Chapter Text
The Last Drop came to life late at nightfall, much like all of Zaun. It's as if as soon as the sun set, the bar lights would illuminate. Zaunites flocking to the building like moths to a flame. Where troubles are forgotten, in favor of more trouble. Gambling issues, bar fights, and cheap alcohol. Sweat and blood stains under dim yellow light.
And there Sevika stands on the balcony, above it all.
It was basically hers, Silco’s name was on it, but she took care of the books, the finances. Silco rarely ever stepped foot in the Last Drop, Sevika watched over it. Hell, she even had her own office.
Besides, she practically lived there. The bar being her choice of place to unwind. That and the Golden Whale. She had her own booth in the corner, facing the entire floor, so she could win at poker while simultaneously keeping watch of the patrons entering and leaving the bar.
This was her crowd. Silco had the city of Zaun, but inside those bar doors, it was all Sevika’s.
And when you step foot behind the bar counter, you’re all hers too.
You started working there 6 months ago. Hired under Silco, so imagine Sevika’s surprise to see an unfamiliar pretty face behind her counter. You were quiet, a hard shell that Sevika was yet to crack. The two of you had only shared a few words between each other. Silco had introduced you, and you said your name. You’d held out your hand, but Sevika brushed past you as if you were nothing. Further along the lines the two of you would have small, insignificant interactions, only ever pertaining to the business. Deliveries mainly. But that’s it. You’d only reply with a nod or a shake of the head, nothing else.
You’d never look her in the eyes. And that would irritate her. Because it didn’t seem as if you were scared of her. Sevika knows fear. Every step she takes, people flock away, like prey sensing a predator prowling. It was never that. If Sevika weren’t mistaken, she’d assume you barely ever acknowledge her because you thought her as irrelevant. Like she did so many others, like she once thought of you. As if you thought of her as another measly patron, beckoning for your attention to serve her. Like you barely noticed her.
And it confused her. Because it was hard for her not to notice you. The short dresses you’d wear, revealing a distracting amount of your legs. The way the top of your dresses always clung to your chest, accentuating the curves of your breast. The way the thin straps brought emphasis to your shoulders, your neck, your jaw… She distantly imagines how your head could fit into the palm of her hands with ease. It’s the way she’s hardly ever heard you speak, but she can spot your laugh in a sea of noise. To the point where she can tell when it’s real, and when you’re just humoring the drunk leeches that try to woo you.
On top of you being infuriatingly compelling, you were also pretty good at your job.
You were never late. Always punctual, much to Silco’s preferences. You’d known Sevika’s drink of choice perfectly, sliding a small glass of dark liquor towards her every time she’d step foot in the building. You kept her booth clean, her glass full, you manned the bar with ease, and handled all deliveries, even the ones Sevika couldn’t be there for.
You were impeccable at your job, so firing you for wanting you so badly was not an option.
Sevika had an entire bar to watch over but couldn’t help the way her eyes would linger over to you. At the top of her balcony, at the window in her office, at her personal booth. As soon as her eyes fell onto the color of your hair, it was all over, losing track of anything that previously held her attention. Like now.
The bar was unsurprisingly active, 10 till 12 am and she’d watch the bouncer toss out 5 rowdy drunkards. As the nights usually go. You were behind the counter, pushing out drink after drink. If you were overwhelmed, Sevika couldn’t tell. In a short green dress that made Sevika’s mouth run dry. Somehow, Sevika had begun to grow fond of Silco’s dress code expectations for the employees at the Last Drop.
There was a regular clinging onto the bar as you moved about. Slurring words at you while you worked. He’d tell you how beautiful you were, how you didn’t belong in a place like this. How he could take you away, he could show you a time. You paid no attention. But Sevika watched the interaction through narrowed eyes. At one moment, you were going to hand a customer a drink, and once they’d taken the drink, the drunk man took his chance and grabbed your hand. He was sluggish and dazed, so it was easy for you to slip out of his grip, but not before he could bring his filthy cracked lips, slapping a slobbery kiss to your small hand. Sevika grips the railing furiously at the sight of it.
She wants to march down there and rip that man from the counter, then toss him outside and proceed to punch his jaw inward so he won’t have another chance to speak to you, let alone try and kiss you again. But once you’d freed yourself, you poured the man another drink and pressed it into his hands. You’d bent down near to his ear, whispering some words to him, unknowing to Sevika, she couldn’t read lips. But you had a smirk on your face. She’d watch the drunk begin to frown at your words, and when you were done he’d unlatched himself from the counter, and wobbled away sullenly, like you’d managed to crush his already broken spirit.
