Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The clink of glasses and chatter of patrons filled the Last Drop as the evening crowd settled in. Golden light lit up the room, tables full after a long day. Behind the bar, Vander absentmindedly wiped down the same glass he had been cleaning for the last few minutes. One ear was tilted towards Benzo, perched precariously on the corner stool as he chattered on continuously about something or other. Vander was trying to listen… he really was. But all of his concentration was centered on the bell that hung above the door without seeming like he was anxiously waiting for it to open. He was trying so hard to look unconcerned that when the bell chimed as the door swung open he almost dropped the glass.

Carefully he set it down before glancing up nonchalantly to see Councilor Silco pace into the bar, Powder pouting at his side.

“How’d it go?” Vander asked carefully as Silco slid onto one of the stools. Powder shot Vander a long-suffering look before stalking away, throwing herself onto the seat next to Benzo’s boy, Ekko, and slamming her bag down on the bar.

“As expected,” Silco sighed. Nodding, Vander busied himself behind the bar for a moment before sending a thin fluted glass Silco’s way. The councilor flashed him a tired smile as he pulled the cup close, swirling the contents inside. “They’re just not ready for… certain ideas yet.”

“We knew they wouldn’t be.”

“We did. But she,” Silco glanced over to where Powder was studiously ignoring him, “she still wanted to hope.”

“And you couldn’t just take that away from her. I get it.”

“No. I couldn’t.” Silco brought the cup to his lips and took a long sip. “Ah. Delicious.”

“She’s taking it well,” Vander drawled as he glanced over at Powder. If looks could kill, there wouldn’t be a person alive in the bar. “Daddy’s little girl, eh?”

Silco shrugged. “It could have been worse, with what she’s been tinkering with in that workshop of hers. And now that she and Ekko have been getting closer…”

“Ekko?” Vander looked over to where Benzo’s boy was whispering in her ear, and the fire was slowly going out of her eyes. She pulled out a notebook and the two of them bent over it, going over one page after another. “What about Ekko?” Silco chuckled and shook his head.

“You are an excellent father, Vander… but you are also blind if you can't see what they’re becoming.”

Vander stood up straight, glowering over at the tuft of white hair that bobbed above Ekko’s forehead. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he took a heavy step towards the boy in his sights, but the sound of Silco clearing his throat stopped him in his tracks.

“Vander,” the councilor said, a note of reproach in his voice. Vander crossed his arms tightly, but after a moment’s hesitation he huffed and returned to Silco’s side. Dropping his arms on the bar, he bent his head as he tried to let go of the sudden wave of protectiveness. Silco reached out and laid a slim hand on his broad forearm. After a moment Vander looked up, a small smile on his face as he covered Silco’s hand with his own. “She’s getting to be that age… we can’t keep her to ourselves forever.”

“I know.”

“Cheer up,” Silco said, withdrawing his hand and taking another sip of his drink. “Closing time is coming soon. Powder, Mylo, and Claggor have work to do for the competition, so they’re going to Benzo’s for tonight. She won’t be back until morning.”

“I thought you said… you can’t be serious that she’ll stay with Ekko??”

“Not just with Ekko,” Silco scoffed. “With all of them. At Benzo’s. They’ll all be together. Mylo and Claggor will be there, too, and Benzo will keep an eye on all of them. And besides… that will leave us free for – other things.”

“Meaning?” Vander asked, blinking uncomprehendingly.

“Meaning, you and I will be all alone tonight, and I’m hoping that we can… make the best of it.”

“Oh.” Vander looked across the bar, his brow furrowed as he tried to suss out what Silco was talking about. With a sigh, Silco placed a finger on the bar and very deliberately drew a small circle, and then gestured between the two of them.

“Just… us.”

“OH!” Understanding dawned in Vander’s eyes, and an enormous grin broke out on his face. “ ‘Course, we could do that. Might close down a nip early then, yeah?”

“No need for that.” Silco took another sip of his drink, his eyes crinkling as he smiled. “We have all the time in the world.”

oOo

Laying in a tangle of sheets and Vander, Silco listened to his husband’s slow and steady breathing. His cigarette lit up his face with a tiny orange glow as he took a drag, blowing the smoke out in a thin stream. It had been a long time since they had fucked quite like that… Silco almost felt young again.

It was quiet in the Lanes this time of night. All the hard work they had done, all the sacrifices… it had paid off. Once Silco had been able to make his way onto the council in Piltover, things had started changing. Slowly at first, but progress was progress, and nothing for Zaun to turn their collective noses up at. There was still so far to go, but at least things had started.

Silco smiled as he thought of how strong Powder had been. Fearless as she stood before the council, her designs for the air filters and water purifiers spread across the great table. They hadn’t agreed to it, of course. Silco had known they wouldn’t. But Powder had been so passionate… Daddy’s little girl, indeed. One day, she would change the world.

“Silk?” Vander mumbled sleepily, shifting against Silco’s side and pulling him close. Quickly Silco stubbed out the rest of his cigarette and sank back against the warmth of his hound. “Can’t sleep?”

“Just thinking,” Silco replied. He gently drew his fingers along the lines of the scar that ran down his cheek, an old habit from when things were more tempestuous, less optimistic. Before the reconciliation.

“Eye bothering you?”

“No.” Silco snuggled in, enjoying the feeling of Vander’s strong arms closing in tight around him. “Go back to sleep.” Vander nuzzled into his short hair, grunting happily, and in moments his breathing had evened out again, the gentle rise and fall of his chest pushing against Silco’s back, soothing. Content, Silco let the gentle rhythm lull him into sleep.

oOo

The next day went by in a blur of commotion. Powder begged Silco to put her hair up so she wouldn’t have to stop writing in her notebook. Vander was late waking up. By the time Silco managed to make it to the council chamber, he was late and out of sorts.

The rest of the day wasn’t much better. As he walked back across the bridge to the Last Drop, all he wanted to do was curl up with Vander and let him work out the kink he could feel pulling in his neck. He already knew that it would be hours before that possibility, though. The Last Drop would be slowly filling up… with the competition in the morning, Vander had offered to host a party for all the participants. And Silco knew that meant Ekko and Powder would be settled in at the bar, making eyes at each other.

He didn’t mind Ekko… there was a lot worse that Powder could do. At least it wasn’t a Piltie! The very thought of Powder ending up with someone like that young fop on the council… Salo. Silco suppressed a shudder. The very idea made him cringe. And she and Ekko did have so much in common… Vander said the boy had been acting strangely the last few days, but Silco had waved away his concerns. The pressures of the contest could make anyone act differently.

He stopped for a moment, angling his face into the warm sunlight. No matter how many years passed, he would never get tired of the feeling. After a moment he turned his feet back towards Zaun. He would need time to get ready for the party, himself.

When he finally came down, fashionably late, he was surprised to see that Powder wasn’t there yet. Ekko was, however. He and Benzo were at the bar speaking with Vander. Look at us, Silco thought with a shake of his head. Who would have guessed this is how the three of us would end up.

“I have a feeling you’ll be running this place soon,” Vander remarked as Silco sidled up, already shaking a drink Silco knew was meant for him. Coming up behind Vander, Silco slid a hand onto his husband’s shoulder and smiled down at Ekko.

