Arcane: the Monster of Zaun

The old warehouse was dusty and dimly lit, its air heavy with the smell of oil and rust. It had become their go-to training spot—secluded enough for Derek to let loose without fear of damaging the Last Drop.

Ekko stood with his hands on his hips, a mischievous grin lighting up his face as he faced Derek. "All right, big guy. Show me what you've got."

Derek flexed his hands, claws extending instinctively. "You sure about this? You're smaller than the crates I usually lift."

"Hey!" Ekko exclaimed, feigning offense. "I'm small, but I'm fast. You can't hit what you can't catch."

Vi smirked from the sidelines, arms crossed as she watched. "We'll see about that, Ekko. Derek's been getting faster every day."

Claggor whistled. "Yeah, but can he catch Ekko? That kid's slippery."

Derek grinned, his golden eyes glinting. "Guess we're about to find out."

The moment Ekko took off, darting between the old crates and scaffolding, Derek gave chase. His speed was extraordinary, each step propelling him forward with incredible force. Ekko darted left, then right, climbing onto a stack of crates with cat-like agility. But Derek wasn't far behind, his claws digging into the wood as he pulled himself up effortlessly.

For a moment, it seemed like Derek had him cornered. But with a quick roll and a burst of speed, Ekko slipped through his grasp, dropping to the ground and skidding to a stop in the center of the room.

"Too slow!" Ekko taunted, laughing.

Derek landed in front of him with a heavy thud, his claws digging into the ground. "Gotcha."

Ekko froze, his grin faltering. "Okay, maybe not too slow."

The room erupted in laughter as Derek stood, shaking his head. Even Ekko joined in, clapping Derek on the shoulder. "You're a beast, man. But next time, I'll be faster."

---

Late one evening, Derek and Vi sat on the rooftop of the Last Drop, the smog-covered lights of Zaun stretching out before them.

"You're doing good, Derek," Vi said, nudging him with her elbow. "Better than I thought you would."

"Thanks," Derek replied, his voice soft. "I just... I don't want to screw this up. You guys are the only family I've got."

Vi smirked, leaning back. "You're not gonna screw it up. You're too stubborn for that."

Derek chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess I learned from the best."

Vi grinned, then grew serious. "You know, whatever's going on with you... we've got your back. Always."

Derek looked at her, his golden eyes softening. "Thanks, Vi. That means a lot."

---

In the quiet of the back room, Derek and Claggor worked on repairing an old gadget Powder had given them.

"You've got a knack for this," Claggor said, watching as Derek carefully tightened a loose wire.

"Don't let Powder hear you say that," Derek replied with a smirk.

Claggor laughed. "Yeah, she'd be jealous. But seriously, man. You're a quick learner. Always have been."

Derek hesitated, then nodded. "I guess I just don't want to feel useless, you know?"

"Useless?" Claggor scoffed. "Derek, you're the one who keeps us safe out there. And now? With all this... wolf stuff? You're gonna be unstoppable."

Derek smiled, his chest swelling with quiet pride.

---

The two sat atop a rusty pipe overlooking the streets, sharing a stolen loaf of bread.

"You ever feel like... you're meant for more than this?" Ekko asked, breaking off a piece of bread.

Derek shrugged. "I don't know. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out who I am."

Ekko nodded, tossing a crumb to a nearby rat. "Well, whoever you are, I'm glad you're here. You've got our backs, and we've got yours."

Derek smiled, bumping his fist against Ekko's. "Always."

---

"Okay, so you're faster, stronger, and scarier," Mylo said, counting on his fingers. "That's not fair, you know."

"Life's not fair, Mylo," Derek replied, grinning.

Mylo snorted. "Yeah, well, if you're gonna show off, you might as well use it to help me next time Vi's on my case."

"No promises," Derek said, laughing.

---

Powder had just finished showing Derek her latest gadget—a spinning top that shot sparks.

"You're amazing, you know that?" Derek said, watching the sparks dance across the floor.

Powder blushed, fiddling with the top. "You think so?"

"Definitely," Derek replied. "You've got a mind like nobody else."

Powder smiled, her heart swelling with pride.