That was another thing. You’d known how to handle yourself pretty well. You weren’t afraid to reject someone, to look them directly in the eye and say no. And on the off chance should they get aggressive, you’d signal to the bouncer to throw them out. Before Sevika could even make her presence known in the situation. You didn't need her.
That did nothing to sedate her desire for you. As days went on, it was like you were taunting her with your presence. The immediate need to seek you out. To drink you in after a rough day. As if the highlight of her day was watching you pour her drink and slide the glass towards her or pop the cap off a beer should she ask for one.
The effect you had on her was peculiar. And the strangeness of it all, the unfamiliarity of it made her antsy. You made her anxious. And that made her cross.
She hated you. You were a distraction. Sevika opposed distractions. And the more she tried to push you out of her mind, forget about you, the more you showed up.
Literally. Sevika had been spotting you more frequently as of recent. Outside the bar. In Silco’s warehouses, ducking out of his office and brushing past her in the hall. Sevika doesn’t have a habit of questioning Silco’s business. But when it came to you, it made her itch. You ran the bar, and the bar was hers. So, what did Silco need with you?
What was it that he didn’t feel the need to tell her about? What did you know that she didn’t?
It was your connections; you came to find. When Silco first summoned you to his office, you were significantly confused, and even a little bit anxious. Perhaps he was unsatisfied with your service, having the intention of cutting you loose from the business. Or maybe he’d caught wind of your previous job, and the trouble that surrounded your name before he found you. That made you sweat.
Silco’s office was chilling and dark, eerily quiet, much like him. It did nothing to ease your dread.
You stood rooted in one spot, where light had shown through his singular window. He peered up at you through small readers, before redirecting his attention towards his writing.
He says your name. Slowly, as if the memory of it had just come to. You didn’t expect him to remember it, hell you were even slightly surprised that he did.
“You’ve been here a while, haven’t you? Why is it that I barely hear from you, ever?”
You’re unsure of what he means by that. You’ve never had anything to report to him. You’d specifically avoided predicaments that required you to confront him. The last thing you wanted to be was another liability.
“Uh…” you clear your throat. “I don’t ever have issues to report to you, sir”.
“Hm.” He hums, feigning ignorance.
It falls silent for a few moments, as he licks at his pointer finger, and slicks through a few pages.
“Did you… did you want me to report anything to you, sir?”
“What do you know about Alec Graves?”
You quirk an eyebrow up at the sound of that name. Mr. Graves was the Last Drop’s major supplier. He was the one who you would order moderately expensive booze and glassware from. You’d see him at most once a month, and not even that, having an errand boy cover most of the deliveries. He was short and stout, like all the liquor he’d consumed sat at the bottom of his stomach. He’d always reek of alcohol and grease. You could practically smell the liver failure. He was a nice guy, but he made it clear that he was only nice when he wanted to be. Like he could switch it off with a drop of a hat. Yelling threats and curses at his errand boy, only to turn around and grin at you seconds later, showing all of his golds.
He’d told you once that he was a sucker for a pretty face. Which you quickly learned to use to your advantage. A simple bat of the eyelashes, and he’d throw in 2 extra bottles for you. You flash him a smile, he’d throw in a case of the top shelf liquor. A hug, and he’d cover the delivery charges. You didn’t have to do much; he was a weak-willed man.
Which is why it was easy to draw information out of him. Silco informed you that Graves was a very important man, crucial to his plans. A man who was the prime supplier to a majority of bars, he had access to topside, more specifically, the Piltover Ports. From your understanding, Piltie Enforcers had made it increasingly hard for his men to obtain goods such as weapons and machinery, delaying the shimmer distribution systems. If Silco could get in with Graves, he could make it easier to avoid complications with Enforcers at the ports. The problem was that Graves wasn’t too fond of Silco.
“I’ve heard that he fancies you, is that true?” He questions.
“Hm…” You consider with a shrug. “You could say that”.
“I need you to talk to him, charm him, anything you can do to get him to at least consider joining forces”.
Silco doesn’t need to beg or threaten you to do as he says. You happily oblige. Though you assume if you hadn’t agreed, you’d probably be fired. That was very much up in the air. However, you didn’t think being hired as a bartender meant getting involved with Silco’s affairs. You’d only wanted a steady job, a fresh start. It felt like you were destined to get tossed back into the same bullshit you’d escaped.
The next 4 months consisted of you placing frequent orders through Mr. Graves. Constant visits from the man himself. Playing the long game.
“Are you giving this shit out for free? or do you just miss me?” He jokes, that same overused line followed by a harsh dry heave. You would spare him a wide pearly smile, while biting back an eye roll.
