Everyone Betrays Us (Silco x GN!Reader)

Chapter 1

(Y/N POV)

I had been cleaning tables and sweeping the floors for hours on end. At least, it felt like hours. The floors of The Last Drop were always disgusting, and the tables were often worse. As exhausting as it was, I didn't mind my job. I worked for Vander, one of the most well-known men in the Undercity. He was kind, and he paid well. Most days, I came in early in the morning to serve guests at the bar, then I would switch over to waiting tables for the more important customers. At the end of the night, I would clean the bartop, tables, and floors while Vander counted the money and checked stock.

When I first started working there, I would just do whatever I could to get my job done, get paid, and leave. That changed over time when I got used to the environment. As rowdy as the customers could be, I enjoyed listening to their conversations and learning more about them. After a few weeks, I memorized the regulars' favorite drinks, and I could even make small talk with them. Of course, there were some customers you just didn't talk to. The people who came in dressed in shadows and with hatred seeping out of them. They never spoke; they only ordered a drink and sat in silence. Vander warned me to stay away from them, and I happily obliged.

At the beginning, the worst part of the job was the children. Vander liked to take in strays off the streets, and I never quite understood that. He took care of four kids, ranging between I'm guessing ten and sixteen? Some of them weren't as irritating as the others. Eventually, I began to have a soft spot for them as well. Especially the rambunctious blue-haired girl named Powder. She was kind, crafty, and very intelligent. I started enjoying her company when she showed me her little inventions. They reminded me of my good friend who moved to Piltover.

Viktor. Viktor was my best, and only, friend for a very long time. He was brilliant. He inspired me with every word that fell from his lips, and he amazed me with each invention he made. Naturally, a brilliant mind like that can't thrive in a gloomy environment. So, he moved to Piltover to attend the Academy. I was so happy for him, yet I must admit I was angry. He left me alone in this damned city. I had felt selfish when I would find myself hating him for his decision, because how could I blame him? He did what none of us could: he got out. He did something that would not only improve his life, but the lives of those around him. In the end, I was proud of him.

Powder was not nearly as reserved as Viktor was. She always seemed to bounce around and talk at high speeds and volumes. She was a child, of course. When I got closer with her, I began to get closer with the others. Mylo and Claggor came around rather fast, but Vi was the hardest to get to. She didn't trust easily, and with her past, I couldn't blame her. She was a troubled girl with a strong heart. She became more like Vander every day. When I did finally gain her trust, I began to enjoy spending time with her. She saw all the details in the world.

As I was cleaning, I turned back toward the bar and noticed Powder sitting alone. She had a stuffed bunny that was roughly stitched together. Vander noticed her at the same time I did as he cleaned glasses behind the bar. He poured her her favorite drink with a little bendable straw, but she merely looked at it and promptly returned her attention to the bartop. Something was off. I gave Vander a look as I leaned against the table I was cleaning, a look that meant, "Talk to her." Of course, he didn't talk to her. It wasn't that he didn't listen to me, but he got distracted by something. He looked down at the toy bunny and seemed to realize something important. He gestured for me to watch Powder as he bolted out the door.

I put down the revolting rag I was using to wipe tables and walked over to sit next to Powder. "Hey, kiddo," I said softly, "Everything alright?" She looked at me and looked down again. She seemed to be tracing shapes on the bartop with her fingers. I took a risk and reaches out to rub circles on her back, and she seemed to relax slightly. She sighed and looked up at me with puppy dog eyes. I didn't know what was wrong, but I had to do something. "It's gonna be ok, I promise..." I offered a small smile as I continued to rub her back. She nodded and put her head back on the table. We sat like that for an hour. That's when Vi came running in.