Layla

TW: HOMOPHOBIC SLUR (but it is used humorously)

"Guys I...I can't. I only came to let you all know I'm okay, I don't have it in me to sing." I said to the group as I sat on the edge of the stage, Tanya handed me a microphone earlier just in case. They've been begging me to sing ever since I gathered up my courage to leave our hideout and come visit my coworkers. Even Domi is sitting here waiting for me to do something other than explain my sorrowful story, I spun the microphone in my hand as I avoided their stares.

Tanya, Billie, JuJu, Domi, Fran, Kilo and Pika sat around me, some on the floor and others grabbed chairs from the tables by the bar. I wanted to come early during rehearsals so I would catch them before the club opened.

"You know singing always helps, love bug." Fran said as he sat with his legs laid out in front of him. I love my friendly fellow faggot, Franklin.

"Come on babe, just sing what you're feeling." Pika said as she rested her head on her hands that rested on the chair she was sitting backwards on. 

I huffed a dry laugh as I hugged a knee to my chest, "You guys don't want to hear me sing about my sad life." When I looked up and saw they gave me a blank look I sighed, maybe they're right. Maybe this will at least make me feel something other than the empty feeling in my gut every time I think of them.

I cleared my throat and kept my head down, the microphone sat in my lap but was pointed towards my mouth as I started singing softly. "Say something I'm giving up on you. I'll be the one if you want me to. Anywhere I would've followed you. Say something I'm giving up on you."

I pictured their faces as I sang these lines, Vi and Benzo and Vander and the boys and Powder. Tears rushed to my eyes and I spun around and stood up so they didn't see me cry.

"And I, am feeling so small. It was over my head...I know nothing at all." I don't know how to live without them, I couldn't even take care of myself these past weeks much less my brother. "And I, will stumble and fall. I'm still learning to love...just starting to crawl."

"Say something I'm giving up on you. And I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you." Tears fell down my face as I tried not to fall from the weight of losing them. Singing this didn't make me feel better, it made me feel like I was losing a piece of them I'm not ready to let go of. But I didn't stop, I couldn't. "Anywhere I would've followed you. Say something I'm giving up on you."

"And I, will swallow my...pride. You're the ones that I love. And I'm saying goodbye." My voice cracked as I let out a sob, I could see them so clearly.

There they were standing in front of me, Benzo was giving me a thumbs up while Mylo and Claggor made silly faces at me. Powder was waving eagerly at me while Vander was holding her on his shoulders, he nodded to me knowingly as I continued singing.

Then there was Vi. She had her hands in her pockets, a different bruise decorated her face as she smiled sadly at me.

I sang with everything I had in me, all my energy and patience, all my love and hope, all my truth and heart. I was sobbing as I sang, finally realizing the boys had gone to their instruments and played along to my song to back me up. I didn't care though, because all my focus was on my family in front of me. They waved sadly and started walking away as I sang my feelings, I reached my hand out to try and get them to come back.

Vi stayed there to watch me sing, waited for me to get to the end. When I sang the last lines she looked at me with love and mouthed 'I love you' to me.

But I don't want her to mouth it to me, I want to hear her voice again.

I fell to my knees in defeat as I whispered the last line, "Say something."

Just one more time. Please.