---

Vander sat across from Derek at the bar, a glass of ale in hand.

"You're stronger than you know, Derek," Vander said, his voice steady. "Not just because of this... change. But because of who you are."

"Thanks, Vander," Derek said quietly. "I'll try to live up to that."

"You already do, kid," Vander replied, clapping him on the shoulder.

---

Months of training and careful preparation paid off when Vi finally declared Derek ready to rejoin them on jobs.

The target was a Piltover shipment of refined crystals stored in a lightly guarded warehouse. The group moved as a unit, each playing their part, but Derek was the star of the show.

When the guards appeared, Derek intercepted them, using his speed and strength to disarm them without causing serious harm. His agility allowed him to scale the warehouse's walls with ease, securing the loot and lowering it down to the group below.

By the end of the job, the group was grinning ear to ear.

"That was flawless!" Powder exclaimed as they made their way back to the Last Drop. "Derek, you were amazing!"

Derek smiled, his chest swelling with pride. "I couldn't have done it without you guys."

"You've come a long way, man," Vi said, clapping him on the back.

Derek grinned, feeling like he'd finally found his place again.

Small snips through the 3 years TIMESKIP

---

(Age 13)

The abandoned warehouse echoed with the sound of grunts and fighting. Derek and Vi circled each other, sweat dripping from their brows as the group watched from the sidelines. Of course Derek is forbidden from using his strength.

"You're fast, Derek," Vi said, spinning her stick with a smirk. "But I'm smarter."

Derek lunged, his stick whistling through the air. Vi ducked low, sweeping his legs out from under him. He landed with a thud, groaning as Vi pointed her stick at his chest triumphantly.

"Told you," she said, grinning.

Powder cheered from the sidelines. "Go, Vi!"

Claggor laughed. "You're getting better, Derek. Just don't let her mess with your head."

Derek sat up, shaking his head with a grin. "Next time, I'm taking you down."

---

 (Age 12)

The group huddled in an alley, watching Powder proudly unveil her latest gadget

"This," Powder announced, holding it up like a trophy, "is gonna be amazing."

"What does it do?" Mylo asked skeptically.

Powder pressed a button, and the sphere began to hum. "Watch and learn."

Seconds later, the sphere exploded in a puff of harmless smoke, leaving a sooty Powder coughing and frowning.

Mylo burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Amazing, huh?"

Vi elbowed him. "Shut up, Mylo. It was a good try, Powder."

Derek handed her a rag, his voice soft. "Keep at it, Powder. You're gonna make something incredible one day."

Powder smiled, soot streaking her cheeks. "Thanks, Derek."

---

 (Age 14)

Claggor leaned back against a crate, holding up a shiny wrench he'd scavenged from the docks. "Can you believe it? Piltover-made. This thing's worth a fortune."

"Or it's cursed," Mylo quipped, squinting at the wrench suspiciously.

"Cursed?" Powder asked, her eyes wide.

Derek rolled his eyes. "It's a wrench, Mylo. Not a magic relic."

"Still," Claggor said, slipping it into his belt. "This thing's gonna make fixing gadgets way easier. Just you watch."

Vi grinned, clapping him on the back. "Nice find, Claggor. You earned it."

---

 (Age 13)

Late one night, Derek and Powder sat on the rooftop of the Last Drop, the faint glow of the moon breaking through the smog. Powder fidgeted with a small contraption, while Derek stared out over the city.

"Do you ever feel... different?" Derek asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Powder paused, looking up at him. "What do you mean?"

"Like... you don't really fit in," Derek said, his voice quiet. "Even with people you care about."

Powder hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. All the time."

Derek glanced at her, surprised.

"I mean, I'm not strong like Vi and you, or smart like Ekko, or... or funny like Mylo." she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But... I think that's okay. We all bring something different, right?"

Derek smiled faintly. "Yeah. You're right."

They sat in companionable silence, the city buzzing softly around them.

---

 (Age 14)

The group stood outside a Piltover warehouse, their eyes scanning the building's perimeter. Vi turned to Derek, a sly grin on her face.

"you're ready, Bigfoot?"

Derek smirked, cracking his knuckles. "I know I am."

