Layla

5 years later...

"Bye Rita, say hi to Lewey for me!" I waved at my favorite bartender before walking out the front door of my work. The stale air of the Undercity never fails to take my breath away, literally. I pulled my bag over both shoulders, the lights of the city shine brightly as I walk home to Benzo and Ekko. The others had a mission today thanks to a tip from Little Man (meaning Ekko) up in snobby Piltover, I hope it went well.

A couple years ago all of my memories vanished due to "a horrible tragedy that shall not be named until I remember it myself", says Benzo. It was like I was born 10 years old on Benzo's couch, he was the first person I saw and has let me stay with him since. 12 year old Ekko also lives with us, we both say we're siblings and Benzo is our father. Benzo says he feels old so we just call him by his name, we call him Dad when we mock him.

He says Ekko and I are "little shits".

When I first woke up, I had an audience. Benzo, Ekko, Vander, Vi, Powder, Mylo and Claggor all sat around me waiting for me to wake up. Mylo being the asshole he is decided to stick his face in mine to see if he could wake me. So actually he was the first person I saw.

He did and out of fear and confusion of a strangers face very close to mine, I screamed and punched him in the nose.

After a very thorough explanation and many promises that they weren't here to hurt me, I relaxed...slightly. I was angry that they wouldn't tell me what had happened that made me lose literally all of memories. Benzo and Vander kept saying they knew my parents very well, meaning they're dead. I mean for all I know, they could be the enemy and I could be joining their evil cult. But how would I know?

I rounded the corner coming into view of Benzos little shop that housed him, Ekko and I. I smiled lazily, ready for the lecture I was about to receive from Benzo about how I left my pistol at home that I always keep with me for protection. He knows I can fight, I beat Vi's high score the other day at the arcade even though 5 minutes later she beat my score again. I still call it a win.

My smile widens as I think about my favorite tough girl with pink hair, the one who never fails to make my stomach erupt with butterflies. It took a while for us to warm up to each other after I woke up, but given the fact I punched the shit talker in the nose when I first awoken, I had her respect. Powder was the one who got me out of my funk, the little sweetheart did everything she could to make me smile.

I opened the door and stepped in, the neon lights from outside shone through the windows as I closed the door. Benzo sat behind his desk/bar area, looking through his green magniscope at something someone brought in from a job. He looked up with a glare, I could see his argument on the tip of his tongue.

Before he had a chance Ekko came running and threw himself in my arms for a hug, he gives the best hugs. I'm the only person he lets his guard down around, mostly because we're always together. He's too cool for anyone when we're with the gang but when it's just us he's my sweet little brother.

I wrapped my arms around him, "How's my favorite peanut?" I asked teasingly, which then made him push back from me.

He put his usual swagger facade on and crossed his arms, smiling playfully, "You know I'm too old to be called that anymore." He made his voice sound deeper to make his point and I tilted my head back and laughed.

"Okay sure...peanut!" I joked, he came at me trying to tackle me to the floor playfully. Before he got the chance I picked him up and swung us around, he giggled and shoved me once I put him down. My smiled faltered as I heard Benzo clear his throat, I turned to Ekko sheepishly who shook his head at me and went back to whatever he was fixing before I walked in.

"I'm sorry, okay? I woke up late and left in a hurry, I realized I forgot it after I got to work." I said turning to him to plead my innocence, I dropped my bag on the floor as I leaned against his desk in front of him.

"Kid, you know how important it is to take with you." He said as he sat up straighter, pulling a hand down his face annoyed that we're arguing. We never argue, he loves me too much and I've always been a rule follower, but usually when we do it's over something silly or serious. Now I know it's just silly to me but serious in his eyes.

"I can use my fists, you know that right? I practice on V's fighting machine all the time at the arcade and I'm pretty damn good. Just because I sing for a living doesn't mean I'm useless when it comes to self defense. Which speaking of-" I said as I reached into my bag and handed him my pay from the past 2 weeks, "This is all I got, we weren't too busy shockingly but it's enough to keep us on our toes for a bit."

