Arcane: INSANE (OC X JINX)

Powder blinked in surprise as Bael's voice softened, his words carrying a weight she hadn't expected.

"Powder..." he began, setting his tools down and turning to face her fully. "I'm sorry I can't give you a better life right now... but I promise, I'll find a way. Just stick with me... and don't leave me, please."

Her wide eyes shimmered for a moment before a small, shaky smile broke across her face. "Bael, other than Vi and Vander, you're all I've got. I'd never leave you."

She hopped off the stool and hugged him tightly, her small arms barely wrapping around his frame. "You've always been here for me. I don't need anything fancy or better... I just need you."

Bael closed his eyes, a lump forming in his throat as he rested a hand on her head. "Thank you, Powder. That means everything to me."

She pulled back, her grin returning. "Now eat before your food gets cold! And don't worry about the future. We'll figure it out together, okay?"

He nodded, forcing a smile.

Suddenly, while he was eating, someone barged in without notice, it was Vi, "What's up Vi." Bael greets her.

"*pant* Vander...!! *pant* He was kidnapped...!! *pant*" She said, panting from exhaustion.

Bael froze mid-bite, his grip on the spoon tightening as he processed Vi's words. Powder looked at her, trembling. "Wh–What do you mean...?" She asks, scared.

Vi nodded, her face pale and her breaths still labored. "It happened at Benzo's place. The enforcers showed up to interrogate him—probably about the loot. But… but it wasn't just them. There was something else."

Bael furrowed his brows, his heart pounding. "Something else? What are you talking about?"

"It wasn't human," Vi said, her voice shaking. "I don't know what it was… some kind of monster. The enforcers were about to cuff Vander, and then it attacked. It tore through them like paper, but it didn't hurt Vander. It… it took him. Just grabbed him and vanished."

Powder clung to Bael's arm, her voice breaking. "What are we gonna do? We can't just let him be taken!"

Bael stood up, his mind racing. "We need to find out what that thing was and where it took him. If it's not enforcers, this could be something way worse."

Vi slammed her fist against the doorframe, her frustration bubbling over. "I can't lose him. We CANNOT lose him."

"...I'll get the others, you join me back in HQ!" She says, running off.

Powder's grip tightens on Bael, "We'll figure this out, Powder. We'll find a solution..." He reassures.

...

The tension in the Last Drop was suffocating. The gang huddled around a dimly lit table as Vi laid out the plan, her voice firm despite the fear in her eyes.

"Claggor, you'll prep the escape route. Mylo, you assist him. We can't afford mistakes," she ordered. Claggor gave a determined nod, and Mylo grumbled but complied.

Vi turned to Bael. "You're with me. Vander's likely locked up somewhere, and you're the only one who knows how to deal with those kinds of locks. We'll need you to get him out."

Bael nodded, but his gaze shifted uneasily toward Powder. She stood there, trembling, her eyes wide with panic.

"And Powder…" Vi hesitated, her voice softening. "You're staying here."

"No! No, I'm not!" Powder shouted, tears streaming down her face. She lunged forward, clinging tightly to Bael's arm. "I'm coming too! I'm not staying here while you all go off to die!"

Bael gently pried her fingers from his arm. "Powder, listen to me. It's too dangerous. I promise, I'll come back safe and sound. Trust me."

But Powder shook her head violently, her sobs growing louder. "You're lying! None of you will come back! I know it! I know it!"

Her desperation was heartbreaking, but Bael steeled himself. "Powder, you have to trust us. We'll make it back. I promise."

Vi placed a hand on her shoulder, but Powder slapped it away, collapsing into a corner, muttering to herself. "They're all going to die… I'll be alone again…"

Bael exchanged a look with Vi, guilt weighing heavily on him. He hated leaving her like this, but there was no other choice. They had to save Vander, no matter the cost.

...

The group moved with urgency, leaving Powder's cries behind as they dashed through the dim, winding streets of Zaun. There was no time to explain or hesitate. Vander's life hung in the balance.

The trail was easy to follow—giant footprints, some smeared with blood, led them deeper into the abandoned outskirts of Zaun. It all pointed to one destination: a decrepit, crumbling building far from the bustling parts of the city.

The structure stood ominously against the dark sky, its walls cracked and overrun with vines. It was eerily silent, except for the faint creak of its unstable frame swaying in the wind.

"This must be the place," Vi whispered, gripping her fists tightly. "Let's move."

They crept around the building's perimeter, their breaths shallow as they avoided detection. It wasn't long before they spotted an opening in the ceiling. Without a word, they climbed silently, careful not to make any noise that might alert whatever was inside.

Once inside, the air was thick with the smell of rust and damp wood. The moonlight filtering through the cracks illuminated piles of debris and old machinery.

"This is it," Bael muttered, scanning the area. "Stay sharp."

They moved as one, their footsteps barely audible as they descended deeper into the building, determined to find Vander before it was too late.