The job went off without a hitch. Derek's speed and strength proved invaluable, allowing him to haul crates of goods while the others handled security and alarms. By the time they returned to the Last Drop, their spirits were high, and their loot was safely stored.

"You were amazing, Derek!" Powder said, bouncing on her toes.

"You weren't so bad yourself," Derek replied, ruffling her hair.

Vi grinned, clapping him on the back laughing. "Another successful job, nice work."

---

The narrow alley behind the Last Drop was damp and cold, but it didn't deter Derek from sitting on the ground with a small group of orphans. A girl with tangled hair played with a chipped yo-yo, while another child absently sketched patterns in the dirt with a stick.

"Alright," Derek said, his voice warm. "Here's the deal. I tell you a joke, and if none of you laugh, I owe you all a gear. Deal?"

The children nodded eagerly, their eyes wide with anticipation.

"Okay. Why did the gear refuse to join the machine?" Derek paused dramatically. "Because it didn't want to feel the pressure!"

The alley fell silent for a moment before giggles erupted. Even the girl with the yo-yo broke into a grin.

"Guess I'm keeping my gear," Derek said with a mock sigh, leaning back against the wall. "You kids are too easy."

From a distance, Claggor watched with a smile, his arms full of scrap metal. "You've got a knack for this, Derek," he said, dropping the scrap nearby. "Want some help?"

"Always," Derek replied, motioning him over. Together, they started crafting small trinkets for the kids, their laughter echoing through the alley.

---

The abandoned courtyard was one of the few places in the Lanes that caught a bit of sunlight, and Derek had gathered a group of children there for a surprise. In the center of the space, a patchwork kite he'd made from scraps of fabric and string lay ready.

"Alright, who wants to fly it first?" Derek asked, holding up the kite with a grin.

Hands shot up as the children clamored for their turn. Derek handed the string to a shy girl, guiding her to an open spot. "Hold it steady, now. I'll help you get it up."

With a few running steps, the kite soared into the air, its mismatched colors fluttering against the gray sky. The children cheered, their excitement contagious as Derek and Vi took turns helping them fly it.

"You're not half bad at this," Vi said, watching the kite dip and weave. "Didn't think you had a crafty side."

Derek shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "Figured the kids could use a little fun. Life's tough enough down here."

"Well, it's working," Vi said, nodding toward the kids, who were laughing and shouting as the kite danced above them.

---

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Lanes as Derek and the group stood around a large, rusted pipe that Mylo and Claggor had dragged in earlier.

"So... what's the plan?" Mylo asked, wiping sweat from his brow.

"A slide," Derek declared confidently, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement. "We're going to make a slide for the kids."

"Out of this?" Vi raised an eyebrow, tapping the dented pipe with her boot. "It's not exactly... smooth."

"That's why we've got these," Derek said, holding up a bundle of worn-out tools made for Smoothing and Flattening. "We'll make the inside safer. Claggor, you're on reinforcement duty. Mylo, help me clean it out. Pow, you're in charge of decorations."

Powder's face lit up. "Decorations? I'm on it!"

The group got to work, their laughter and banter filling the air as they transformed the rusted pipe. Derek and Mylo scrubbed away years of grime, while Claggor hammered in supports to keep it steady. Powder painted the outside with bright colors and doodles, adding a splash of life to the dull metal.

By the time they finished, the pipe gleamed with makeshift padding on the inside and colorful designs on the outside. Derek climbed to the top of a small mound of dirt they'd propped it against, testing the slide first. He whooped as he zipped down, landing in a pile of straw at the bottom.

"It works!" he exclaimed, grinning as the kids cheered.

One by one, the orphans took turns sliding down, their laughter echoing through the Lanes. Vi watched from the side, her arms crossed but a smile tugging at her lips.

"Not bad, Bigfoot," she said as Derek joined her. "Not bad at all."

Derek chuckled, watching the kids enjoy their handiwork. "Just wait until we build the next one."

---

As the group sat around the bar that night, sharing stories and laughs, Derek felt a rare moment of peace. These people—his family—were growing up alongside him. They weren't perfect, but together, they were unstoppable.