He looked at me and then back down at the bag of coins between us, "You know I always want you to save some for you and Ekko." He said sadly, I know he hates that I work at the sketchy club, Shimmer and Shine.

Him and Vander don't agree that a 15 year old should be working at a place like that when I wasn't even an adult yet. I might not know anything from most of my life, but I know I can sing. It's all I know actually, and when I got this job 4 years ago it's been saving us from going under. They both know we need the money, plus I don't hate working there. I sing various songs on a stage with the band, put a little sway in my hips and the people love it, it's the only place I see most of the people from down here let loose for once. The costumes Domi has for the band, the rest of the dancers and I are extremely fashionable, I still have no idea where she gets them from. She sometimes lets me take clothes home, when she sees the ones I come in with have holes in them, like tonight she gave me these really tight black pants that make my butt look good. I can't wait to show Vi, since the only time I fix my dirty blonde hair or check to make sure I look decent is when I'm around her.

In the club we all forget the bad things and dance and drink and meet new people, there's always a brawl every night but where isn't there one in the Undercity.

I pushed the bag towards him smiling softly, "Don't worry, my last pay was a lot more so I took what you gave me. I already have a lot I've saved, so let's put all this towards what's needed now. I'll put some more in the savings jar upstairs next time, I promise."

"Hm, fine, I can never say no to you. How was work anyway?" He asked as he looked back down at his trinkets.

"Oh you know, same old perverts and drunk assholes wanting me to give them a lap dance. One got too close to the stage so I kicked him and he went down like a bag of rocks." I said smirking.

"Atta girl," He said smiling proudly. But his smile was wiped off as soon as someone stepped into his shop and closed the door.

He didn't bother looking up as he said "We're closed." I looked up and saw Vander standing there with a bag, he winked at me smiling knowingly before telling Benzo to open the store back up. I shook my head laughing lightly as I walked over to Ekko and crouched down next to him.

He looked over angrily, "For good. You can take your useless junk elsewhere."

I heard Vander groan, "Ah just as well. Owner's the shittiest businessman I know." A moment of silence passed before the pair burst into laughter at the seriousness.

Benzo turned to us and kicked Ekko and I out to have a word with Vander. He grabbed his stuff and walked to the door, I gave Vander a high five and held the door open for Ekko before walking out and saying hi to Claggor.

"Claggor," Ekko greeted the heavy set kid my age, his goggles covering his eyes as well as the brown mop of hair on his head.

"Hey Little Man, Layla, how was work?" He asked me giving me a small smile, I knew what that smile meant though. It meant he was hiding something and used asking about me to distract me, it never works, I hate talking about myself.

"Ah you know, same old same old." I said smirking knowingly, I crossed my arms as I leaned on the wall next to the door eyeing him. He gulped and turned his attention to Ekko, not meeting my stare head on.

"Yeah I was hoping you'd be working today..." He said sheepishly, Ekko burst with questions before I could question him.

"Did you guys go?" He asked leaning in, eagerly awaiting Claggors answer.

"Sure did. Um hey listen, how'd you find that place?" He asked tiredly as he took off his googles, the fresh black and blue covering his right eye made me straighten.

"Woah! Did you fight the Enforcers?" He asked bouncing from one foot to the other.

"Um no, just some bums." Claggor said rubbing his face and then flinching when he touched his bruised eye.

"Oh, did VI kick their asses?" Ekko asked, looking over at me knowingly as he raised his eyebrows twice. I reached over and lightly smacked his head, he turned away giggling like a school boy but got the memo to shut up.

He's the only one I told about my crush on Vi, the crush I've had for...well 5 years. Powder knows too, but the little wise ass found out when she saw me blushing after Vi called me pretty. She'd whispered to me saying, 'I won't tell, but Vi likes you too,' which had made my cheeks even darker and her smiled widened.

"Yeah I probably wouldn't be here otherwise," Claggor said honestly, completely oblivious to the moment Ekko and I just had. My chest warmed thinking about her protecting our friends, like always, she makes it her mission to be the toughest. Even though she really is the biggest softy, just like Powder and Ekko.

