As the elevator doors slid open to the Undercity, Jonathan shot out like a bullet—sprinting straight toward the Last Drop.
But after a few steps, he slowed.
Would they even be there?
He brought a hand to his face, thinking.
"…Nah," he muttered, shaking his head.
And just like that—he picked up speed again.
Hope I get there before the explosion.
He darted through the crowded streets, weaving between stalls and people, cutting down narrow alleys toward the lab.
As he darted out of one alley, he slammed into someone—
—but didn't stop.
The person fell backward with a thud.
"Ugh—ow!" a small voice called behind him.
Jonathan skidded to a stop.
He turned around.
"Little girl with blue hair?"
He sighed, already walking back toward the figure on the floor.
He offered a hand. "Get up, Powder."
Powder blinked, still dazed from the impact. Slowly, she reached up and took his hand.
He pulled her to her feet.
"Jonathan?" she muttered—then shouted, "Jonathan!" and threw her arms around him.
"Ekko said the enforcers took you," she said, still hugging him tightly.
"Uh…" Jonathan awkwardly patted her head. "They did. But I'm Jonathan Crane—they couldn't kee—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
His hand slid from the top of her head to her chin, gently tilting her face up.
"Were you crying?"
He studied her face, eyes narrowing.
Powder jerked back, pushing his hands away. "So what? I'm allowed to cry, aren't I?"
.
.
.
She turned her face aside. "…Is it that obvious?"
"I have a keen eye for these moments," Jonathan shrugged.
Powder sighed. "I was crying…"
Then her eyes widened. "I need to help them!"
She bolted through the alley. "Please don't be too late," she muttered under her breath.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jonathan reappeared—running backwards in front of her, effortlessly matching her pace.
"Too late for what?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Someone took Vander," she said, breath catching. "Vi, Mylo, and Claggor went to save him—I need to help!"
Jonathan smiled—and came to a dead stop.
Then he opened his arms wide.
Powder ran straight into him with a soft thud, stumbling back a step. "What are you doing?" she shouted, eyes wide. "I need to go!"
She tried to shove past him. "You're just like Vi!Always trying to stop me!"
Jonathan didn't budge. He reached out and caught her by the shoulders.
"Powder."
"No!" she twisted in his grip. "Let me go!"
"Hey," he said, firmer now, crouching a little to meet her eyes. "Look at me."
She hesitated, breathing hard, chest rising and falling.
"I'm not stopping you," Jonathan said calmly. "I'm helping."
Before she could respond, he scooped her up with ease, lifting her onto his back. His tail looped around her waist to hold her steady.
"I'm faster than you. If that wasn't obvious," he said flatly. "So stop squirming and hang on."
He took off, sprinting full-speed through the undercity.
Powder clutched his shoulders, still blinking in shock. "I… I'm sorry."
"be better," Jonathan said, not even looking back.
———————————————
Jonathan finally slowed, coming to a stop near the old cannery by the docks.
He set Powder down gently.
"See?" he said, brushing off his clothes. "Aren't you glad I bumped into you? Though honestly—if I hadn't, you'd probably wouldn't have wasted time."
He tilted his head toward the building. "Oh well."
Powder didn't respond. She stared at the cannery, fists clenched.
"Let's go," she said, nodding to herself. "Let's help."
Jonathan raised an eyebrow but followed her to the side of the building. Together, they started to climb.
"Yeah," he muttered, amused. "Let's 'help' them."
"You say something?" Powder asked, too focused on finding her next handhold to really hear.
"Yeah," Jonathan said casually, eyes scanning the roofline. "Climb faster."
———————————
Powder and Jonathan hauled themselves up onto a ledge overlooking the interior of the cannery.
Inside, chaos.
Vi was in the thick of it—throwing punches, taking hits—fighting Silco's goons with raw fury.
Powder's breath caught. Her eyes locked on Vi, worry etched across her face.
Beside her, Jonathan tilted his head, watching like someone watching a movie they already know the ending to.
Why does it bother me when I'm not the center of attention?he thought.
He leaned his chin into his hand.
I could jump in, fight a few goons… pretend to die in the explosion—
He shook his head. Dramatic, but I'd rather not die, even if it's fake.
I could save them… He frowned.
But why? I don't care about anyone here…
His eyes briefly flicked to Vi.