“So, there’s a chance for us yet,” Silco teased. Vander turned and winked as he poured the drink out. Silco knew right away that he was just showing off his timing, somehow knowing just when to make Silco’s drink. Across the bar, Ekko’s eyes narrowed as next to him Benzo began to chuckle.

“You!” the boy exclaimed.

“Didn’t think I’d miss your big day, did you?”

Before Ekko had a chance to respond, a pulse ran through the bar, shaking the lights and knocking the partygoers off balance. Silco felt like his ears needed to pop. Ekko jumped up from his stool, rocketing to his feet and looking around frantically at the faces that surrounded him.

“No no no,” the boy muttered. “No, it’s happening again, just like before!”

“Vander?” Powder asked, running out from where she had hidden herself for her grand entrance towards the bar, veering off to check in on Ekko as he continued to look around wildly.

“What was that?” Silco asked, placing a hand on Vander’s shoulder. Vander shrugged, glancing around the bar.

“Everyone alright?” Vander called out. Groans and muttered voices filtered back to him, but no one seemed the worse for wear. The Hound turned and smiled down at Silco.

“Seems alright,” he rumbled. And then, the bell of the door tinkled as it swung open, and in stalked a thin man with greying hair, cut short around his neck. A purple coat with golden trim fit over a very familiar scarlet shirt, a white necktie knotted at his throat. One sea blue eye darting around the room, the other a red iris glaring out of a completely black sclera from the center of a large scar over his face, another Silco stalked into the bar, a look of disbelief on his face… and under it, simmering rage.

Chapter Text

Silco moved into the dim interior of the Last Drop. It was impossible! It had been years since the bar had looked like… well, if he was honest with himself, it had never looked like this! That wasn't the sky that he could see through the glass panels in the roof… was it? And over by the bar. It couldn’t be. And yet, there they were, bigger than life. Benzo and Vander staring at him as he walked forward.
He ground his teeth as he moved. Blank stares followed his every movement. Blank from everyone except the young, white haired lad standing beside Benzo. There he found what was missing from everyone else. Fear. And anger.

And then, from around Vander, a slight gentleman stepped forward. Grey hair styled back, fitted red coat over a white shirt. A set of parallel scars ran down his face from forehead to lip, a prosthetic eye with the other a too familiar sea blue. It was like looking in a mirror… almost.

“What is the meaning of this?” both Silcos asked at the same moment, glaring at each other from over the bar.

“Silco,” Benzo muttered, lifting a finger to point at Silco while glancing at the imposter behind the bar. “How are you there… and there?”

“You got a twin you never told me about?” Vander asked, sliding a protective hand around the waist of the lookalike next to him. That Silco scoffed and pushed Vander away.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he snarled. His hand came up, running lightly down the scars as he peered at Silco. “Who are you?” he demanded.

“Does no one here recognize me?” Silco snapped. He glared at the collected party goers, but every one of them was glancing between him and the other Silco. Until his eyes alighted on the boy next to Benzo. The young man was still watching him, unblinking, hatred oozing from him. “What about you, boy? Do you know me?”

“Yes,” the boy spat. “You’re the Eye of Zaun.”

“Hmph.” Silco crossed his arms, mollified. “That’s right.”

“You killed Benzo!”

There was a moment of silence as Silco and the boy stared at each other. Finally, Benzo next to him put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Ekko,” he said quietly, a note of concern in his voice. “I’m right here.” But Ekko shrugged his hand off.

“An unfortunate incident,” Silco waved away the accusation. “He got in the way.”

Benzo began sputtering. “What are you saying?” he managed to blurt out. “You can’t be serious? Silco… you’re my friend.”

“Ekko, what’s going on?” From behind where Benzo stood, Powder ran forward, eyes wide as they locked onto Silco, and wrapped her long arms around Ekko’s. Her eyes darted between her father and the newcomer. Silco’s jaw dropped open as he caught sight of her.

“Jinx!” he breathed, the tension in his shoulders flooding out of him. “How did you… what are you… where are we?”

“Powder, get back here.” That other Silco’s voice from the other side of the bar rang out, and the blue-haired girl shot him a glance as she hesitated. Silco’s lip curled as he followed her gaze. Certainly that imposter sounded like him… the note of imperiousness in his voice, the sound of a man that was used to being obeyed without question. She glanced between them for a moment, but then turned her attention back to Ekko.

“What’s going on? Is this about what we’ve been working on?” she demanded. The other Silco’s frown deepened, his teeth baring as he watched her disobey.

“Powder!” he snapped, but the girl kept her eyes on the boy in her grasp. He was staring at her, an expression that Silco knew very well on her face.

“Heimerdinger and I… we…” Ekko stammered, “we’re from somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?” Skepticism… that was familiar at least. One thing was sure… this girl wasn’t Jinx. Not his Jinx, anyway. There was something just slightly off about everything here… Vander was alive, but more relaxed, happier, longer hair. Still huge as he came around the bar to interpose his bulk between him and the blue-haired girl. Jinx… no, Powder. She was different, too. More sure of herself. She didn’t seem to be battling those visions that had always plagued her.

“Think you better explain yourself, lad,” Benzo said, dropping a heavy hand on Ekko’s shoulder and peering down at him in concern. Silco narrowed his eyes… yes, this wasn’t the Benzo he remembered, either… this one’s muttonchops were impossible to ignore, unlike the more clean shaven version of the big man Silco had known in the years since he had had to flee from Vander, crazed and furious and trying to murder him.

“The singularity that we’ve been working on… it’s much bigger where I’m from. And it threw me and Heimerdinger through time, into the bodies of the people you all know here… but it must have taken ahold of our Silco and brought him here in his own body. Which is crazy because our Silco… he’s… he’s…” but before he could express whatever knowledge he had of Silco, both of the men began huffing in frustration.

“Of course it would be Heimerdinger,” Silco snarled.

“I should have known Heimerdinger would be involved,” the other Silco sighed at exactly the same time, rubbing a hand across his temple.

For one moment their mismatched eyes caught across the bar, and to Silco’s surprise he felt a pang of familiarity, of accepting that this other Silco was… him. Disgusted at himself, he tried to push the feelings away, but if Heimerdinger was involved, having been dragged into a parallel world was one of the least objectionable things that could have happened. With a sigh, his shoulders slumped, and he dropped his eyes to the floor. This was real, then. There was a world where he and Vander grew old together. It just wasn’t with him.

With a long glance between them, Vander finally stepped forward, hands out like he was trying to calm a wild animal. Silco’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he watched Vander’s approach warily, ready to bolt if he needed to.

“Think we might need to have a chat,” the big man said soothingly. Silco hated how that voice calmed him, how it wormed its way down into the darkest places where he kept his anxiety and fear under lock and key, easing the ache of them in his chest even after all that had happened. “Sorry, folks, but party’s over for tonight. Good luck tomorrow at the competition.”

A muttering sprang up as the crowd began to disperse, dark looks flittering between the Silcos before they finally moved towards the doors, the festive attitude of the party souring into fear and disquiet. Through the exodus, Silco stood still, the wave of people leaving breaking around him, no one wanting to get too close.

Once the last of the guests had disappeared into the night, Vander turned to Benzo. “You too, old friend. Take Ekko and the boys, right?”

“Sure you don’t want me to stick around? Don’t mind staying.”

