Chapter Text
Rain was pouring as it reached the underground. Everyone was safe in their makeshift home as two children were in an alleyway under an awning wet. The oldest one was humming as the youngest was sleeping on his shoulder as the oldest stroked his hair making sure he was safe. How everything used to feel so perfect for everything to twist into anguish in the next.
…
Morning came and Vander has never been more nervous. Vander was woken up by Singed who had a dirty cloak and a muzzle in his hands that morning asking him to put it on not to raise suspicion as he was being escorted to Silcos office which was at the last drop. Vander couldn't believe how everything changed as he was walking with singed chained up like a dog on a leash. People from zaun doing deals in allys and piltover enforcers doing their daily rounds glanced at them as they walked by confused and scared as they wondered who this cloaked monster was little did they know it was there once fallen leader. Bander couldn’t believe how much the underground had changed as graffiti and chaos roamed these once peaceful yet dangerous streets. Vander for the first time in his life felt lost in the city he once grew up in.
They finally reached their destination without raising too much suspicion as the last drop was closed that morning and was only really active in the evening nowadays. Once he stepped through the doors he was relieved to be home sure it was a mess and a few things were out of place. Like a couple of added rooms and some stains and graffiti on the walls but it was home. Singed opened the door to Silco doing paperwork in the office as both of them walked through the door and singed locked the door behind him.
“ I hope everything was okay with delivering…our new council member.” Silco said as he got up from his chair and walked towards them with a tired expression.
“ It was surprisingly enough. This bag contains everything you’ll need for him like his medication and some clothes he can wear. I do require that I see him for an annual check once every month just so he can keep his immunity. .” Singed said as he gave him a bag full of supplies as he dropped Vanders chain to the floor.
“ Thank you, you can go back to your lab now ,I know you have more important things to get too.” With that singed left the office leaving the last drop to return to his lab as he had enough of Vanders blood to experiment with.
It was now only Vander and Silco alone in the office and the silence between them felt like it was stabbing them with knives as they both didn’t know what to say. Finally after a few minutes of excruciating silence Silco slowly walked towards Vander to try to remove his cloaked hood only resulting in Vander growling at him which caught Vander off guard as he was still getting used to his animalistic urges and was really trying to make them stop. Silco only rolled his eyes at him in response as he wasn’t afraid of his older brother.
“ Oh grow up.” Silco said as he took Vanders hood and flipped it back revealing Vanders wolf like face and the muzzle Vander had on which made Silcos heart sink.
“ Oh Vander…”
“ What?”
“ What? What?! Vander, did Singed force you to put this on? Does it even come off?! aren’t you hurt?!
“ Of course it hurts, what do you think?!” Vander said as he snapped at Vander in anger but then sighed as he calmed himself down
“No…I wasn’t forced, I was given this and had put it on willingly. besides It’s better this way. At least I don’t hurt anyone like this.”
“ Chained up like some dog? You are not showing up before the chem barons like this and that counts for the clothes as well. I looked in the bag and they looked horrid. At least he gave you the decency to wear some pants, now sit down .”
“ No.”
“ Sit down Vander.” Silco said with temper in his voice as he pushed him into a chair as he got out a hairpin from his pocket and started picking the chained locks on not only his muzzle but everywhere else.
“ Since when do you carry around hairpins?”
“ Well you never know when you get yourself into a tight spot and need an exit plan or just need to untie yourself from a situation, also it keeps my hair up it’s pretty hard to maintain… you taught me that.
Vander froze as he continued to keep his mouth shut for the duration of the lock picking. He did teach him that as orphans of the underground it was hard to keep a job without being killed or being taken advantage of so stealing was a good way to get by back then it still is. As eleven year old Silco would provide a distraction as Fourteen year old Vander broke in to get goods. They made a pretty good team as they continued to get scores. Sometimes the roles would be switched as it gave Silco a chance to try to get a score. Times seemed so simple back then for these two brothers as they enjoyed each other's company as Vander ruffled silcos hair and played together as they shared what they had with each other…how could things end up like this?
“ Look… I know you don’t like this. I don't like this either but can we at least try to put up with each other. For powder's sake?” Silco said as he continued to pick locks.
“ You say that but I don’t see her. How do I know your not lying about this whole thing? What's stopping me from killing you where you stand?
As Vander said that there was a knock on the office door as both of them turned their heads towards the door. “ Hey Silco, Selvika and I are going to the market to get parts for her arm and will be gone most of the day and before saying no I’m going to run out of the bar. I love you bye!” Jinx said from the door in a fast pace before hearing her run down the stairs. Vanders expression froze as he heard her voice as he stood up and let out a small whimper, as his animal side came through again.