Except maybe her. And Singed, I guess. I could save Singed from getting burned… but honestly, he looks better burned.
Inside, a hulking shimmered-up goon grabbed Vi and hurled her across the room.
"Vi!" Powder shouted, eyes wide. She turned to Jonathan. "We have to help!"
She looked around, panic rising. "Jonathan?"
The ledge beside her was empty.
"Jonathan?" she said again, breath catching.
He was gone.
—————————————-
Silco and Sevika stood across the fray, watching as the shimmered-up Deckard walk toward Vander and the kids.
Then—a voice, raspy and sardonic, echoed from the shadows behind them.
"You know, I'm starting to feel like you don't respect me."
Sevika whirled, gun already drawn. "Who the hell are you?!"
A figure stepped forward out of the shadows revealing himself
The Scarecrow.
"I've tried to get noticed," he said, voice casual, almost bored. "The Piltover hospital? The fear toxin?"
He took another step forward, eyes gleaming behind his stitched mask.
"I even spread some of it down here too. Thought it would be deadly."
Silco narrowed his eyes. "And what exactly do you want?"
Scarecrow tilted his head, thoughtful. "Recognition. Credit. Fear. Maybe a statue."
He grinned under the mask. "But for now… I'll settle for a good seat to the show."
"Show?" Silco muttered, voice low. "This isn't a show."
Scarecrow's eyes flicked lazily to Sevika. "Nice arm, by the way."
Sevika didn't hesitate.
BANG.
The shot cracked through the upper floor. Scarecrow's head snapped back, and he crumpled, smacking against the wall before slumping to the floor.
Smoke curled from Sevika's pistol.
She exhaled through her nose, calmly holstering it. "Didn't want him getting away again."
Silco barely blinked, his eye tracking the limp figure on the floor.
"It's the best choice for people like that," he muttered, already turning away.
The floor shuddered as shimmered-up Deckard slammed his fists against the sealed door Vi had just shut. The metal dented under the pressure.
A faint clinking echoed through the air.
Clink.
Clink.
Clink.
A toy monkey waddled into view, cymbals clashing together.
Deckard paused. He looked down at it.
Silco narrowed his eye, confused. "What the—"
"My show is starting," a voice rasped behind them.
They turned.
Scarecrow stood again, head tilted, mask slanted from the bullet but still grinning. "How?" Sevika snapped, raising her gun.
"What's your purpose?" Silco demanded, unsettled.
Crane slowly stepped forward, arms open like a stage performer. "I don't want to change the outcome. I want to live in your head."
Then his voice dropped, sharper.
"Now look forward."
A tense beat. Then—
"It'll be unpleasant if you don't."
Silco hesitated—then turned back to Deckard.
"I don't know why I believe him," he muttered.
Sevika swallowed hard and turned her eyes to the monkey.
The toy gave one final clap.
Clank.
BOOM!
A brilliant blue explosion tore through the room blasting Deckard away in an instant.
The shockwave surged forward, fast and unusual.
Silco's eye widened—too late.
But Sevika moved first.
She shoved him hard out of the way.
The blast caught her arm square-on—
BOOM—CRACK!
Her left arm disintegrated in a flash of light and smoke.
Across the room, Scarecrow braced and slashed one hand forward like he could somehow parry the blast—
But it was an explosion.
It sent him flying into a wall with a dull, loud thud.
——————————-
The blast surged downward racing straight into the lab.
Inside, Singed turned at the sound.
His eyes widened.
Too late.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the lab—fire, pressure, shrapnel—everything igniting at once.
————————-
Inside the room with Vander and the kids—
CRASH!
The reinforced door exploded inward.
The shockwave hit first—shattering the door, slamming Claggor off his feet. His goggles flew from his face as his body was hurled across the room—then out.
He crashed to the ground outside.
The fire surged forward.
Mylo turned—just in time to see a metal rod flying at him.
CRACK!
It struck him hard, sending him tumbling into the wall.
He gasped, stunned—alone.
He looked to the side. Tried to find Claggor.
No one.
Just smoke and wreckage.
Then he looked up.
Eyes wide. Scared.
The ceiling was coming down.
CRASH.
Everything went black.
He died.
A lonely death.
————————
I was very confused about this chapter.
I also don't know how to delete a chapter.