“Think it’s best it’s just us,” Vander replied, patting Benzo on the shoulder. “Powder, you go with them, too.”

“No!” Powder shoved him. It was as effective as a mouse pushing on an elephant, but still, the point was made. “I’m part of this family, and I should get to stay.”

“Then we get to stay, too.” A large boy who looked like he was going to try to match Vander’s huge size in a few years crossed his arms, flanked by a skinny wild haired boy who was nodding emphatically, his eyes locked on Silco’s. In response, Silco glared back, a twinge of amusement flooding through him as the boy quailed and took a step behind his large friend. Ekko didn’t say a word, only staring at Silco while the voices erupted around him.

“If she gets to stay we do too!” the smaller boy muttered.

“I need the three of you to listen to me now, all right? Until we get this figured out.”

“It’s a family meeting, and we’re family.”

“It affects us, too!”

“You can’t force us to go!”

“No.” The other Silco stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. His voice was calm… quiet, but silence instantly fell between the kids. He stepped forward watching Silco intently. “All of you, go with Benzo. We will see you tomorrow.”

“Powder can stay.” All eyes turned to Silco as he stepped forward, but he kept his gaze locked on Powder. “She can stay,” he repeated. “You,” he said, pointing at his counterpoint with the strange prosthetic eye, “and Vander, and Powder. I’ll speak with the three of you.”

“Nah, not Powder,” Vander growled.

“Yes, Powder,” the girl snapped, elbowing her guardian in the ribs.

“Well.” Powder’s Silco nodded and gestured to Benzo. “There you go. Powder, you may stay. We shall see the rest of you tomorrow.”

oOo

A short time later Silco sat at one side of a table, pulled out of the clutter of furniture that had been pushed aside to make room for dancing that was no longer needed, glaring at Vander who sat across from him. The other Silco stood at Vander’s side. Outwardly he seemed calm, but Silco knew himself well enough to see the tell-tale set of his shoulders that he knew he got when he was masking his emotions.

This was infuriating. The questions. He had his own, too, of course. The casual closeness between them. The lingering touches. The shared looks. It was enough to make his blood boil with envy. And it was making his bad mood even worse. Now he was stuck here, in this version of the Last Drop, in a Zaun where things were better, staring across at everything he had ever wanted since before he could remember and had never once been able to touch.

“It’s okay.” Vander’s voice was soft… gentle. The voice that instantly took Silco back to a happier time, when the two of them had been young enough to think they could change the world just by being stubborn enough to want it to be better. Silco sighed, pressing the palms of his hands against the grain of the wood in a futile attempt to ground himself.

“Are we s’posed to call you both Silco?” Powder asked as she sat cross-legged on the chair between Silco and Vander and glancing between the two to them before shooting that other one a look across the table. “That’s gonna get confusing real fast.” Her father shrugged his shoulders, but Vander and Silco weren’t listening.

“I am sorry I hurt you,” Vander continued, ignoring the others.

“Well… apparently it wasn’t you, was it?”

“For you it was me.” Silco’s lip twitched as he tried to school his expression. A look of deep concern crossed Vander’s face, and he reached out, laying his hand over Silco’s on the table. “Silk… I…”

The reaction was immediate. With a snarl Silco leapt to his feet, tearing his hand out from under Vander’s. Faster than the others could see he drew a blade from his belt and drove it into the table, less than an inch from where Vander’s hand still rested. Vander blanched as he recognized it as the blade he had used during that terrible fight.

“Do NOT call me that,” Silco shouted. He could feel his heart pumping in his temples as rage flooded through him. His breath was coming in gasps. Just looking at Vander, he could feel those huge hands closing over his neck, squeezing the life out of him all over again. His eyes darted around, looking for an escape and landing on the terrified face of Powder.

Tears welled in her eyes as she scooted back in her chair, as far away from him as she could get, one arm reaching out for Vander’s. The other Silco was on his feet, hands held out towards both the other men, placating. And Vander… Vander just sat there, watching Silco – accepting and sad.

“It’s alright. Perhaps I can be Silk. For now, at least,” the other Silco said soothingly. “Until we’ve all had time to adjust.” But Silco was already turning, sprinting for the door, the image of Jinx’s terrified face chasing him as he ran.

Chapter Text

Silco sat on a piece of rubble at the side of the river, his back hunched as he watched green and pink flames race across the oil slick sheen that floated on top of the water. Janna, it was filthy. Some things weren’t so different after all, he thought icily. The early morning sunlight gleamed feebly through the haze at the side of the river. He wasn’t sure why he had even come here. He jammed his hands into the pockets of his coat and glared sullenly at the spot down at the edge of the river… the last time he had been there, Vander had been trying to kill him. His fist clenched reflexively over the hilt of the knife still stuck in his belt. He remembered jamming it into the table back with his doppelganger. He was surprised to find it back in his belt… when had he grabbed it again? As he glared, he could feel those hands, once so gentle when they touched him, closing over his throat as he was shoved under the water, blood from his ruined face mixing with the chemicals in the water… burning into his eye.

He wasn’t surprised when the soft tread of feet caught his attention. He knew that tread. He would know it anywhere. This might be a different world, a different life… but it was still her. He didn’t turn around as she edged around his peripheral vision and perched on a piece of rubble close to his knee, staring inquisitively into his face. Suddenly shy, he turned his head so that she wouldn’t be able to see his eye. No need to scare her anymore. Her Silco certainly didn’t frighten her.

“Hello, Powder,” he said quietly. “I should have known that you would find me.”

“I’m surprised that you came here,” she replied. He grinned at that. That little mischievous quirk in her voice… she certainly sounded like Jinx. “Silco… my Silco… he doesn’t come down here.”

“Yes, I surprised myself,” he replied. “I don’t either.”

“So what are you doing here?”

“I’m not sure.” He straightened his back, and took a deep breath.

“Isn’t this where he tried to kill you?”

“You know all about that, do you?”

“Yeah. We decided a long time ago no secrets between us.” She stretched her arms up and then clasped both hands behind her head and stuck out her elbows, looking out over the sluggish water of the river before them. “I’d have found out eventually, anyway. I mean, I made his eye for him.” She picked up a small stone and started playing with it, as though she were trying to keep her hands busy. Little monkey, he thought affectionately. “Could make you one too, if you wanted. Wouldn’t be… any trouble.”

“I think not.”

“So, where did you sleep last night?” Powder asked. He snorted softly as he gestured around them. Her brow furrowed as she glanced after his gesture, her nose wrinkled up like she was smelling something unpleasant. “You slept here?”

“I didn’t sleep at all,” he replied softly.

“Huh.” For a while they sat there in silence.

“This is where everything changed, I suppose. Just wanted to see it again. Hoped there might be a hint as to what happened to bring me here.” He paused. “Weren’t you supposed to be attending some contest today?”

Powder blew air out through her lips, rolling her eyes as she shook her head. “It’s not until later,” she replied. “And anyway, I just help everyone else with their projects. I’m not really working on anything for myself, ya know?”

“Oh? Strange. I’m positive that you could blow away the competition without even really trying.”

Powder shrugged.

Silco glanced up, looking into Powder’s face. He was ready to have her flinch back, for her eyes to widen and her lips to press tight as she tried to hide her fear. But he was completely unprepared for the look of utmost pity that sat on her face. His stomach dropped like a stone, and with a short huff he looked away, a tinge of color rising in his sallow cheeks.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he snapped, and then immediately regretted his tone.

