years? Are you okay? How long have you been back? Have you been topside this whole time?" The words tumbled out of her. "Did you go back down to the undercity? Did you see... did you see Powder?!"
"The photos Caitlyn showed me... one of them had her monkey drawing on it. She's alive, right...?"
"I just got back yesterday," Ren said, his voice a calming anchor. "Powder is with me. As soon as you finish eating, we'll go back and you can see her."
"Then what are we eating for? Let's go now!"
"Don't get excited. Eat first. You need strength to..." He sighed. "Alright, fine. I wanted to use this time, while it's just the two of us, to talk to you about what's happened over the years."
His tone grew serious. "The undercity has changed a lot. And Powder... has changed a lot, too. Before you see your sister, don't you want to know how she's spent all these years?"
Vi calmed down. She ordered a single plate of fried rice and, when Ren started to speak, she held up a hand to stop him, signaling that everything could wait until she had finished.
Meeting the waiter's curious gaze, Ren ordered a good bottle of wine, telling him to leave it at the bar for him to take later. He gave the man a tip and gestured for him to close the door securely.
The moment the door clicked shut, Vi finished the last grain of rice and looked at Ren, signaling him to begin.
Ren told her everything. He told her how Powder had changed her name to Jinx, how Silco had adopted her, how she had worked for him all these years, and the complex, twisted relationship between them. He also explained Silco's reign, the rise of the chem-barons, the suffering of Zaun's people, and the monumental change in Piltover—Hextech. He threw in a brief version of his own story as well.
In truth, Vi had already started to crumble with self-blame the moment she heard Powder had changed her name to Jinx. When she learned Silco had adopted her and that she worked for him, she was on the verge of breaking completely. It was obvious she barely registered anything else Ren said after that.
Seeing her like this, Ren's heart ached.
Vi had always been the type to be strong on the surface but soft on the inside. When they were kids, after their parents were killed trying to cross the bridge, she, as the older sister, had no choice but to face the world with a hard shell to protect them both.
After the incident with Vander, the sisters were separated. At an age when they should have been in school, one was in prison, and the other was adopted by their "enemy."
Regardless of whether Silco was good or bad, Jinx had at least been able to learn from him, to rely on him.
But Vi? A young girl, all alone in prison. In that confined space, she was surrounded by scum and guards who constantly interrogated her...
It was a harsh truth, but Vi hadn't grown. That's why, in the show, she was always nostalgic for the past, desperate to keep things as they were, terrified of change.
"Vi, what's happened has happened," Ren said gently. "You can't live in the past. You have to cherish the now."
Seeing his words weren't getting through, he pressed on.
"You are sisters. It doesn't matter what her name is—Jinx or Powder—she will always be your family. Unless you disown her."
"Bullshit! Why would I ever disown Powder?! I'm her sister!"
"Exactly. So if you two ever get into a fight, when things are escalating and about to explode, I want you to calm down first and remember what I just said."
Vi bristled. "Why would I get into a fight with her? You act like you know everything. Can you see the future or something?"
"I'm just giving you a warning shot. Conflicts? Everyone has them. Did you never fight with Vander? It's not the end of the world. No family is perfectly harmonious all the time. What's important is the understanding, the compromise, and the reconciliation that comes after the fight."
Vi thought back to the time she'd called Vander a sellout... and didn't argue back.
"Right, and a heads-up," Ren added. "Powder... she doesn't like being called Powder. She's always saying, 'My name is Jinx.' If you can't get over that in your heart, maybe give her a nickname. What about Jinxie?"
Vi was clearly hit by another wave of guilt. I shouldn't have yelled at her. And I...
"Powder told me what happened that day. It's okay. Between family, that stuff doesn't matter."
"No," Vi whispered, her voice cracking. "I called her a jinx. That's why she took the name. She must... can she ever forgive me? How am I supposed to face her...?"
Her expression hardened, her gaze turning vicious as if she'd found a target. "...This is all because of Silco!"
Seeing her latch onto a single target, Ren changed his approach. "She's called Jinx partly because of Silco, and partly because of you. But it's not just the two of you. It's a combination of many things."