You’d coax him into the bar, asking him if he had a minute to spare.
“For you, anything” he’d reply.
You’d sit him at a bar stool, and whip up a glass of his favorite drink, Crimson Rye, and he’d thank you with a compliment.
“You make the best damned drinks, you know that?”
Once his eyelids would hang low, and he’d become more giggly than usual, you’d known that you succeeded in getting him tipsy. And it was a perfect time to bring up Silco.
“That bastard.” He’d curse, and you would watch the moment his eyes would darken at the sound of his name. Leaving you to wonder what had gone down between the two of them to will a reaction like that out of him.
At first, he’d dismiss you. Saying he had other deliveries to get to, and didn’t want to waste time speaking on a ghost.
But then you learned that if you concocted a much stronger drink, and leaned in just a little bit closer, peering up at him through your long lashes, he was pretty much all yours.
You first reported to Silco that Graves made it very clear that he was not interested in anything outside of the business they have together as of now, bar supply. Which Silco expected, of course. The more liquor, and unsolicited touches, the more information you’d gotten out of him.
You learned that he paid off crooked enforcers to avoid inspecting specific packages. That everyone always has a price. He also knew the reason why Silco’s men were constantly being ambushed while breaking into the ports, because topside had inflicted harsher surveillance on goods, cracking down on what can go in and come out of Zaun. He’d mentioned how he’d witnessed multiple businesses shut down because Enforcers ceased distribution of their goods.
You learned that if you touched his shoulder, and slowly trailed a single finger down his arm, while maintaining sultry eye contact with him, you could get him to consider cooperating with Silco.
“Well, what is it that he desires?” Silco asks you. This was the 10th time you’d gone to visit him within 3 months.
You’d taken a liking to a corner in his office where a worn down sofa sat. You’d fall into it while waiting for Silco to finish with whatever instruction he was delivering to his men. He’d become fonder of your presence more and more, sparking up conversation about things going on around the bar.
“He wouldn’t tell me, "You reply. “He said if you were serious, that you would meet him at his warehouse to discuss the matter, privately”.
“That won’t be happening” he mutters, rubbing an exhausted hand against his eyes.
“Did you want me to get him to reconsider the location?” You offer.
“That won’t be necessary”.
And you can’t help but to feel useless. Like after all those months of seducing intel out of a gross man wasn’t enough. Like Silco was just wasting your time, simply because he could, because you were there, because you were convenient.
“I cannot stress enough how much you’ve been beneficial to me over the course of these few months, I appreciate it.”
And that’s it. The last thing Silco had said to you in 3 days. Until he’d sent a messenger to you while you were on the clock, requesting a meeting at his office within the instant.
In his office, you’re met with multiple familiar faces.
His daughter, Jinx, perched on his desk with her knees brought to her chest. It’s rare that you ever see her, but often that you hear of her. You’ve overheard a multitude of stories about her, the problems she causes. She was a loose cannon, a total wild card. You’d heard grumblings of Silco sweeping all of her messes under the rug, he’d had a complete lack of control over her, and it was bound to blow up in his face.
Once in a blue moon she’d come into the bar, when it was slow and quiet, and around closing, she’d ignore how you would abandon stacking chairs on tables to serve her, she didn’t care that you had other duties. She didn’t care if you’d served her or not. She’d sit down at the end of the bar and lay her head on the marble countertop, then fiddle with something within arm's reach. You don’t know her drink of choice, you’re unsure if she knows either. But you would always whip up something light and sweet. And after a few moments, she’d speak up and ask one significantly odd question.
“Why is it that people need alcohol to be more themselves? Why do they need to be inebriated to be their true self, can they not handle it sober?”
You’re never really certain if it’s rhetorical, if she’s merely only thinking aloud. You always end up offering your two cents anyway. But it seems your replies never satisfy her. She’ll sit there for an hour at most, silently, as you work around her. Her glass untouched and sweaty. Once she was done, she’d gather herself with a heavy sigh, flick a coin at you for your service, then disappear until the next time she decided to grace you with her presence.
Every interaction you had with her would never live up to the thing's others had to say about her. She always seems quiet and lost in thought. Like a dazed child.
She acknowledges you briefly, you can see her wondering about your presence here for a brief moment, before her attention gets caught on to the gun she’d been tinkering with before you entered.
There were two other men, Zane and Nox. They’re regulars at the last drop. Nox had a short fuse and Zane had little regard for the messes he left behind for you to clean up. It’s safe to say they weren’t your favorite customers, but you didn’t know enough about them to form a genuine opinion. You only knew that they did errands for Silco.