“We know each other over there, don’t we?”

“And how would you know that?”

“I can tell.” She folded herself up on the stone beside him, a tangle of knees and elbows with tufts of blue hair poking out at odd angles. “You wanted me to stay. You wouldn’t even look at the others, but you were surprised to see me. I could make ya a list or something?”

Silco hesitated a moment. It couldn’t hurt to tell her… could it? He glanced up into her face. She was watching him, her eyes shrewd and calculating. Just like Jinx, he thought. There wouldn’t be any point to lying to her.

“In my Zaun,” he began, running a hand through his hair and causing several strands to fall out of place, brushing into his eyes, “you call yourself Jinx. You lost everyone that was important to you. Just like me. So I took you in. We take care of each other now. Just the two of us.”

“It sounds lonely.”

“It’s everything.” For a moment he thought back to the moment he decided to care for her… that night in the rain, over Vander’s broken body. That fool had left both of them, then. For good. And Vi, gone into the night, screaming words that would never be forgiven at the crying child holding onto Vander’s still form. That was the moment Silco knew what he was willing to risk to protect her. “I would burn the world to the ground to keep you safe.”

“You really are Silco,” she quipped. “He said the same thing not too long ago.”

“Somehow that does not surprise me.”

“That he’s my dad, or that he said that?”

“Both. I cannot imagine a world in which you are not my daughter.”

“I can’t imagine a world where you and Vander never forgave each other.” Silco’s head snapped up, eyes narrowing as he glared at her. “I’ve had to live with them together my whole life and they are sickening.” She mimed retching behind her hand, gagging and coughing until she broke out into giggles, the sunlight picking out the pink patch in her hair as she rocked with glee.

“Is that so?” he asked tightly.

“It is,” she confirmed. “Always touching on each other, or kissing when they think we’re not watching. Vander said they’re making up for lost time. Silco just says if we don’t like it we can go do something useful for a change.” It was getting hard to hear her over the sound of the blood pounding in his ears, but he couldn’t look away as she spoke. “And the worst is all those looks. It’s like they can read each other’s minds.”

“Really?” Silco wondered if this new, improved version of Vander would be able to read his thoughts with just a look. The Hound certainly wouldn’t like what he saw there. The savagery of his thoughts did little to quiet his roiling emotions as he had hoped, though. He couldn’t look at it too closely, but deep inside, there was a sense of sadness… of loss. Did he want that? A life where Vander knew him inside and out? Where a look was enough to know his innermost thoughts? Powder either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the venom in his voice.

“Yup!”

“And how did he forgive poor Vander?” Silco’s voice was shaking. He took a deep breath, trying to regain control of himself, but he could feel his entire body trembling. He clutched at his hands, trying to keep from drawing attention to it. To his surprise, the hilarity that was flooding through Powder stopped instantly. Her lip trembled for a moment and suddenly looked so much more like his Jinx than she had a moment before. Finally she cleared her throat and tugged at a lock of blue hair with her long fingers.

“It was because of my sister.”

“Ah, yes. Dear Vi. Got into some trouble? Got hurt during a pit fight or something, did she?” Silco waited for a response, but when it didn’t come, he glanced over where Powder was sitting. To his surprise, her large eyes were filled with tears, her mouth set into a hard line.

“Are you making fun of me?” she asked, her voice quivering ever so slightly. Silco felt his heart drop.

“No!” He turned to face her, horrified. “Jinx! Powder,” he amended quickly, “I would never do that to you. I swear it.” He grimaced, frustrated at how off-footed he felt. “What happened to Vi?”

Powder scrubbed at her eyes. “Did you know her? In your world?”

“I suppose. Knew of her, more like. From things you told me, mostly. Word of mouth from others.” Gingerly he reached out to put his hand on her knee but hesitated, his fingers clenching before he could touch her. “Where is Vi?”

“She died. It was my fault.” Powder curled up on herself, a movement Silco found very familiar. Jinx often did the same. “There was an explosion.”

“An accident.”

“My fault.”

“An accident is no one’s fault.”

“Maybe that’s why Silco forgave Vander.”

“That was hardly an accident.”

“Maybe it was… from a different point of view.” They sat there looking at each other for a long moment. Silco could feel the rage building in his chest, but he stuffed it down. He would not scare Powder any more. Clenching his teeth to keep anything from escaping, he turned his attention back to the filthy water. Powder stood and brushed off the seat of her pants.

“I’d better get going. Contest to win and all. But there is someone you could ask, you know,” she said conversationally as she wiped at her cheeks and turned to go back the way she had come. “Someone who knows exactly why he forgave Vander.”

She started clambering over the refuse and stones that littered the banks of the river. Silco watched her go, feeling like his teeth would shatter with the tension of how little he wanted to face his counterpoint that had everything he had ever wanted and never been able to hold, and ask how he had achieved it.

Chapter Text

Silco slid into the seat on the corner of the bar. His hands went to his greying hair, smoothing it back to make sure that every strand was tightly in place before moving down to tug at the sharp points of the collar of his scarlet shirt. Behind the bar, the other Silco busied himself with filling two small glasses with a deep red liquid. Straightening up, he copied Silco’s movements at checking his hair, and then clearing his throat nervously he walked over to his counterpart, sliding one glass over the scarred wood of the bar.

“Here,” he said quietly, tapping the rim of his glass against the other.

“Fitting,” Silco sneered.

“What is?”

“That we drink the same thing. You’re a councilor, yes? Why aren’t you drinking something a little more posh?”

Silk swirled the liquid around in his glass, peering deeply into the ruby depths. He sighed and ran another hand through his hair. “I could,” he replied softly. “But… well. A bit of nostalgia, I suppose. Nothing else quite tastes right to me. And while I may work in Piltover, my heart belongs to Zaun. I only joined the council to make sure that Zaun could thrive. I’m not interested in pretending to be some Piltie myself.”

They sat in silence for a moment as Silco took his words in. It was hard to bring up what he really wanted to talk about, but Powder had been right. The time had come for some answers.

“So?” Silco asked, swirling his drink to keep from looking at his double. “How did you escape my fate?”

“Didn’t escape entirely, did I?” Silk replied. Silco smirked in response. Silk sighed and put his hands flat on the counter. “I had a lot of choices to make, but I came to realize the greatest thing we can do in life is find the power to forgive.”

“It seems I’ve gotten soft in this world,” Silco sneered.

“Not that soft,” Silk returned, tapping his prosthetic eye with the tip of the ice pick in his hand. Silco tilted his glass in his counterpart’s direction before taking a sip.

“But still,” he said after a moment. “You managed to forgive Vander after he tried to kill you. How?”

“It wasn’t easy.” Silk sighed and leaned on the counter. His sharp features tightened for a moment as he thought back across the years since their reconciliation. “You read the letter.”

“What letter?”

Silk tilted his head, his brow furrowing as he took in his doppelganger. “The letter that Vander left for us when we ran. In the mines?” He shifted uncomfortably at Silco’s blank expression. “Did you not go to the mines?” he asked hesitantly.

“I did… but I did not find any letter. To be honest, I was more concerned with escape than platitudes.” He took a sip from his drink. “What did it say?”