The group moved swiftly and silently through the building, each step bringing them closer to Vander. Their search finally led them to a dimly lit room. There he was, battered, bruised, and tied to a chair with thick metal bindings.

"Vander!" Vi gasped, rushing to his side.

Bael wasted no time. He pulled out his toolkit, focusing on breaking the bindings. His hands worked quickly but carefully—every second counted.

As he was halfway through the bindings, a slow clap echoed through the room, chilling them to the core. From the shadows emerged a tall, thin man with piercing eyes and a twisted grin.

"Ah, the brave little heroes," Silco sneered, his voice smooth and venomous. "I must say, I'm impressed. It takes guts to walk into the lion's den."

Behind him, Sevika and several of his minions stepped into the light, weapons gleaming. "Unfortunately for you," Silco continued, "this is where your story ends."

"Not today," Vi snarled, slipping on Vander's massive attack gloves, which she had brought for this exact sitiation.

Sevika stood silently by Silco's side, arms crossed, watching with disdain. Silco gestured lazily toward his men. "Take care of them."

The minions charged, and Vi stepped forward, fists clenched. "Get Vander out of here. I'll handle these scumbags," she said, slipping on Vander's attack gloves.

Bael nodded, his hands already working furiously to break the bindings on Vander's chair. "Just give me a minute!"

The place erupted into chaos. Vi's punches landed with the force of a battering ram, sending one minion flying into the wall. Claggor and Mylo used makeshift weapons to fend off the attackers, trying to keep them at bay.

"Bael, how much longer?" Vi shouted, barely dodging a strike.

"Almost there!" he replied, sweat dripping from his brow.

"Go!" Vi yelled, delivering a powerful blow to another minion.

Claggor and Mylo found a weak spot in the wall and began smashing through it. "We've got an exit!" Claggor called out.

Silco noticed Bael's perfect handwork and the two squeakers' making an escape route for the gang, it was time to unleash the shimmer abomination...

"Leaving so soon?" Silco asked, his tone dripping with mockery. "You didn't think it would be that easy, did you?"

Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural growl filled the room. The gang turned, their eyes widening in horror as a figure emerged from the shadows.

It was Deckard, one of Silco's minions. The once-cocky teenager now looked monstrous, his body grotesquely morphed by Shimmer.

His veins pulsed with an eerie purple glow, his eyes wild with madness. He let out a guttural snarl, his muscles bulging unnaturally as he charged straight at Vi.

Vi barely had time to raise her fists before Deckard slammed into her, sending her flying into a pile of debris. "Vi!" Bael shouted, stepping forward, but Vander grabbed his arm.

"Focus on the escape!" Vander growled, his voice hoarse but firm.

Vi coughed, wiping blood from her mouth as she got back on her feet. She slammed her gloves together, the sound echoing in the tense room. "You want a fight, big guy? Let's go."

Deckard roared and lunged again, his speed unnaturally fast for his massive frame. Vi ducked under his swing and landed a powerful punch to his side, but it barely fazed him. The creature snarled and swung back, narrowly missing her.

As Bael finally snapped the last binding off Vander's chair, Vander shot to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. Without a word, he sprinted toward Deckard, who was towering over Vi with his claws ready to strike.

With a roar, Vander delivered a devastating punch to Deckard's face, the impact echoing through the decrepit building. The shimmer-addled creature staggered backward, momentarily stunned.

"Vi, give me the gloves!" Vander barked.

Vi hesitated but quickly tossed him the heavy gloves. Vander caught them mid-air, sliding them on with practiced ease. "Go! Get out of here now!"

"What? No way, I'm staying!" Vi protested.

"This isn't up for debate!" Vander growled, his voice like steel. He raised his fists, squaring off against Deckard, who was already recovering. "I'll handle this! You need to get the others out of here!"

Vi clenched her fists, her face torn with frustration, but she nodded. "Fine. Come on, Bael!" she yelled, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the opening Claggor and Mylo had created.

As they bolted through the broken wall, Bael felt an odd tingle in his pocket. At first, he ignored it, but it grew stronger with every step. Frowning, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the blue crystal.

His heart sank. The crystal was glowing and pulsing rhythmically. That could only mean one thing—another blue crystal was nearby.

"No... no, no, no," Bael muttered, his breath quickening.

"What is it?" Vi asked, glancing back at him.

Bael's face paled as he looked at her. "Powder. She's here."

"What?!" Vi stopped in her tracks, her voice rising.

"She has a crystal!" Bael shouted, his mind racing. He felt his stomach twist at the realization. "She must've followed us!"

Vi cursed under her breath, her eyes scanning the dark alleys of Zaun. "Where could she be?!"

Bael's hands trembled as he clutched the glowing crystal. "I... I don't know, but we have to find her before something happens!"

Vi nodded, her determination flaring. "Then let's move. We're not leaving her behind."

With urgency driving them, the two turned back into the chaos, hoping they weren't already too late.

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