I let out a cry in mourning, my friends came to me and brought me in a group hug as I cried in their arms. I felt so weak and I hated it, but I couldn't find the strength in me to do anything other than let the pain out for now.

~~~~~

My eyes were puffy and my chest hurt as I started walking home from work, lost in my thoughts as usual. After I poured out my feelings to my poor coworkers, they thankfully changed the subject and we talked about the drama that was currently happening. Since it's just Ekko and I, we haven't really been keeping up with all the tea that was going on in the Lanes.

They told me that since Silco has taken over the Undercity, he has a new prodigy. When I rolled my eyes and brought up Sevika, Billie told me it wasn't her. Someone a lot younger than Sevika, someone he was already morphing into a vile person just like him.

Being the nosy bitch I am, I decided to pay my friend a visit since I told E I was probably going to stay at work for a shift. Domi literally kicked me out and told me to grieve properly before working again, so that wasn't happening. Plus I know exactly where his new place would be, he'd always been jealous of Vander's authority so it would only make sense for him to take over the Last Drop.

I stared down at the building before me, deja vu hit me like a wrecking ball and I bit my tongue to focus on the pain rather than the memories. I snarled at the building as people and creatures laughed and came in and out of the bar, pulling my hood up I walked down the path. I made sure my bag was strapped tightly and stopped when I was facing the side of the building. I moved back to get enough running distance before jumping over the railing and grabbing onto anything that would keep me on the building. I saw concrete blocks and bricks that stuck out unevenly, so I grabbed those and started climbing up the side of the building. Vi, Powder and I found a cool place at the top of the building that was perfect for a hideout, but Vander said it was too dangerous so we stopped going up there.

If I could get through the vents into the open room, I could sneak my way down to see where that bastard and his goons were. I slipped several times, almost plummeting to my death, until I finally made it to the top of the building. I found the vent and opened it enough to slip through it, crawling around the inside I made a right and then opened the other vent that led to the room.

I smiled in victory that I made it but as I was trying to scoot out my hand slipped and I fell through the vent, I yelped and grabbed onto a ledge to keep myself from dropping down the dark hole. The only thing that was up here was a massive propeller in the middle of the open space, it connected to a door that led to stairs that went to the rest of the building. I was currently holding onto one of the propels for dear life, I grabbed it with two hands and hoisted myself up. I sat on the ledge and looked down below, breathing a sigh of relief I dusted my hands together but froze when I heard a meek voice.

"Don't move, I-I have a bomb and I will use it. It does work!"

Blood pounded in my ears as my heart started racing, no that can't be...

I turned around suddenly and gasped, Powder stood there with a hard expression as she held Mouser in the air. Her expression fell as she recognized me, she dropped Mouser and tears sprang into her eyes as we looked at each other. "Layla?"

"Powder!" I yelled as I quickly got up and ran to her, she came to me too and I fell to the ground as soon as I wrapped my arms around her. I held her head as she cried softly into my jacket, I thanked whoever the hell was watching over us as I smelled her hair. She smelled so good, like she always did, with coconut and a little bit of grease oil like her sister. "Oh Pow-Pow thank god you're okay! Are you hurt?"

I pulled back from her and cupped her face as I scanned her for injuries, she was sobbing now and she shook her head as she covered my hands with hers. "Layla I'm sorry, I'm so sorry it's all my fault! Please don't be mad at me."

I shushed her gently, pushing her hair back behind her ears. "Hey, hey P, it's alright. Why would I be mad? Nothing is your fault."

"But it is! I was the one who caused the explosion, my Mouser finally worked with those crystals we found on the job. I killed everyone and when I told Vi she hit me, and called me a jinx! It's all my fault and now she's gone too, please don't be mad at me." She rambled quickly and I tried not to let the surprise I was feeling show on my face, so I pulled her back into a hug as I ran my hands in circles on her back. Oh god, it all makes sense now. That's why Vi's body wasn't with Vander and I, she must've regained consciousness before I did and Powder found her. Vi's temper let loose at the worst time and she made her sister think this was all her fault, I know she only meant to help. And I also know Vi enough to know that she hit Powder and called her a jinx out of anger, she would never do or say any of that with a clear head.

"Hey Pow, look at me. I might not've been there when you were with Vi, but you have to realize honey that she would never mean those things. Like you she must've been overwhelmed and angry that all of this happened so fast. She loves you and always has, she's your sister." I cupped her face again, looking in her eyes to make sure she knows how serious I am.

"Was." My sincere expression dropped at the sudden change in her voice, "She was my sister. Now she's dead, just like the others. I killed them, so now I have to deal with it just like Silco says."

The blood drained from my face as she said his name. She was his new prodigy, he must've been there after it all and took her. Making her believe she really was a jinx and now gets to live up to the name.

"Powder we have to go, you can't stay here with him. Come with me-."

"Stop calling me that! I'm a jinx, so call me it. Jinx."

"You're not a jinx, Pow. I will never call you that because it is not true. Please just come with me and we can get away from here, this place isn't safe." I stood up and grabbed her hand gently, but she yanked it out of my hold angrily.

"Stop lying to me, Layla! I want to stay here with him, I'm not leaving." I stared down at the girl in horror as she crossed her arms in front of her.

I shook my head slowly before I tried reasoning with her, "But Pow-."

Suddenly something hard hit my temple and I went flying to the ground, I heard Powder gasp and yell at the person who hit me. I groaned as my vision started going in and out, twisting my body to see who my abuser was I looked up at the man.

Silco had a gun pointed at me as he smiled wickedly, "Well well well. If it isn't the famous singer, the Lanes love so much. Take her down to my office, so we can have a little...chat."