"What did you say?!" Vi shot up, grabbing Ren by the collar. She balled her other hand into a fist and held it in front of his face. Say that again, I dare you.
"If I said something wrong, then argue with me. Why resort to fists?" Ren ignored the threat and continued. "Even if it was partly your fault, so what? Powder got yelled at. Isn't she allowed to be angry?"
"It's like right now. If I call you a big dumbass, are you gonna get mad?"
Vi blinked, stunned. She hadn't processed that Ren had actually just insulted her.
"I grew up with you two. I'm basically family. If I call you a big dumbass, you can get angry, you can hit me, but—"
POW! Vi's fist connected squarely with his face. She kept her grip on his collar, slamming him back against the wall and raising her fist again, glaring at him.
Ren didn't flinch. With his [Intermediate Self-Healing Body · Blue], the mark on his face would be gone in seconds if she didn't hurry up and land a few more punches.
"But you can hate me," he said, his voice steady. "But I'm asking you, after tomorrow, are you going to cut all ties with me? Never speak to me again?"
"If we're really family, you don't need to worry about all that stuff, overthinking everything."
Vi's breathing evened out. "You're right," she let out a slow breath. "Even if you, you bastard, call me names, I'll forgive you. Because we're family."
She then looked at Ren, a dangerous grin spreading across her face. "By that same logic, if I beat you up a little more right now, you'll forgive me too, right? After all, we're family."
Ren's mouth twitched. He didn't mind getting hit a few times by family, but this feeling of hoisting himself by his own petard was awful.
As she spoke, Vi yanked him forward by his collar and swung her right fist with all her might.
The punch flew past his head as she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug.
"Ren," she murmured into his shoulder. "I'm really so happy to see you."
Ren hugged her back just as tightly. "I'm happy to see you too. It's okay now. I'm back."
"Tell me what you've been up to all these years. Where did you go?"
Ren abruptly pushed her away. "You son of a bitch, you weren't listening to a single word I said, were you?!"
"So what? Can't you tell me again?!" Vi retorted, playfully punching him in the chest.
"Hiss—" Ren winced theatrically. Vi looked at him in alarm for a second before her expression changed to suspicion.
"Wait a minute. Didn't you kill some pirate king? You can't be that weak. I didn't even hit you that hard."
"So you were listening! Then what was all that act for?" Ren demanded. They looked at each other for a moment, and then both burst out laughing.
After ordering some desserts from the waiter, they sat and talked more.
"Powder... Jinx... ugh, my sister," Vi said, stuffing a small cake into her mouth. "Besides the name, is there anything else I need to watch out for?"
Ren laid out a few important points.
First was the Silco issue. He had been genuinely 'good' to Jinx. Setting aside his methods, Silco had likely raised Jinx as his own daughter.
Second was Jinx's mental state. She was consumed by self-blame, convinced that everything that happened was her fault, which was why she was plagued by visions and whispers of their dead family.
Hearing the part about Silco, Vi still couldn't accept it. She started furiously eating her cupcake, chewing with a vengeance, as if she could kill Silco with her teeth.
When she heard how severe Jinx's mental problems were, she lowered her head in sorrow. The cupcake in her mouth lost its sweetness. Her hands clenched into tight fists, crushing the new cake she had just picked up.
"You know," Ren said softly, "I probably sound pretty annoying saying all this. After all, I'm not the one who went through it. Even as I'm talking to you, a part of me can't help but think, 'Is this just me talking from a place of privilege, without a clue what it's really like?'"
"But as family, I have to say it, even if you punch me a few more times for it."
Ren reached out and poked Vi's arm with his finger. When she looked up, he met her gaze.
"Some things have to be faced, Vi. Some things you can't run from."
"A little advice for when you two reunite. Don't be afraid of the past. You can, and should, talk about it."
"And most importantly: Jinx is Powder, and Powder is Jinx."
"Even if you can't accept it right away, please... don't deny it."
"After all," he finished, his voice gentle but firm, "you can't exactly take a knife, slice her in half, throw away the Jinx on the left, and keep the Powder on the right, can you?"