Silk started to reach for the inner pocket of his jacket, but hesitated. “It’s not… the letter is pretty shit,” he warned, and then pulled out a worn, folded piece of paper. He smoothed it out on the bar, the paper soft with how often it had been handled, and pushed it gently Silco’s way. With a raised eyebrow, Silco pulled it close and glanced down at it. As his eyes ran over the familiar handwriting, his expressions darkened until his lips were pulled back in a snarl. He could almost feel tears prickling in the corner of his eye, but he forced them away with long practice.

“What is this?” he snapped, shoving the paper back towards Silk.

“I told you it was shit,” his double replied, picking it back up with a sigh and replacing it in his jacket.

“You forgave him for that too? Why keep it?”

“A reminder. Vander is human, just like the rest of us. And that means making mistakes.”

“He’s certainly made enough of them,” Silco snarled.

“As did we.”

“What?” Silco drew back, scandalized. “You cannot be serious. He tried to kill us. He forced us to run. He was the one who was supposed to keep us safe forever! That is what he promised!” Tears filled his vision as his voice raised, his agitation barely under his control.

“I know.” Silk moved around the counter and sat heavily on the stool next to Silco. He took a long drink and wiped at his thin lips with the back of his hand. “I was so angry. Furious. The letter only made the things I was already feeling worse. I went to ground, hiding until I was strong enough, until I was ready… Revenge takes care and planning, or else it’s just setting yourself up for failure. I bided my time. And then, Vi died. Fel’s daughter, who I should have been protecting. And I lost my head.

“I went to the funeral. Back to the same place he first attacked me, but this time I was ready. I was prepared to kill him right there. Threw the letter in his face, tried to goad him into attacking me. I was so angry, I barely even saw Powder, or the boys. All I could see was Vander, and how much I hated him.”

“And?” Silco prompted. “Why didn’t you just kill him and be done with it? He deserved it.”

“He was crying.” Silco closed his eyes. “He didn’t even try to defend himself. Just kept whispering ‘I’m sorry, Silk,’ and unable to look at me. I think that he wanted me to do it. To be honest, he was desperately pathetic.”

“Hmm,” Silco hummed in agreement.

“There was something about seeing him like that, too broken to even look me in the eye. Ready to let me take my revenge. And I… just couldn’t do it.”

“Couldn’t do it?” Silco repeated harshly.

“And I forgave him.”

“How could you do that? He hadn’t nearly paid for his sins.”

“He had paid enough. And so have you.”

“What do you mean?” Silco asked, his voice hardening.

“Why did you keep the eye?” Silk’s voice was just as hard in return. “It pains you. Constantly. It’s more trouble than it could possibly be worth. Why suffer?”

“Because it’s mine!” Silco screamed. “Because he tried to take it from me. And I wouldn’t let him.”

Without meaning to, Silco doubled over, his arms pulled in tight against his chest as he let loose a sob from deep in his chest. It was a sound of utter desolation… the repressed despair of twenty years of being strong, burying his feelings of betrayal and the hurt that came with it.

Silk reached out. Silco flinched, but didn’t pull away as Silk’s hand, warm and gentle, cupped his cheek.

“Let it go,” he said softly. And then he leaned in. The press of his lips against Silco’s was warm and soft… soft as silk. The thought flowed across his mind unbidden, an old comment Vander used to make. Silco had always assumed it was just a joke, but now, Silk enfolding him in his arms, he was forced to agree.

It had been so long since he had let someone touch him. Hold him. So long since he had felt his heart beating quickly in his chest as his cock grew hard. Since Vander had betrayed him. He clung to his doppelganger, tears streaming down his face, lips and tongue and hands shifting and groping as they stood, pressed together.

“You deserve all the love that has been denied you,” Silk whispered as he pulled back, catching his breath. He reached up and gently drew a hand over the parallel line of scars over Silco’s cheek. The councilor glanced over Silco’s shoulder and then, with a gentle smile, drew Silco into a deep hug. “Perhaps it is time to let him apologize. To accept his regret, and his comfort.” Silco had only a moment to puzzle over his meaning before two giant hands rested on his shoulders. He stiffened as the familiar weight of Vander leaned it, lips brushing his ear as he spoke.

“Silco,” the big man muttered. Silco felt shivers race across his body, but the warmth of Silk’s embrace never wavered, strong and safe as Vander leaned in. “I’ll never be able to say I’m sorry enough. Sorry for everything. I was crazy. Half out of my head. And it wasn’t your fault.”

Silk pressed a final kiss against Silco’s lips and stepped back, letting his fingers linger against his sallow cheek for a moment before he stepped away and moved over to the bar to give them room. Slowly, his whole body trembling, Silco turned to face Vander.

“You aren’t him,” he whispered harshly.

“I know. But you said… your Vander. He ain’t around to mend things with. Sounds like things unfolded pretty similar here and there. Let me help to set things right.”

“What could you possibly do to make things right?”

“Whatever you need. Whatever you want.” Very slowly he began to pull Silco into an embrace. Silco wasn’t sure if he wanted to let it happen or pull away… but as he was enveloped by Vander’s scent, he realized it was perfectly the same as the one he remembered. If he just closed his eyes, he could be back in the Zaun he knew, with the only thing he had really ever wanted. He knew that what he needed was Vander.

With a shuddering breath, he let Vander pull him in close. He felt that cold, scared place inside of himself, the one that he kept locked away to keep himself from getting hurt again, finally beginning to loosen. “I want… Can we…?”

“Anything you want,” Vander assured him quietly. “You’re in charge. Just tell us what you need.” Gently Vander took his chin, angling his face up to meet his and leaning in close. “Do you want me to kiss you?” he whispered, his breath hot on Silco’s lips, and Silco nodded.

As Vander’s lips claimed his, there was a moment of panic. Silco felt his chest seize up even as Vander’s tongue delved into his mouth. The familiar taste of cheap whisky and pipe smoke was overwhelming. His fingers curled into Vander’s soft white shirt as he struggled to get control of himself. He felt Vander hesitate, begin to pull away, but he clung on, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Don’t stop,” he breathed against Vander’s lips, and after a second the big man complied.

It was everything that Silco had wanted it to be. Everything that it was supposed to be. He threw himself into it, and Vander met him in every way. Silco was dimly aware of Silk’s arms closing around his waist from behind, pressing his face into Silco’s shoulder.

“Let’s go upstairs.”

Chapter Text

Silco found himself upstairs, in the room he and Vander had shared long ago. He still slept here every night, of course. Well, not here. In the Last Drop in his own Zaun. This room, that the two of them shared, looked like that old room, though more lived in. Evolved through use… he felt that swoop in his belly that was quickly becoming familiar every time he saw something in this new Zaun that was exactly what he had wanted and had never managed to make happen.

Vander had led him up the stairs and down the familiar hallway, hand held firmly in his giant, warm paw with Silk bringing up the rear, fingers already busy as they moved undoing the line of buckles that held Silco’s waistcoat closed over his scarlet shirt. Now he stood at the foot of what had been his bed… their bed, Vander nuzzling at his neck, a warmth flooding through him that he had thought he would never feel again.

