.•What Once Was•. (vixreader)

On One Condition.

With Vi's hand intertwined with yours, you both made your way towards Ekko.
Up top on the balcony again, Vi finally had a chance to gaze her surrounding. Her eyes seemingly widened as they landed on your home.
"Is that a real tree?" She gaped.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Ekko replied, a small but apparent smile on his lips.
"When we first saw it, we knew this was the place. If a single seed could make it down here, so could we." He finished.

"You both built all this?" She questioned, turning to look at you two.
"Not alone," You stated.
"After Vander... died, Silco flooded the Lanes with shimmer. He didn't care what it did to people. Everyone here was an addict or a victim."
You continued as Vi listened intently, looking over the kids that played below, Bex being one of them.
They all greeted her, holding up their hand in a certain way to signify a hello.

"They needed somewhere safe to start again."
You finished, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. She exasperatedly sighed, looking elsewhere.
"I should have been there. For you both. For everyone." Vi murmured, the sad look in her eyes present yet again.
"That's a good way to drive yourself crazy."
Ekko replied nonchalantly.
"If I just went with you that day, maybe none of this would have happened." He finished, his face expressing a disappointed demeanor.

"Or maybe you'd be dead. Or... changed."
Vi replied, turning to face away as she contemplated all the events.
"Powder's gone, Vi. All that's left is Jinx, and she belongs to Silco." Ekko stated.
"You're wrong! She's still in there. I can reach her." She spat, her brows pinching in slight ire.
"You can't." Ekko answered.
"I know my sister."

You could only look down at the floor, woeful of the fact that Vi was so persistent to get her little sister back, but you knew it wasn't possible.
Ekko shared a knowing look to you, before turning to Vi.
"I've got one more thing to show you."
Ekko asserted.

Vi looked at you slightly confused, before you nodded your head as a motion for her to follow.
The three of you walked down the stairs and headed for the mural; Vi looked over at it with a hint of sadness.
"This is everyone we've lost. The price of our freedom. Some of it was Enforcers, most was Silco. Your sister works for him not because she had to, but because she wants to. I'm sorry but that's who she is now."

Vi was about to remark, before her eyes landed on the mural again, noticeably looking at Powder's portrait up on the wall.
You simply took ahold of her hand, allowing her to turn to you.
"I of all people know that dreaded man more than anyone. And believe me Vi, we've tried to bring that sweet girl back, but there's no use. Silco is a manipulative bastard who has brainwashed her, and it's irreversible."
Vi simply held your hand a little tighter, looking down at the floor as the faintest of tears brimmed her eyes.

You felt pity for your poor Pinky, knowing that she had spent every single year after that sole day hoping that she'd be able to find her sister the way she was. But things changed, and Vi was having a hard time digesting that. You couldn't blame her, you only sympathized.

•. •. •.

A few moments after, it was finally time to address the prisoner still held hostage, the one you knew absolutely nothing about until Ekko said something.
"Hold on... so let me get this straight, there's a Piltie in there, but not just any Piltie. A whole Enforcer?! Vi what were you thinking!"
You reprimanded, looking at Vi with a bewildered look. She held back a laugh, pursing her lips together.
"Oh so you think it's funny?"
You queried, your arms crossed.
"No, no, not that. I just find it hilarious that you haven't changed in much aspects, specifically in the way you get after me."

You buried your face in your hands, letting out a groan. "Can you believe this Ekko?"
He shrugged. "I mean.. she is right."
You scoffed. "Whatever, let's please go back to addressing the serious matter here."
"Well, it's kind of a long story."
"A long story that will be discussed after we deal with the Piltie." Ekko affirmed.