𝐄𝐤𝐤𝐨 | 𝐃𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕪 𝐋𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕝𝕖 𝐀𝕟𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕝𝕤

5. Memories

He saved the day. Truly.
He stopped those two Enforcers from blowing up the factory and saved the lives of countless Zaunites.

Although, my question to why he was alone soon got answered.
The Firelight had back up come along after that, and they stole so much of the Shimmer production that I couldn't believe my eyes when I finally freed myself and walked inside, to find about fifty Shimmer tanks gone.

I couldn't understand.
What would they even do with it?

~

A smoky haze lingered in Silco's office from the cigar he'd abandoned on the edge of a tray.
I stood at the far end of the room, hands clasped at the back, trying not to fidget under the weight of his glare. His eyes burned into me like he would have incinerated me on the spot.

"You've crossed the line, Shark," Silco growled, his voice low but venomous.
His movements were controlled, and taking a step closer, an undercurrent of fury barely restrained beneath his coldness.
"Do you have any idea how much you've jeopardised us? Letting yourself get tied up?!"

I flinched, yet spoke nothing. My gaze glued to the floor.
"If you saw them, followed them, almost had them..." he began, but then sighed and started again.
"You weren't paying attention. That's what it was. You've weakened, haven't you? Too caught up in the damn moment to figure out that Firelight had secondary motives."

"I-" attempting to say something resulted harder than intended.
Silco raised a hand sharply, cutting me off.
"Don't." His voice was colder now, quieter, which somehow made it worse.
"Don't you dare try to defend yourself. You had one job— you took the initiative, started somewhere— and then what did you do?"
He leaned closer, his breath hot against my cheek.
"You failed. Not only did you let yourself get fooled, but also ended up tied like some green recruit. You looked weak, and worse, you made me look weak. Do you think Piltover respects weakness, Shark?"

I shook my head, but my throat was too tight to speak.
"And then there's more, actually..." he paced a few steps, glaring at me over his shoulder.
"You had him— that Firelight— in your grasp. You had your dagger. You had more than one chance. And yet..."
He spun to face me, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"You didn't do it. Why?

I opened my mouth, desperate to give him an answer, say that owl boy meant no harm.
He's still the one that stole Shimmer from Silco's factory though, so that should be no excuse.
I couldn't bring myself to truly hurt him.
And I didn't know why.
My silence hung in the air like a damning confession.
"Why did you not kill him?" Silco demanded by raising his voice. "Was it pity? Fear?"

I shook my head again, biting down hard on my lip.
"I- I don't know," I stammered finally, but the words were useless, even to me.
"You don't know?" Every word was full of disdain.
"I don't have the luxury of not knowing, Shark. Neither do you. Hesitation in this world means death. It's betrayal."
"I didn't betray you," I said quietly, yet meaning it fully. My eyes focused on his, brows furrowed and hands tightening into fists behind my back.
He moved closer, forcing me to look up at him.
"You didn't kill him. That's enough to make me wonder where your loyalties truly lie."

Silco straightened, running a hand through his greyish, slicked back hair. His expression unreadable now.
"I should throw you back to the streets, let you fend for yourself. Maybe then you'd learn the cost of hesitation."
I so wanted to shout, telling him I didn't regret keeping the Firelight alive for one second, even if I didn't know the reason.
But I couldn't.
My boss walked back towards his desk, filing together a small pile of paper as he looked like he was reining in his temper.
"You know, Vander would have been proud of you for sparing that Firelight."