Ekko showed Claggor new moves V had taught him, while he kept asking how Ekko had heard about the job they had earlier. Reminding me about their mission earlier I started asking how it went, but I heard Ekko curse as he set his boxes down behind me. I turned and saw two Enforcers walking down the alleyway towards us.

I pushed Claggor away, "Go on go, tell the others I'll stop over later. We'll be fine, just go." The fear in his eyes made him not argue any further before running in the opposite direction.

I turned back around, leaning back on the wall as Ekko did the same but looked extremely suspicious while trying to act cool.

"Well hello," he said facing the Enforcers. I wanted to put my head in my hands annoyed. I need to teach him how to act cool.

They didn't pay any attention to us before heading inside Benzo's shop.

Once they went in, Ekko and I climbed up the side of the shop and went through the window on the second floor. We walked into our bedroom, by our hammocks, Ekko opened the scope we had to see what was happening downstairs.

I smacked the pipe by our ears so we could hear what they were saying. We saw Vander sitting in front of Benzo, with a woman Enforcer next to him who looked weirdly like an older version of Sevika.

He offered her a drink which she gladly took as he said, "Some things are the same, topside and bottom."

"You know this crossed a line upstairs." She said after she took a drink and set it down. When Vander asked if anyone was hurt she slammed her arm down on the counter and answered, "A building was blown to bits. What do you think?"

I gasped, my heart beating faster. They blew up a building?! The hell were they thinking, I leaned down to whisper into Ekko's ear. "You're never giving them jobs again, got it?" I said, my tone stern as he looked away and nodded slightly. I know he liked to get in on the action, he was happy he could give them something to help them. But I also knew Vi wouldn't say no to a good opportunity, no matter where or what it was.

He looked away shamefully, "Those who did this will be dealt with." He answered her, hoping it would ease her worries.

It didn't.

"That building was owned by the Kirammans." Vander and Benzo's eyebrows raised in shock at the name she gave them. "You know what kind of stuff they had in there? Makes this place look like a candy shop. The Council needs someone to make an example of. People need to feel safe."

My fists clenched at my sides, I don't give a fuck if the snobs don't feel safe. They should be scared of us, maybe they'd ease up on us if they were. Who the hell were the Kirammans?

Vänder scoffed at her words, "Yeah, topside people." Rolling his eyes he looked over at Benzo who mimicked his expression and mood.

"We had a deal Vander." The Enforcer lady said, making my breath catch. Please god tell me I'm hearing this wrong. "You keep your people off my streets and I stay out of your business."

Ekko looked over at me in shock, I gulped as I looked back trying to keep my facial expression neutral. We turned back and tried to look closer at the adults talking.

"Give me a name. We'll do things quiet. No one will know you're involved." She asked, her tone sounded sincere but I knew Vander wouldn't give up any names, especially when the names are the kids who live in his basement. When he refused she said annoyed, "You don't seem to realize how serious this is. If I don't put someone behind bars tonight, the next time I come down here, I'll have an army of enforcers with me. We both know how that'll go."

I squeezed my eyes shut, and threw my head back in worry. I knew Ekko was scared and I wish he hadn't heard any of this. After a minute the lady left a navy blue tube to get a hold of her if Vander changed his mind on giving her the names.

I took a deep breath and turned back to Ekko, he gave me a 'what do we do' kind of look and I put my hands on his shoulders. "Right now I'm going to The Last Drop to talk to the others and get the whole story, you can either come with me or go back downstairs and pretend you didn't hear anything."

"But we did hear, we heard everything Lay! We have to tell our friends." He said looking at me like I was crazy. I closed my eyes and shook my head at him.

"No Ek, it is not our secret to tell, at least not right now. When I get back we'll figure out what to do but I have to see them." I said in all seriousness. He obviously didn't like my answer but reluctantly nodded his head because he knew it wasn't right to jump straight to conclusions.

"Fine, I'll go downstairs and keep fixing things with Benzo," he said sadly.

I grabbed my bag, kissed his cheek and walked backwards to the window we can through before as I said, "Thanks peanut, I'll be back soon. For now play cool and don't look suspicious like you always do!" I said jokingly as I heard a 'hey!' from our bedroom before jumping down and running to The Last Drop.

God damn it.