A breath of fresh air. An unusual experience after years spent in the Lanes, and more unusual still to find the source after traversing multiple ventilation tunnels to be a flourishing bonsai tree several stories tall. With clear moonlight peeking through the leaves, its rays danced off the vibrantly painted treehouses built along its trunk, faintly reflecting off the decorated interior walls of the vent shaft.
At the very bottom was the painted mural of those lost. Vi, Vander, Benzo, Mylo, Claggor, Powder, and Firelights who've lost their lives in the resistance against Silco. And in representation of their name? A swarm of bioluminescent green bugs drifted lazily around the tree.
Their birth and Jinx's first death, Atlas thought, staring up at one slowly floating through the air. Very Arcane-like...
"We found this place after we were driven out by Silco," Ekko said quietly, pulling him from the thought.
"It's amazing," Atlas said. "More than what you told me."
Ekko smirked, looking up at it with an air of pride. "It's only gotten better. You missed the process. Our growth."
"I could have helped..." Atlas muttered, his gaze lowering slightly.
I was trying to survive too. But I also didn't want to get involved after a certain point. Or risk being followed and dooming this place.
"You could have," Ekko replied, his tone flattening. "But you didn't. Too late for that kind of talk now."
The sound of a hoverboard engine igniting drew his attention as one blasted off from the central treehouse and flew down. A humanoid creature with dark skin, large pointed ears, and a height at least a foot taller than both of them dismounted with practiced ease. He glared at Atlas, snarling and showing off his pointed teeth.
"He's cool," Ekko said, and the Chirean creature snorted. "Relax. He's on our side."
Without speaking, the Chirean tapped the side of his face and pointed up toward one of the smaller treehouses. Their gaze followed and Ekko, with a tighter voice, said, "We'll deal with the problem in the morning."
"For now give him a place to sleep," Ekko gestured back at Atlas.
Atlas met the Chirean's fierce gaze and it looked none too happy as it gave a disgruntled sound and a wave to follow.
"We'll talk in the morning," Ekko said, tossing him a roll of bandages. "I think you'll need this."
"Thanks," Atlas replied, looking surprised at the clean roll. "But I think I'll need some help with stitching my wounds."
Ekko silently looked at the Chirean and it let out another unhappy grunt, but it didn't sound like it was rejecting.
------
~Morning~
Tilting his head to the side, a punch grazed Atlas's cheek as he grabbed a man's face, swept his legs out, and decked him to the ground.
"I said I'm sorry," Atlas repeated, letting go and eyeing the man with bright red splotches on the side of his face. That's going to hurt when it starts peeling.
"If you're sorry then let me hit you!" the young man shouted back.
"No."
This young, red-headed man's face tightened in anger and when he began scrambling up to his feet toward Atlas, clearly looking to continue and throw a wild swing, Atlas punched him square in the nose. There was a small spurt of blood but instead of stopping, he stumbled in more trying to tackle him, so Atlas grabbed the back of his head and kneed him in the face again.
"He won't forgive you," Ekko commented as the young man collapsed unconscious to the ground. He sat on nearby stairs next to the standing Chirean and a few onlookers. "Nor his friends."
"I'm not the one starting these fights," Atlas replied, rubbing his knuckles. "But I will finish them."
Arching a brow, Ekko gestured outwardly. "See, what I see now is you've been somewhat capable this entire time. Why didn't you put up any kind of fight in the past? Like, any?"
Carefully rolling his shoulders to feel if his fresh stitches had torn, Atlas didn't respond. Mainly because he didn't have a good answer.
Ekko scoffed. "You chose to run a sweet shop while everyone suffered."
"Well I guess that just falls in line with saying I'm a coward," Atlas sighed, shrugging. There wasn't any remorse or regret like there was last night, just an honest truth in his tone.
"I didn't want to fight. I didn't want to get involved. I just wanted to run my shop," he paused, stopping himself from mentioning the happiness whenever Jinx visited.
Immediately however, Ekko's expression twisted in a mixture of disgust, disagreement, and disappointment.
"Tsk."
Standing up and turning sharply, Ekko stormed away. The Chirean, sneering and giving a clear 'you're pathetic' look, slowly walked after him.
Is it too much to ask to be left alone? Atlas thought with a frown.
None of it was my fight at the end of the day, and it was going to resolve itself. All I had to do, if I really wanted to intervene, was maybe talk to Vi when Caitlyn broke her out to prevent more misunderstandings.
Crossing his arms and staring at the bright green tufts of grass, his gaze slowly followed the roots back up the tree.
Even the Hextech corruption could've been solved more peacefully. Hell, half the reason Ambessa succeeded as much as she did with Viktor was the sisters' conflict creating opportunities.
A prodding sensation turned his attention downward. A little kid was shoving a bowl of water against his thigh and smiling innocently. Smiling, Atlas took it and immediately the kid held out an open hand.
"Fritter?" the kid asked with wide, hopeful eyes.
Atlas blinked before laughing.
"Sorry kid, I don't got any on me. Can I still drink this?"
"Aw...Yeah..."
------
~Jinx's Ventilation Shaft~
"Wanna join me, come and play." Jinx sang between the sharp sizzling of her welds. "But I might shoot you, in your face..."
A little mechanical Firelight fluttered and twittered after she tossed it into a small box with many others like it, its green glow flickering before fading.
"Bombs and bullets will, do the trick! What we need here, is a little bit of panic!"