Smoke And Mirrors

Fireworks

"Just say what the fuck you want Ekko"

The boy let out a humorless laugh, as if he had expected this kind of reaction from Vi "I don't want anything"

"Then why are you here?" Vi asked suspiciously.

"Does it matter?" Ekko inquiried "I thought you were busy serving the cops, am I mistaken?"

Oh, so this is where this conversation was going, Vi thought, much to her dismay. No matter how many times she had encountered Ekko through the years, their talks were completely pointless. He was just a kid, unable to understand her way of thinking. Why did he insist so much?

"If you got no business here, piss off. This is police business" the enforcer waved him off. She didn't have time for this.

"Acting like the good cop? How pathetic" Ekko snarled at her "Risking your life for her father... She's using you"

"Oh really? Is that what you think?" Vi repsonded sarcastically "Shocking news; I don't give a fuck. Now, get out of my way"

Ekko growled "Why won't you see the truth? She doesn't give a single damn about you, you should have known that better than anyone else. You're just a toy for her"

Vi was boiling with anger "You're just a dumb kid that knows nothing. Get the fuck out of my way or I'll toss you out of my way"

"You used to be different Vi. You were a hero. Now you're just a police dog" Ekko shook his head in disappointment "Or should I say the sherrif's bitch?"

"And who are you exactly, Ekko?" Vi furiously asked "Oh wait, lemme guess. A hopeless child who's helping a lunatic kill and wreak havoc in the city, that's what you are. Let's not forget how you're helping the Black Rose as well, I think this might be your greatest achievement"

"Do you listen to what you say?" Ekko spat "If I was working with them, I'd killed you already!"

"Yeah, and now I'm convinced" Vi replied, sarcasm dripping off her voice "Listen up here kiddo, I don't got the time to solve this right now, so if you would be so kind to let me have a look at the van, I'd appreciate that a lot"

"Suit yourself" Ekko said as he turned his back at her, finally walking away "I thought you would want to know if the van is trapped with explosives or not. Well, I guess you don't. See ya"

Vi was caught off surprise "Wait, what do you mean with that? Come back here you asshole, you can't leave me hanging like this! Is there an explosive mechanism?"

"Who knows. I'll let the good cop find out" Ekko waved her off "See you around Vi"

Vi cringed her teeth so hard that she almost broke some of them. This goddamned son of a bitch appeared out of nowhere to bother her with their personal stuff while she was on duty. How more selfish this guy would be? Didn't he understand that she was never going back on her previous life in Zaun? This life belonged in the past and if he didn't want to accept it, it was his right not to, but at least he should respect her decision. Bloody hell, this kid was such a pain in the ass.

But right now, she needed to find the explosive mechanism quickly and disable it. She opened the back doors, then went to the drivers seat, searched under the seats and the vehicle but found nothing. Had Ekko foolished her? Perhaps. But she needed to be a hundred percent sure before she called for backup to pick the van up.

Abandoning the cambin, she went outside since she had decided to check on the engine. If it wasn't there, then it wasn't anywhere else. She opened up the metallic door that hid the engine from the outside world and she found the mechanism laying there proudly. It was a simple box filled with explosives with a digital clock that counted down until the vehicle bursted into flames. She had exactly five minutes to find a way to stop it.