“ That’s why Vander. If you won’t do this for the nation of Zaun then do it for her. She deserves more than a life in the streets.” As Silco said that he sat back down obeying silcos commands. “ I know this is hard for you. I can't imagine what you're going through right now. but if this whole arrangement is going to work you're going to have to listen to me embrace your monstrous nature. I’m not asking you as the eye of zaun. I'm asking you this as your little brother. You think you can do that?”
“ if I do this…you’ll let me see her again?”
“ You have my word.” Silco said as he picked the last lock and threw the chains across the room and removed the muzzle from his face causing Vander to shake his head shaking the tightness of the muzzle off. Silco couldn’t help but laugh a little bit as Silco took his hand out and ruffled Vanders fur a bit.
“ Stop it, you're messing my fur up.” Vander said in annoyance.
“ It's not so nice when someone messes with your hair is it?” As Silco smiled a bit.
…
As soon as Vander got free from the chains Silco equipped Vander with a leather jacket with a white blouse with shredded dark grey pants with black fingerless gloves to put on in the bathroom. They made their way to the chem barons where everyone was deviously plotting and waiting on orders from their new leader who was not notifying everyone that there was going to be a new member, including Sevika. As soon as Vander entered the room eyes were all on him but he was used to the feeling so it didn’t bother him that much he was worried about his brother then anything. Sure he has a way with words and twisting them around in order to get what he wants but sometimes it leads to trouble and being punched in the face… he knew from past experiences.
“ Silco…What is the meaning of this?” Finn asked in a strong voice
“ The meaning of what?” Silco said in a calm tone as he took his seat at the head of the table as Vander stood behind him.
“ Who’s the dog?”
In that moment silcos eye almost twitches but doesn’t show it as he didn’t appreciate his brothers welcoming which was to be expected. Vander on the other hand tried to keep it together but had let out a low growl which seemed to intimidate some of the chem barons at the table.
“ This is Warwick and he will be taking up command. He will be in charge of what happens in the lanes as well as our line of defence.” With that announcement everyone was in shock at this new information as they didn’t appreciate a newcomer coming in and taking up such a high role.
“ I thought Sevika was in charge of the lanes, why the change of command? Renni said in confusion as she stood up from her chair.
“ Did she slip up? Kinda knew she wasn’t cut out for this.” Smeech chuckled maniacally.
“ She did nothing of the sort. She will be simply working with Warwick to resolve our rebellion situation-”
“ how do you know that this Warwick isn’t a spy from piltover? I mean are we just suppose to trust you because you killed Vander?” Finn said glaring at Silco across the table.
“ Trust me if I was a traitor none of you would be leaving this room alive.” Vander said as all heads turned towards him and Silco glared up at him giving him the expression of what the hell are you doing?!
“ Keep out of this hound.” Finn shouted then focusing his attention to Vander but Vander only shrugged in response as he made his way around the table.
“ Very well but you should know that Silco may have called the shots and plunged the backstabbing knife into Vander but I was the one who finished the job.” Everyone froze when he heard that including finn who wasn’t expecting a response like that.
“ I thought your drugged out shimmer freak Singed created was the backup plan. Smeech said in confusion.
“ It was the plan. He’s only bluffing.” Finn said in disbelief.
“ I assure you I’m not.As clever as our leader is, he had a backup plan, which was me since Sevika was knocked out from the blast and couldn’t finish the job alone so he ordered Singed to bring me into the light. An war machine, An unstable experiment from Singeds lab that is able to kill anything that moves. Oh… You should’ve heard Vanders Screams as I tore his flesh and bones apart. How he begged for not only his life but the life of his family’s life. Lucky for him I don’t kill children, only traitors and those who get in the way of zaun glorious future.” Vander spoke in a high voice that intimated all of the chem barons as they felt the feeling of fear wrapped around their throats hearing how he killed their old ruler but Finn didn’t seem to be amused as he yawned.
“ You want to give me a title Silco, give me the title of the weak and pathetic man that couldn’t even respond to the cause and defend zaun… From Now on I rule these lanes as the REAL hound of the underground…Any objections?” He said as he stood before Finn tall and grasping his throat.
“ Enough Warwick. You’ve made your point. You shall have your position just sit down. We have more important things to discuss.” Silco said as he shouted at Vander and with that Vander let go of Finn and returned to silcos side and smirked at Finn.
