Revenants - Arcane LOL x Male Reader

Chapter 28

"I was hoping to wait a bit longer before giving this to you," he says as he fixes on a new arm,  "Have been working on this one for a while... never wanted any part in you doing what you are doing but without you, this place would have been a lot worse."

I glance at him over my shoulder, "You can say that you aren't proud of me," I state, "A lot of people aren't exactly happy about what I have done."

He shakes his head, "I am proud of you, I only wished that this wasn't the life you had to lead."

I smile to myself, "If it weren't me, it would have been someone else. I am sure of that," then shutting my eyes tightly, "I spend every night wondering where I have gone wrong, worrying about the past and hating myself for becoming this."

"Wanting to die every single night, wishing and hoping that I would be the one fading away when all of this is done."

He nods, "You phrase your words as if you feel differently."

"I do," I then open my eyes to look at him again, "Do you remember why I chose that name?"

"Revenants, right?" I nod, "Because it felt like it gave you purpose."

"I never wanted to survive, I thought if I tricked myself - played pretend that I am this revenant hunting down the people that wronged me, that wronged the Lanes that it would be all the easier to bear with. That if I lived for revenge my end will come all the quicker in hopes that I would one day go where I belong."

"I- I had no idea that is how you felt all these years," he then asks with  genuine concern, "And this changed, right?"

"I don't know yet. The end is where things begin."

He then pushes himself away from me, "I know you won't ever stop, it would be too selfish to make you promise to stop."

I then drop my gaze, a frown making me think to my conversation with Vi, "I broke plenty of promises already."

"I would never put that on you," he states, "Though when you are done, take that new arm I got for you for a spin and see what it can do. Chem tech is quite advanced but I made sure not to mix with the Shimmer variants," he then smiles at me, "It should work like a charm."

I lift myself on the operating table, looking at my new arm as I test its movements, giving a satisfied sigh along with a grateful smile I through my feet off the side, letting them dangle as I stretch my arms and back.

My shoulder is still sore from that bullet, if it weren't for this arm I would have died on that bridge, funny how the thing I hate so much ended up saving me. 

Then lowering my gaze to my dangling feet, "I might not come back after this one."

He turns around, a pained expression masked with a smile, "Yeah... I imagine this might have ended up being the last we get to meet like this. After all, I got so used to reading into your motives, whether it ended up getting new scars or just cleaning new wounds."

"I don't plan on killing myself, but chances are more than one person will die when the time comes. I just want to take the chance to say goodbye," then with a weak smile, "And thanks for sticking by me even when I was trying to get myself killed."

 "Think nothing of it," he then averts his gaze, still holding his smile, "We look out for those we care for."

***   ***   ***

The night to take the fight to them has come, Cal then walks up to me, "We got everything ready, just need you to give us a quick speech, and then we can get to taking back the lives we lost, avenge our people."

I then glance at her with a raised eyebrow, "I don't do speeches."

She lifts her shoulders, "Someone has to do it, besides, it would mean so much more coming from you. These people didn't come just because they needed a place to stay, you inspired them with your suicidal tendencies."

"Thanks, makes me feel loads better."

She giggles, "It makes me feel better," then tilts her head to the side, "What's up? I can tell you are thinking of something and it is killing you."

I nod, "Sorry. I think I have been the harshest to you, despite you being there even when I didn't need you."

"I should have run away the moment I could," then looking at our people preparing our gear, "Though I wouldn't trade it for anything else. The time spent fighting to be the difference we needed, to cut the head off of the snake."

Then twisting my mouth to the side, "I was referring to your-"

"I know," she smiles at me again, "I know how to pick 'em," then with a chuckle, "I don't care about my feelings, it hurts more seeing you in pain, driving yourself up the wall because you don't know whether or not you belong. It was always about revenge and I didn't want to see you die because of it."

"Thanks," then offering a warm smile, "For being by my side, even when it didn't count for anything."

She smiles back, "At least I got to see you smile," then lifting herself, resting her hand on my shoulder, "I will make sure you get out of this alive, okay? The Revenants will die with you, there are lots and lots of people that are going to need you."

I nod. She disappears towards them as I hover in place for a moment. I lift myself finally, heading towards where everyone is gathered as El gestures for me to come over. He then gestures to a metal cabinet on the floor.

"Need help getting up?"

"Fuck yourself," I remark as I climb on top of it, everyone looking at me.

Then taking a deep breath as I look them in the eyes.

"I remember when they would say it's all okay, it'll be alright. When most of us were barely old enough to hold a conversation and others been fighting this war longer than any of us."

"The final time is now, the final time to go but none of us will get down. For they took it all, this world that they corrupted, planting the seeds of war that will kill thousands in one fell swoop. Wear your masks with pride, not because of the person you once were but to fight for what we lost and take back that which was ours."

"Follow me, I will show you how to defeat them!"

Lifting my fist on first instinct. They all join in as El calls out.

"We'll take all that they stole - raise our fists - the dead will come to reap what you sow..."

Their voices call after him word for word. With each phrase, my smile grew wider. As I finally reach everything I have fought for.

Then glancing down to my open palm, this is for all the people we lost. I hope you will forgive me, Vi. I hope that you survived somehow Ekko. I hope to see you again Caitlyn. This is my end, after all, the one I yearned for.