u/Riverioli

People talk about Love like it's an imaginary dagger. Something you hand someone and hope the universe doesn't use it against you.

Love can hurt like hell. I've lost Ko-Rel. I've lost Gamora. I know what it feels like to love someone and then have the universe rip them away from you.

But I don't think that means you stop loving. I think that's the easy way out. You don't throw away the dagger because you got cut. You learn how to hold it.

Love isn't about knowing someone will stay. It's choosing them even when you know you could lose them. It's letting someone matter to you enough that losing them would hurt.

And after everything I've lost, I could've decided I was done. I could've closed myself off and never let anyone get that close again.

But then I met Rozy.

And I realized something. Love isn't what makes you weak. It's the reason you keep fighting when everything else tells you to give up. It's knowing the person you love makes this stupid, dangerous universe worth staying in.

So, yeah. Love can hurt.

Sometimes it destroys you.

But I'd rather risk getting hurt again than go through the rest of my life never loving anyone at all.

The group had finally reached the lower levels.

The plan was simple: Break out everyone to mess with the Brotherhood and save Jayce.

u/The_wretch-0

u/Godzilla_r0ar

u/18fries

u/Flameborn111

u/Flameborn111

u/Godzilla_R0AR

u/The_WRETCH-0

u/18fries

Din stood aboard one of the Prydwen's observation decks.

Far below, Runeterra burned.

Three Prydwens hung over different parts of the planet, their bombardments already completed. Fires spread across cities and settlements. Smoke rose into the atmosphere. Entire regions had gone dark.

Din watched in silence.

He thought about the GDA.

Jane.

Cecil.

The people who had trusted him.

The droids he had fought beside.

The people he had promised to protect.

His hand tightened around the Darksaber.

Had he chosen the wrong side?

He thought about leaving.

Walking away from the Brotherhood.

Walking away from Maxson.

But then he thought about Grogu.

If Din turned against the Brotherhood, Maxson would come after him.

And Grogu would become a target.

There would be nowhere to run.

Not on Runeterra.

Not in the Outer Rim.

Not anywhere in the galaxy.

Maxson's reach was too large. The Brotherhood had ships scattered across systems. They had resources, soldiers, intelligence networks, and enough firepower to hunt someone across entire sectors.

Din couldn't risk it.

He had to stay.

For Grogu.

Even if that meant remaining at Maxson's side.

Even if it meant continuing to wear the armor of a Paladin.

Din stood motionless as footsteps approached behind him.

Arthur Maxson stopped beside him.

For a moment, he simply looked out at the burning world.

Then Maxson placed a hand on Din's shoulder.

"We did it."

Din said nothing.

"The heretics have lost."

Maxson looked across the planet.

"This world belongs to us now."

He turned toward Din.

"I'll have Knights establish bases throughout the major regions. Piltover. Noxus. Demacia. Ionia. From there, we'll secure the population centers and maintain order. We'll start with Noxus."

Din stared through the viewport.

"Yeah..."

He hesitated.

"...that sounds good."

Maxson smiled.

"Good job, Paladin."

He gave Din's shoulder one final pat.

Then he walked away.

Din remained at the window.

His eyes stayed fixed on Runeterra.

He didn't move.

He didn't speak.

He simply watched the fires spread.

Piltover went silent.

The streets that were usually filled with people, machines, vendors, Enforcers, and traffic were empty.

Citizens crowded into bunkers beneath apartment buildings, businesses, schools, and public facilities.

The governments had their own shelters.

The GDA sealed its bunker.

The Guardians were there too.

Jinx sat quietly, holding her knees. Rocket stayed close to Groot. Quill sat with the guardians, his helmet resting beside him. Cosmo and his puppies huddled into Drax's lap.

Goober, Junior, and Scorpy huddled eachother.

Zhurakai had fled to Oros to protect the Wenja.

Nobody talked much.

There wasn't anything left to say.

They waited.

Minutes passed.

Then more.

The silence became unbearable.

Some people had refused to enter the bunkers.

Others hadn't made it in time.

