Scrapyard Angels Act 1 Chapter 3

Waking up in the middle of the night with a black eye and an empty stomach wasn’t fun especially when the one that gave me said black eye was sitting just a few feet away from me. The only reason I didn’t jump up and try to shank them was because Jinx was running her fingers across my scalp as she nursed me and my aching head against her lap.

Suck it up Vi, no matter how much you scowl Jinx will not let me go. She scowled harder as if reading my mind which made me smile all the wider much to my sweet angel’s chagrin.

“I still don’t like you” said my unwanted guest

“I could say the same” I replied as I slowly got up. I reached for my pocket and off course my bread was gone and to where it went… I might have a rough idea based on the grin on their face

I should be angry that I just got socked in the face and I was now nursing a black eye and some bruises but I think I ran out of fucks to give today. Nothing was going to ruin my day, nothing and not even the traitor who allowed another person in without my permission could ruin it. Yes Whump, I’m looking at you and don’t you dare look away like it's not your fault that somebody got a jump on me

"Have you considered not punching first and asking questions later?"

"Have you tried not kidnapping my sister?"

"Fuck off, I didn't know she had a family. Sorry Jinx"

"Why didn't you ask her first huh?! "

"Well geeeee whiz Vi, why don't you ask me where my family is?"

"Whe-" I cut her off even before she can reply.

"They're gone. Reduced to ashes, scattered across the four winds, in a galaxy far far away" That shut her up. I really didn't have parents this time. They sure did abandon that role when they abandoned me with a smile on their face. I miss my real family.

There was silence between us as the lights dimmed ever so slightly. The wick of light slowly burning as its flamed danced her and fro from the unseen wind

"I-I'm… I'm sorry"I stared at her in wonder which only made her scowl come back. I had to remind myself that she was...just a kid. Not even grown up or just a character on a screen but a real kid.

I couldn't stay mad at her. Well I could but… the cold part of me said to forgive her. She was going to be important in the future while you're not and it would only make Jinx cry if I continue fighting with her.

"Can… can we just start over. It's been a long day for both of us." I was hungry and tired. I was allowed to make mistakes.

"Yeah, that would be… nice"

"The name's Ark, the master of the dark! The cleaner of the park, and the one that will tame a shark!" Cheesy yes but what's life without a bit of variety.

She snorted, actually smiling for once as she replied "Vi"

"And Jinx!" Yes Jinx you're adorable and the way you blush as we look at you only make you more so. "Ehehe, I don't want to be left out?"

"This is why I couldn't just leave her alone in the alley where I found her. How did you even lose her Vi?"

"Hey! I-It's not my fault that a crowd separated us!"

Before I could tease her more, Jinx pulled us all together and shouted loud and clear. "Group hug! Family don't fight together ok?"

Yeah…family, I can live with this. This hug was nice and Vi smelled…

"Vi, I need you to take a bath" I deserved the other black eye I recieved. I really do

I woke up a bit earlier today thanks to Vi being an early bird. God damn it woman, sleep! It's still dark outside but it's to no avail

"So it's just you two? No more extra guests I should expect for tomorrow?" I asked as I prepared for the day which just involves checking my stuff if it has holes and finally replacing the filter I had. It wasn't rated to last this long, the label said so, but I really didn't have much choice.

"Sorry Ark, we really don't have anywhere to go…"

"Jinx, you have nothing to be sorry about. I know being seperated from family is horrible. Can you at least tell me next time? It's kinda hard having to plan to support two other people''

"Hey, it's not like I'm a freeloader. I have a job ok!" Shouted Vi in protest

"Oh really?"

"I'm a hex mechanic" All she ever received was having my delicate brow raise up

"... An apprenta" I gestured to keep going

"Ok! I'm just a wrench monkey. I carry tools for the hex mechanics" Honesty suited you better Vi. Plus, it's a surprise you're not part of a gang of Sump-snipes. Those roving kids are just horrible, give us honest sump dwellers a bad name. Did I cause this or was this just a random chance...

"Well at least you're paid well. I think we can actually have two meals if we pool our coins to together" Now it was Vi's turn to raise an eyebrow at me

"I work at a Cultivair. Just a Garden Hand. You know, trims those plants and water those flowers''

The look of disbelief was just too precious, all the more so when I reached down my shoe and pulled out a leaf that got stuck inside before giving it to Jinx. It was just a fresh Maple leaf but it was a strange sight to behold in a desolate place like Zaun where only Moss and Mushrooms are the usual "flora" that people see

"How? The Entresol folks hate us Sump-snipes" Vi asked while Jinx was too busy looking at the leaf in her hand.

"I didn't steal any fruit or picked any flower?" I replied. Well there was the background but it was basic at best but maybe basic was what was needed. Plus, it's not like they would actually like mixing compost especially when it has manure. Thankfully, no night soil… I think

"Yes, I have a high paying job" It was an understatement, it was the best job especially when you can breathe fresh air. Also, the chem barons and horticulturists that own and curate the cultivairs don't want any seed finding their way to rival cultivairs. "So Jinx can have a future that's actually worth looking forward to. Speaking of the future, I'll have to teach you the Eng- I mean the New Piltover script if we ever want to get you to a proper school."

"You know how to read New Piltie?"

"Well yeah." Zaun has its own script funnily enough and I can't make heads or tails of it. It was an alphabet and not characters like Ionian but it was hard. Many would find it Ironic that I can't read Zaunite but read New Piltie just fine. "Don't worry, I'll teach how as well"

I would love to talk to them, have I been that starved of contact for that long? my thought however was cut short as thr the heart of old Zaun rings its toll reminding everyone that it was time to work.

"Well, off to work. You know your way out of here right?" The tunnels can be a labyrinth but us Scump dwellers know our way around

"Yeah yeah, just around that corner and make sure to never use the same entrance twice in a row" vigilance, I like that

"Whump, take care of them alright?" I trusted them, I truly did and I hope my trust is not misplaced. Hopefully, I won't have a knife in my back. All I can do is hope

Getting to work is as hard as ever. I wanted to take a bath but I refrained until told otherwise. I didn't want my employers thinking I abused their generosity.

Sure I had running water back at home but it was more of a trickle if I had to be honest. I also didn't have a bucket worth shit to collect water on and that much water might attract the rat. Best to just have it as drinking water.

I needed this just job more than ever and I dared not risk being singled and kicked out. I tried befriending my co-garden hands, letting my smile and charm beguile them while looking for any signs that they were planning to be shifty. Workplace politics was the worst

Work was harsh but it had its reward especially when my gardening work was finally over and I was back to school. I hated it and loved it

My teacher was harsh, expecting the very out of me but I just imagined that she was just hard on her student rather than her wanting me out just like what a treacherous part of my mind called out. A boy can dream

"Concentrate, let your mana flow" Channeling mana came easy thanks to my elemental leaning. Electricity didn't need that much push to make it flow but keeping it steady was hard. It was like trying to write with your non dominant hand

I was simply unused to it, ill experienced, there was this large pool inside me that made trying to have a constant flow hard. I had to hold back lest the stream becomes a torrent of electricity

For now, it was just basic training but soon… soon the world.

There was a crack as the stream between my hand snapped before the electricity arced against my hands. It didn't shock me but it felt like having a rubber band snap against my wrist. There even was some swelling

"Concentrate! Don't let your mind wander or it won't be just welts that will cover your hands"

"Yes Miss Irine"