His head was spinning, overwhelmed at the implications of what was happening. He and Vander…it felt so right, he couldn’t help letting out a moan of pleasure as the big man bit down on the sensitive place where his neck met his shoulder. His Vander… no, wait. Not his… was it? Did it even matter anymore? His fingers tightened in the folds of Vander’s soft white shirt as he felt his waistcoat slip open and nimble fingers began to tug at the smaller buttons of his shirt.

“Tell him what to do.” Silk’s voice was soft, but there was a hungry edge to it that stoked the fires burning in Silco’s veins. Silk leaned forward, pressing kisses on the back of his neck as the waistcoat and shirt underneath were pulled free, his pale skin prickling with more than just the chill air of the bedroom.

“I…” Suddenly Silco’s mouth felt dry as the desert. He cleared his throat as a flood of desires filled his thoughts. He took a deep breath and tried to sift through the fantasies that he had held close to his chest for the last twenty years of solitude. Something simple, he decided. Ease into things. “Touch me,” he ordered. His voice hitched at the end, sending color flooding into his sallow cheeks, revealing his uncertainty. Behind him, Silk’s arms circled around his waist as he rested his chin on Silco’s shoulder, lightly dragging his fingers across Silco’s chest.

“Well, dog?” Silk commanded, his voice ringing with the authority Silco had hoped to project. “Get to it.” With a muffled groan from against his neck, Vander began to slide his hands down Silco’s bared skin, teasing lower and lower. With a final kiss against his neck, Silco felt his copy step back, and then the sound of a chair scraping against the floor caused him to turn his head to see where the other one had gotten to. His doppelganger was settling into a chair, chin in his hands as his eyes glinted hungrily in the dark light of the bedroom.

“What are you doing?” Silco asked, and then gasped as Vander began tugging at the waistband of his trousers. Silk shifted against the cushions of the chair, one hand drifting down his own body as he followed the motions his husband made. “I’m not usually one to be content to watch.”

“No, I’m not,” Silk confirmed. “But this is a special occasion. I get to watch myself get fucked… and I can hardly pass up the opportunity, now can I? Unless you’d like to fuck him… I’d be happy to see that, too. I just want to give you a moment to get comfortable.” He watched with rapt attention as Vander began kissing across his collarbone. “Don’t mind me. I’ll entertain myself for a bit before I join you both again.”

He reached down and undid his trousers, palming the quickly growing bulge with a groan that went straight to Silco’s own hardening erection. He had a brief moment of panic that he would be on his own in Vander’s care, and then Vander’s hand slipped beneath the waistband of his underclothes and his thoughts fled.

“Oh… fuck,” Silco gasped as Vander pawed at him. He stared with a touch as light as a feather before increasing the pressure. “You’ve always known just what to do.” Vander chuckled and then kissed up his neck until he could claim Silco’s lips, his hand finally closing around Silco’s impressive erection.

“Like this, then?” he growled, nipping at Silco’s bottom lip, eliciting another gasp. With his other hand he pushed the fabric away from Silco’s legs, revealing his cock firmly encased in Vander’s hand. “Fuck, Silco… You’re so… Janna, I want you.”

“Vander.” Any fears that had been bothering him disappeared in the rush of lust that washed through him. “Ah! Yes, you still remember.”

“I do.” There was a twist of his hand as he stroked Silco, and then he released his hold. Silco whined at the loss of sensation, but Vander just grabbed a bottle of viscous fluid and slicked up his hands before reaching out to take hold of Silco once again. “I remember how you like it.”

Panting, Silco reached out and threaded his hands around Vander’s neck. Pleasure danced across his shoulders, down the lines of his body until he felt as though he were on fire.

“Did your Vander like it if you choked him?” Silk asked from the chair. Silco couldn’t see him but the note of desperation in his voice was plain all the same. He could imagine the look on his double’s face as he watched, stroking himself as Vander stroked Silco.

“I never tried,” Silco replied. The words felt heavy in his mouth as Vander’s hand continued its work, feeling his desire grow deep inside his belly as Vander’s mouth nipped across his throat, hot and real and here, oh Janna, it was just like it used to be.

“Try,” Silk urged. “He’ll love it.”

“I… can’t.” Silco’s breath caught in his throat. Sudden panic rose in his chest as his mind reeled back to the riverside and the feeling of Vander’s hands clamping down on his neck. Unable to breathe, unable to escape. With a gasp he lurched back, shaking his head as if to clear it. Suddenly Silk was there, wiry arms strong around him, holding him close as his heart felt like it was pounding out of his chest.

“You’re safe,” Silk whispered, soothing, gently stroking Silco’s shoulder. “You’re safe here with us.”

“ ‘S alright, Silco,” Vander said, his voice soft. Slowly the Hound sank to his knees, his face soft with adoration as he kept his eyes on Silco. “I want you to. If you can.”

“Take your power back,” Silk whispered, his voice slowly deepening with that hungry, husky quality that Silco was beginning to enjoy. “You are in control. Your hands on him. Him in your power. At your mercy. And loving every second groveling at your feet.”

Silco took a shuddering breath and stepped forward, away from the protective circle of Silk’s arms. He looked down at Vander, a torrent of emotions coursing through him. Lust, heavy and hot, pride and need unpicking the tight ball of fear that had lived in his chest for the last twenty years. Slowly he approached the kneeling hound. Behind him he could hear the distinct sound of a pair of trousers sliding free.

He placed his hands on Vander’s shoulders, leaning down until he could snarl in Vander’s face. “Ready, dog?” he rasped, a lock of hair falling into his eyes as he stared into Vander’s eyes.

“Please, Silco,” Vander whined. He lifted his chin, stubble glinting in the low lights of the room as his breath came in excited pants. “Want it. Need it.” He shuffled forward until his hands rested on Silco’s feet, his whole body vibrating with desire.

Silco rested his hands on Vander’s cheeks, feeling the rough scratch of the stubble beneath his palms, and then slowly dragged his hands down until he encircled the broad expanse of Vander’s throat. Vander’s eyes closed as he leaned into it, and Silco slowly began to squeeze.

A look of rapture filled Vander’s face, jaw slack and eyelids fluttering as his breathing began to wheeze through the tightening grip. Silco felt strong, powerful, years of hatred and fear flooding away from him as he stood over the man that had torn his life apart as easily as he had torn his face, and now was helping him put it all back together. As Vander gasped and writhed before him, Silco felt thin wiry arms circle around him as soft kisses dropped across his shoulders. Silk nuzzled against his ear, breathing heavy.

“Look at him,” Silk rasped harshly, desire dropping his voice low and dangerous. “So needy, Vander.”

“Pathetic, really,” Silco replied, making the councilor chuckle.

“If he touches you here,” Silk breathed, lightly brushing one hand over Silco’s hip and making him shudder in pleasure, “let go. That’s our signal.”

“Very well.” Silco tightened his grip. Vander’s groan of pleasure cut off as his fingers tightened like a vice around his neck. His hands came up, closing over Silco’s forearms, but he didn’t try to pull his hands away, just tightened his grip and held on.

Silk’s hand slipped off his hip, ghosting across the angular planes of his stomach and then delved lower, scratching through the dark thatch of hair between his legs and closing over his aching cock.
“You think he knows how to touch you,” Silk growled. “But no one knows what you need as well as yourself.”