Finn swallowed his pride As it was replaced with fear and continued business with another chem baron as everything escalated from there . Vander admits that could’ve gone better; but Silco was losing the audience and had to do something. He was given a talking-to on the way back by Silco that he would have jeopardized not only himself but the plan as well. But he didn’t care, he made his point and knew from here on out that people were going to listen to him. after that big speech people went on with the meeting as normal making sure enforcers were forced out of zaun and how resources should be scattered throughout zaun like shimmer, drugs, food, and water as well as striking fear into their citizens but other than that no claims that Warwick should be kicked from the council or no riots began in the council room. It was somewhat calm but it was only because he was doing what he was asked…no what he was ordered to do and he expected to be rewarded for that, for Silco to follow up on his deal as they made their way back to last drop. He wanted his daughter…
“ What were you thinking?Silco said in a sour tone.
“ I did what you ordered me to do.” Vander said in a snarky response.
“ You deviated from my instructions, you were only supposed to stand by and let me do the talking. Now you made things ten times more difficult.”
“ If anything I made things ten times easier.
“ I don’t know why I even bothered… Even as a monster your head is to thick to listen to me. ”When Silco said that Vander finally rerouted into anger as it was being held in all day.
“Why are you upset it worked, they think I killed Vander with your help. they now fear and respect us. Isn’t that what you wanted?!”
“ You threatened a chem barron.”
“ He had it coming and isn’t your zaun vision about people fearing you. I was only doing what you asked, embracing my monstrous nature.” Vander said in a mocking tone which seemed to infuriate Silco more.
“ why you-!” Before Silco could say another word a gun was shot in front of them that shot through the door of the last drop. ot actually managed to go through Vanders shoulder as he flinched at the pain. They immediately turned their heads towards the front of the bar where Sevika was ready to fire another shot.
“ If you're smart you’ll leave right now before I fire another shot, hound.” Selvika said in an intimidating voice causing Vander to bark and pounce at Sevika which resulted in her being tackled to the ground and shooting another shot that was hit at the ceiling and took out one of the lantern lights when a loud yelp was heard from behind the bar. Vanders ears perked up at the scream and saw powder peak up slowly from behind the bar causing Vanders heart to drop.
“ Warwick down! Sevika put that gun away for goodness sake before you shoot another light besides is that anyway to treat your new partner?! Silco said in a furious voice as Warwick got off Sevika letting her get to her feet very confused and conflicted. “ Jinx are you okay, are you hurt?”
“ Jinx?” Vander said in a low voice but shook it off as he saw her come closer and closer to Warwick in awe and curiosity.
“ Silco, who’s he?” jinx said in an astonished voice.
“ Jinx, This is Warwick. Hound of the underground he’s our newest member of our zaun family.” Silco said as he walked towards jinx comforting her and letting her walk closer to Vander. Vander took a few steps back in fear as he didn’t know what to do in this situation.
“ Hello.“ jinx said in a sheepishly childlike voice.
“ Hey…” Vander said in a low voice as his voice is not recognizable as Vander anymore as it became deep from all the experiments but still Vander felt nervous of being found out. He was just nervous in general he was standing before his daughter…his child he longed so long for. “ I-I’m Warwick…I’ll be your guardian for now on. You know just caring for you, making sure your safe, just the regular caretaker stuff-
“ So you're my new friend?” Jinx said as her eyes started to light up and smile.
“ Y-Yeah.. I guess I am but mostly-” before he could finish jinx ran up to him and hugged him tight as she was happy she finally had a new friend and just like that Vander melted as he hugged her back.
“ Don’t worry Warwick I promise to be a good friend to you and never abandon you. We are going to have so much fun together.”
Silco watched from a far as Vander embraced powder and smiled a little bit. He hasn’t seen powder happy in a long time, it actually made him feel a little happy. But then he saw Vander as he looked distraught but relieved as he hugged her tight and that he was almost on the verge of tears as he held her close but was holding them down so as to not ruin the moment and not reveal his identity. Silco then Started to feel bad about what he said earlier he was just trying to help. Family meant a lot to Vander not because of his promise to Felicia but because of how he loved being a dad. As Silco stood there watching this bittersweet scene from afar he couldn’t help but think of if he was willing to be a father to powder couldn’t he try to at least be a good brother to Vander too?
As Vander felt powder in his arms he felt so relieved as he was with his child again. That he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her, he couldn’t protect vi but he swore that he would protect powder for as long as he lives. For he was now the wrath of zaun, the hound of the underground, Warwick.