And then at Silco’s side, there was his right-hand woman. And your boss. Or manager, since the bar was Silco’s, even though Sevika foresaw everything that happened under that roof. Your attention lingers on her for a brief moment, taking in the metal-armed brute in all her burliness. You meet her cold eyes, and watch her head tilt in minute confusion. As if she was also wondering why you were there. She wasn’t used to seeing you anywhere that wasn’t in that bar specifically. And it went both ways, now that Silco requested to see you more, the two of you were bound to meet in the hallways outside his office. You’d brush past each other, and you would feel how her eyes would follow your direction every time.
You’d always manage to steer clear of the woman. She seemed to be someone who’s quick to anger, by the count of how many men she’s ordered to be escorted out of the bar. You do little to inconvenience her. You learned her favorite drink, her favorite beer. You kept her personal booth clean, her glass full. You learned how to handle deliveries without her. You did your job with ease. But still, she’d look at you like you were a nuisance to her. Like no matter what you do, you’ll just be scum at the bottom of her shoe.
When you were first introduced, she waved you off with a dismissive hand, like you were nothing.
You never tried to win her over. There wasn’t necessarily a need to. You weren’t fired, so you guess that was her putting up with you.
All eyes were on you when you fully stepped into the office. You stuck out like a sore thumb. You weren’t meant to be in there with them, and everyone made sure you knew it, but Silco wanted you, so you were at least of some importance.
You clear your throat to break the awkward and thick silence surrounding your arrival, side stepping to your favorite sofa in the dark corner.
“Glad you could join us”, Silco acknowledges you, and you nod in response.
“What’s this about?” Jinx asks, with a disengaged sigh, steamrolling Silco into explaining his plans.
Silco explains how essential it is to have access to Piltover Ports. He brings up the multiple instances that they’d been ambushed while obtaining goods. And mentions the crackdown on transportation security. He relays the information you’d told him, that Graves specifically told you.
“Graves has graciously decided to consider business with us, which he’s willing to discuss in a meeting.” He finishes.
“Ha!” Jinx cackles, “Doesn’t he hate your guts?”
“The status of our relationship has gone under development” he replies through gritted teeth,” But you’re correct, which is why I’m sending you lot in my place, to discuss the means of the business”.
Sevika scoffs, the first sound you heard her make since you stepped foot in the office. “To what? Charm him? That isn’t necessarily Jinx's' forte”
“Isn’t yours either, bricks for brains” Jinx bites back, causing Sevika to roll her eyes.
“That’s where she comes in” Silco cuts in, nodding his head into your direction.
All eyes fall onto you again, and you shift uncomfortably under the sudden attention.
“She’s been working at Graves for a while now, getting information out of him, and warming him up to the idea of getting back in business with me. If anyone can appeal to that man, it’s her”.
Sevika bites her tongue, as it all becomes clear now. Silco had you doing dirty work on the side, which is why you were appearing more frequently. This is what he was refraining from telling her. What she’d caught herself distantly pondering about. Distracting her.
“Sevika, you’ll speak on my behalf. Negotiate with him, find a way to reason with his demands. Her presence should make it easier for you” He nods off to you. “I suspect you’ll be able to bring him to his senses.”
You nod hesitantly, unsure if flirting with him was the right way of going about handling the matters of their relationship. But if that’s what he wants, you won’t refrain from doing as told.
“Jinx and the rest of you, I want you to look into the port surveillance, blind spots, inspection patterns, Enforcer routes, anything you can do that will help prevent another ambush” he directs, “Without causing a scene”.
That part was steered towards Jinx, who then proceeded to whistle as if she were trying to avoid the confrontation.
“The meeting is in the morning in Piltover, I expect best behavior”.
Nobody protests. Even though you can see opposition written over Sevika’s face, as she glares at you with something like resentment. You’re not used to participating in Silco’s business affairs. When he hired you, you only expected to be maintaining the bar. You don’t know what it would mean to back out of his directions for you, as well as working alongside someone who actively hated your guts. You wouldn’t do anything to consciously fuck things up, but the idea that Silco was counting on you made you nervous. Made you regret stumbling into his path all those months ago.
Should you not go through with it, you’d be out of the job, and back to square one. You liked the bar, it was busy, it kept you occupied, awake. Should you be fired, slim chance you’d find a job you’d enjoy as much as the Last Drop. Should you not back out, you’d be taking on a whole new responsibility that you weren’t ready for.
The chances of everything going to shit was high, but it’s not like Silco was going to give you a choice, right?