Silco mewled at the mix of sensations rushing through him. Silk was right… this version of himself knew exactly what to do, how to touch him that instantly sent sparks flaring all the way to the tips of his fingers. Add to that the rush of power he felt with Vander’s life in his hands, the big man’s face turning red as his trousers tented undeniably between his legs. His head lolled back on Silk’s shoulder, his grip on Vander loosening.

“Ah ah,” Silk admonished with a particularly rough twist of his hand, causing Silco to yelp and shudder in pleasure. “Focus. I know you can. Control is everything for us, is it not?”

“Yes,” Silco groaned. He took a deep breath as Silk continued to fondle him. He was so hard, leaking already, shining drops of pre-come dripping onto one of Vander’s broad thighs. Silk’s other hand drifted across his bare chest, toying with the hard nub of a nipple as he bit down on Silco’s earlobe. Focus… impossible, he thought wryly. Just as his focus was wavering once again, his eye fluttering closed as Silk toyed mercilessly with him, he felt Vander’s hand leave his arm and come to rest on his hip, just where Silk had warned him.

He let go of Vander’s throat. The big man sagged forward, coughing and gasping, slumping forward on his hands, shoulders shaking as he gasped. Behind him Silk slowly sank down, kissing along his spine until he reached the soft swell of his arse, and a moment later he felt as his boots were pulled away, clattering to the floor. At Silk’s nudging he stepped out of his trousers and slowly approached Vander again, his hips swaying as he walked, just like when they were younger and he was determined to have his way. The fear, the anxiety, the distance between himself and the love that had followed him their entire lives had vanished, and he felt like himself again for the first time in decades.

“On your feet,” he said smoothly, putting one foot on Vander’s shoulder and pushing him back onto his haunches. Vander’s eyes were heavily lidded as he looked up, smouldering with desire. He got heavily to his feet, pulling his shirt off and dropping it onto the floor.

“Silco,” he rasped, voice rough from the choking, “I wanna… can I…?”

“Come here and kiss me,” Silco ordered. This time, when Vander’s arms closed around his waist, there was no fear, no hesitation. He melted against the solidity of his lover, one hand closing around the back of his neck and pulling him in close. His other hand drifted lower, slipping Vander’s belt free from its loops and tossing it aside.

When they broke apart, Silco glanced over his shoulder. Silk was settled in his chair again, his clothing piled next to the chair as he slowly stroked himself. He nodded encouragement at Silco, and with renewed confidence, Silco turned back to Vander, letting one hand thread into his shaggy brown hair, twisting it around his fingers and delighting in the feel of it.

“Tell me what you want, Vander,” he said, his voice taking on the soft cadences of the past. “What do you need?”

“Just wanna… Janna… No. Fuck, I’m sorry. We’re supposed to be doing what you want,” Vander mumbled.

“This is what I want,” Silco admonished, putting an edge into his voice and delighting in the way he could feel Vander’s cock jump. “I want you to say what you need. Don’t make me ask again, dog.”

Vander caught his hand and guided it until it was cupping his stubbly cheek, nuzzling into Silco’s hand as tears gathered in the corners of his eyes. “Want you to fuck me, Silco. Fuck my mouth, an’ then fuck me proper.”

“What if I did both at once?” Silco glanced back at his counterpart, gesturing for him to come closer. Silk rose to his feet, his erection hard and flushed as he came up, stopping and crossing his arms as he waited to see what was happening. “Join me?”

“Which would you prefer?” Silk asked, ever the councilor, an eyebrow artfully raised.

“You said before you would want to watch me fuck him. Would you still want that?”

Silk stalked forward the rest of the way, running a finger under Silco’s chin, and Silco could see that that carefully held control was teetering on a knife’s edge as desire oozed from every pore. “Yes,” Silk hissed. “I would like that.”

Silco slipped around behind Vander, letting Silk come forward. Vander greeted his husband with open arms, pulling him into a tight hug. After only a moment Silk pushed him back and with practiced movements divested Vander of his trousers. The Hound’s cock hung hard and heavy between his legs, as large as Silco remembered. Silk grabbed the tube of oil that Vander had used earlier and gestured to Silco. He poured a generous amount into Silco’s waiting hand and then into his own. No words were needed between them… with a slight nod, Silk took hold of Vander’s erection with both hands while from behind Silco ran his fingers along the cleft of Vander’s generous arse and then slipped down into the crevasse in between, swirling gently across his sensitive entrance.

Between them Vander writhed beautifully, his hands tightening over Silk’s shoulders as the weight of their attention was overwhelming. He leaned forward, pressing a kiss against Silk’s lips, and then turned, eyes unfocused as he reached out to grasp at Silco’s waist, pulling him into a kiss of his own.

Silco didn’t make it easy for him. He would let his tongue delve into Vander’s, just enough to give him a taste, to stoke the need that was oozing out of him, and then pull back, teasing, his fingers never still as they stroked along Vander’s perineum. And then, as Vander turned back towards Silk, he pressed two fingers inside.

Vander moaned, low and needy, and Silco smirked as he pulled out and pressed in again, pleased to see that Silk’s hands were matching him in movement. Watching Vander, eyes heavily lidded and coming apart in their hands, was making his own cock ache faster than he imagined possible. All too soon, his need was overwhelming, and he withdrew his hand, slapping Vander sharply on the arse as he let his hand drift down to himself, slicking himself up in preparation.

“On the ground, then, cur.”

In moments Vander was on all fours, his hips wriggling with anticipation as he glanced at Silco over his broad shoulder. As he did so, Silk stepped close, giving his own cock a few strokes as he readied himself.

“Face forward,” Silco said curtly. “You have a task to do. But don’t use your hands… your mouth is good enough for this, isn’t it?”

Vander nodded frantically, and then turned back towards his husband. Tentatively he lapped at the soft velvet head of Silk’s erection. Silk hissed at the sensation of his broad tongue engulfing him, raking a hand into his hair and holding him steady as he slowly began to fuck Vander’s mouth. Silco watched for a moment, feeling the rhythm Silk was setting, and then spreading the generous cheeks of Vander’s arse, lined himself up and pressed inside.

Oh Janna… he could feel the prickle of tears in his eyes as he inched himself in, the strangled sounds of pleasure escaping from Vander as he held Silk’s cock in his mouth. Slowly Silco rocked further and further in. It felt good… felt right. How he had missed fucking Vander. He had never wanted to fuck anyone else.

As he buried himself fully, Vander’s warmth surrounding him, tight and familiar even with the years that had been between them, his eye fluttered open to find Silk staring at him, a strange look on his face.

“What?” he groaned as he snapped his hips back, shoving Vander further onto Silk’s cock. In response, the councilor reached out and placed a gentle hand on Silco’s cheek.

“You are beautiful,” he said. “You deserve so much more than you’ve been given.” The breath caught in Silco’s throat as he stuttered to a stop as Silk’s words rushed over him. “Focus,” Silk teased again, running his thumb over Silco’s bottom lip, and then leaned across Vander’s broad back and claimed Silco’s lips.

The three of them writhed together, Vander between them letting Silco’s rhythm drive him on Silk’s cock as Silco, hands braced on Vander’s back, let himself get washed away in the kiss. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he felt safe, cherished… wanted… for the first time in so long. He was hardly aware of picking up the pace as he rushed towards his climax until suddenly he was toppling over the edge, his orgasm rippling through him. Silk buried his fingers in his short, dark hair and whispered soft words at him through the rush of pleasure, and then with a whine he followed, coming into Vander’s mouth and left gasping as he hunched forward, shuddering through the aftershocks.

