Separate Ways (Arcane AU)

We Were So Young

Unknown POV

I slowly open my eyes, my head throbbing, the world around me looks fuzzy. I'm lying on cold pavement. I can hear running and laughter, children playing, perhaps?

My eyes close and I try to rest for a second.

crack

Pain shoots through my body as someone kicks my ribs, I exhale as the air in my lungs is forced out from the hit.

I try to open my eyes, but I'm too exhausted.

crack

Another hit to the side, I've nearly passed out from the pain already, I just want this to stop...

I can hear the attackers laughing fade out.

Is this it? Am I going to die?

I hear commotion as someone lets out a muffled scream, in fact, everything is muffled, I slowly reach up to my ears, there is lots of blood. I hear a person crash to the ground beside me, I barely open my eyes, I can't tell if it was one of my attackers. I hear yelling as another person hits the ground, which is feeling more comfortable to me now. I feel drops of blood hit my cheek as several blows land on one of the brawlers. Then silence.

"Hey, kid, are you ok?"

I hear a voice ask, echoing in my head, it's the last thing I hear before I pass out...

A few hours later

My eyes blink open, blinded by a light overhead, I look around. I'm not at the docks anymore, that's for sure. I'm in some sort of basement-turned... living room? I don't know, I see beds and toys and little trinkets. The ground feels much softer too, I look down and realize I'm laying down on a couch, several patches where I'm laying, probably from long-terms use. The warm light makes the whole room feel cozy, I hear a door open and footsteps coming down stairs, I try to sit up but the pain stops me and I fall back onto the couch.

"Take it easy, you took quite a beating out there."

A voice says, a girl walks around the head of the couch, places a cup down, and takes a seat on a chair across from me, there's a table between us with a book, some sort of stuffed animal, and a cup with a green liquid in it.

"It's medicine, for the pain."

The girl says. I look up at her, she looks around my age and is wearing an old cloth shirt and trousers, and has several scars on her arms, which are both wrapped in some sort of bandage. She has pink hair and a pair of eyes that look tough, but caring.

I try to sit up again, this time I overcome the pain and am now sitting much more comfortably. I reach forward and grab the cup, pulling it to my face, I get a good look at what's inside. There are several leaves of some plant resting at the bottom of the liquid, and some spices floating at the top, It smells sweet, and also really strong, like there's some sort of alcohol in it. bottoms up I guess, I press the cup to my lips and take a swig, a mix a flavors rush across my taste buds, I can taste mostly cinnamon and oregano, but there both overwhelmed by the burning sensation of whiskey.

I exhale forcefully, trying to get rid of the burning. I set the cup back down. I feel my body cool off inside, I can't feel my ribs that well anymore. The girl stares at me in silence for a moment, before asking

"What's your name?"

I clear my throat, trying to rid myself of the burning happening inside,

"Dav."

I reply, my British accent prominent, as it always is when I'm nervous. She smiles softly, even though I don't know her, that smile is familiar, comforting.