Vander carefully licked every inch of his cock clean and then stood, pulling his husband in for a deep kiss before turning Silco’s direction and doing the same. The taste of Silk’s spend on Vander’s tongue was filthy and erotic and Silco felt his head spinning as Vander’s hands wandered over his sweat streaked skin.

“Will you let him have you?” Silk murmured, eye flashing in the dim light of the room as he joined Vander in dragging his hands over every inch of Silco they could reach. “I still hope to see what it looks like when he’s having his way with me.” Silco felt like it was impossible to form coherent thought as Vander’s hands pawed at him, Silk pressing fingers into his mouth. He nodded, his eye half lidded, and Vander leaned in to kiss at his neck.

“On the bed, love,” the big man whispered, gently pushing him in the direction of the vast expanse of mattress that filled up half of the room. Obediently Silco laid back, and Vander leaned over him. “I’ll take care of you.”

Silco nodded and reached behind his head, letting his hands twist in the sheets. Silk swayed over and slid onto the bed by Silco’s head, reaching out and brushing the hair off of his forehead. “Take a deep breath,” he encouraged. As Silco complied, he felt Vander press several oiled fingers inside. Silco whined, his eyes rolling up, as Silk’s hands continued to soothingly stroke his hair. “Just relax… You’re doing so well,” he said softly.

“Little more, love,” Vander said, pulling out and pressing back in, letting his fingers crook to brush against the bundle of nerves that sent sparks flaring through Silco. “Gonna need a bit more ‘f you’re gonna take me.”

“Doing alright?” Silk asked. Silco groaned in response as he writhed against the delicious stretch around Vander’s thick fingers. As he finally began to adjust to it, Vander added another. It was almost too much… but the memory of how it used to feel was enough and with a deep breath he forced himself to relax. There was pain, a sharp stinging, but it took a back seat to the pleasure and the anticipation.
His breath was coming in gasps as he struggled to gather his thoughts together. “Enough toying with me, dog,” he snapped, the bite taken out of his words by the way his voice hitched on the last word. “I’m done waiting… Go on and fuck me already.”

Vander chuckled. “Now who’s the needy one, eh?” he asked, but then he pulled his fingers back. Silco mewled at the loss of sensation, despite his determination to maintain some form of composure. Then the thick, hot head of Vander’s cock was pressing against him, huge and slippery with lubrication as he eased his way inside.

“Oh… hrgk! Gah… Vander!” Thoughts fled as inch by inch Vander slipped further and further inside. The burn of it, feeling himself stretch until he thought he couldn’t take any more, and Silk next to him, running a hand over his forehead, threading fingers through his hair, whispering encouragement until finally after what felt like hours, Vander was fully seated. For a moment they froze, letting Silco adjust, and then with tiny motions Vander began to rock back, pressing in again smoothly. An unintelligible string of consonants fell from Silco’s lips, and Vander took encouragement from each one, picking up speed. With both hands he grabbed Silco’s narrow hips and roughly began to pound into him.

“Yes… oh! Like that.” Silco gasped, grabbing tightly to Vander’s thick forearms and holding on as Vander took his pleasure… the world spiraled in until it shrunk down to Vander fucking him senseless and Silk watching hungrily, eyes drinking in the sight of himself being plundered making him hard again.

Vander’s pace became erratic, and then he was tensing, his back arching as he slammed into Silco once, twice, and then with a shout Silco felt him spasming deep inside, the warm come spilling into him as Vander shuddered, hunching over him and breathing hard. He reached up, cradling Vander’s cheek in his hand and smiling up at him. His eyes crinkling in a smile of his own, Vander put his own hand over Silco’s, pressing a kiss into his palm.

Silk padded away to find some cloths to clean themselves up with, and then with some shuffling and only a few epithets from Vander, Silco found himself snuggled into the bed, comfortably situated between the two whose room he shared. Gentle words were shared, and slowly, warm and content, he drifted off to sleep.

Deep in the night they woke, hands roving over each other and hungry mouths kissing, tasting, biting and teasing as passions flared again. His back against the lithe strength of Silk and Vander in his arms, Silco let go. All the control that he had cultivated washed away in the flood of sensation as his companions touched and teased him into hardness. Vander’s broad knee slid between Silco’s legs as behind him Silk ran his fingers down the flat planes of Silco’s arse, spreading him open and then pressed his cock inside. Silco clutched at Vander as he was breeched. Like earlier when touching him, Silk knew exactly what Silco needed, knew exactly the way to fuck him to make his head spin, and he held onto Vander desperately as he came again, harder than before.

Silco lost count of how many times they woke in the night, reaching for each other in the darkness, but every time, he was filled again with the feeling of contentment and at long last, peace.

Chapter Text

When morning came, the faint sunlight filtering down from up above, Silk woke between his husband and his double, the others still deep asleep. He smiled fondly. No wonder they were worn out. He and Silco had been a bit of a handful for poor Vander, he supposed. He stretched languidly, thinking back on the events of the past two days.

When Vander had come to him, miserable and devastated after Silco had run from the Last Drop, the memory of Vander’s betrayal all those years ago still fresh and painful and un-healed, it had been a difficult decision. He remembered the first few years after their reconciliation, when he would wake screaming from nightmares, or jump when Vander would touch him unexpectedly. Vander had done everything he could to make things right… given Silk space, moved slowly, never gave him cause to be afraid ever again. And there had been days when Silk had had to comfort Vander, when his guilt threatened to overwhelm him, when he lost hope that it would never be enough to make up for what he had done. And slowly, they had moved past it. Silk wouldn’t give up what they had now for anything.

But Silco’s appearance had brought up all of Vander’s guilt and self-loathing all over again. When Silk had brought up the idea of a therapeutic fucking, Vander had balked. But in the end, no one could know what Silco needed more than himself. And Silk had seen the way Vander’s eyes had smouldered at the mention of the threesome.

Behind him Silco shifted in his sleep, snaking an arm around Silk’s waist and nuzzling against his back. Silk smiled. It made him feel good that they had been able to get through to Silco. Forgiving Vander had been one of the best decisions of his life. It had been healing. He hoped that Silco would feel the same.

He slid back against the sheets, listening to the soft sounds of sleep that surrounded him. He would have to thank Benzo later for taking the kids after the competition and giving them the Drop to themselves to work things out. It had been quite the evening.

Gently he ran his hand down the wiry arm that encircled his waist. This was rather nice, he thought. He slowly twisted so he could take in the figure of Silco behind him. His face was relaxed in sleep, the diffused sunlight softening the edges decades of hardship had sharpened. Perhaps this was the first good sleep he had had since… well, since then.

Silk was just debating whether he should leave Silco to sleep… he certainly needed it… or to wake him with a kiss when a pulse shot through the room, shaking the bed and rattling the windows in their frames. Vander shot up, frantically glancing around as he tried to gather his wits, disoriented from his sudden awakening.

“ Wa’s that?” he rumbled, digging a finger into his ear as the pressure equalized again.

“Feels like the other day…” Silk replied. “Something else coming through, you think? Are you alright, Silco?” He reached over to put a hand on his double’s shoulder, but there was no one there but soft sheets, rumpled and twisted and empty.