Families locked themselves inside basements and bathrooms. Some pulled mattresses over windows and doors. Others gathered around kitchen tables, clutching family albums and photographs.

Some stocked whatever food they could find.

They knew it wouldn't matter.

They did it anyway.

Anything was better than simply sitting there waiting.

Then the whistling began.

It was distant at first.

Then louder.

Everyone inside the bunkers looked toward the ceiling.

The sound grew closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Then...

Pop.

Not a bang.

A pop.

The bunker shook.

For a moment, nobody understood what they had heard.

Then came the sound of debris falling.

Concrete cracked.

Glass shattered somewhere above them.

Metal twisted.

More pops followed.

One after another.

Across Piltover.

Multiple nukes were fired across Runeterra.

The ground trembled beneath the shelters.

Cecil sat completely still inside the GDA bunker.

He listened to the destruction happening above them.

His shoulders slowly dropped.

He put his hands over his face.

A shaky breath escaped him.

Then he started crying.

Donald looked at him.

He didn't say anything.

He simply reached over and rested a hand on Cecil's shoulder.

Cecil stayed there, his face buried in his hands, listening to the world above them come apart.

u/the_wretch-0

u/godzilla_r0ar

u/18fries

u/Flameborn111

u/expensive-pen-3089

The Hexcore flared.

Nick, Seraphine, Rozy, Viktor, and Silco stumbled out.

Violet was nowhere to be seen, deciding to stay in the desaturated universe.

Waiting for them were Cecil, Quill, Nebula, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, Groot, and Goober.

The entire group stared at them.

Then, in perfect unison:

"WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU ALL BEEN?! THERE'S A WAR GOING ON!"

u/expensive-pen-3089

u/the_wretch-0

u/18fries

u/godzilla_r0ar

Piltover's beach stretched along the city's coastline, an artificially created tropical environment built for relaxation and tourism.

People filled the shoreline, swimming, sunbathing, playing beach games, surfing, and relaxing beneath umbrellas. Tiki bars lined parts of the beach, serving drinks and food to visitors.

Further out, dolphins moved through the clear water while designated areas kept swimmers safely away from the sharks patrolling the outskirts, separated by large underwater barriers.

The whole area was carefully maintained, with warm sand, tropical plants, clear water, and controlled conditions creating a permanent summer atmosphere.

Jinx looked around with Vi, Silco, Violet, Catra, Viktor, Orianna, and Fran beside her.

"Perfect!"

The beach!

We've been there before, but that's a long time ago.

The beach is perfect! Sunbathing, water, fun!!!

IT'LL BE SO AWESOME!! IT'LL BE SO COOL!!

Already packing her bags

u/Expensive-pen-3089

u/the_wretch-0

u/18fries

u/godzilla_r0ar

The dining hall aboard the Prydwen had been prepared for the evening.

A long table stretched through the center of the room, covered with a clean white tablecloth. Polished plates, silverware, glasses, and candles were arranged neatly in front of each seat. Brotherhood banners hung along the walls, while large windows offered a view of Piltover far below.

Catra, Vi, and their friends sat together along one side of the table.

Across from them were six Brotherhood officers and representatives, leaving enough space between the two groups for the dinner to feel organized rather than crowded.

Mando stood near the main exit.

Two Brotherhood Knights stood beside him, both wearing full power armor with their weapons secured but ready. They remained silent, watching the room.

The other exits were guarded as well. Two Knights stood at each doorway, making sure every entrance and exit was covered.

Maxson sat near the head of the table.

A single Knight stood directly beside his chair, keeping watch over the Elder throughout the dinner.

Despite the security, the atmosphere was surprisingly calm.

The first courses had been brought out.

Zaun had provided several dishes with strong spices, grilled meats, roasted vegetables, fresh bread, and rich sauces. The food carried the smoky scent of the Undercity, with enough seasoning to make the entire room smell warm and inviting.

Piltover's finest had been placed beside it. Delicate pastries, carefully prepared meats, fresh produce, expensive cheeses, and desserts were arranged across silver serving trays. Everything was presented with the precision expected from Piltover's finest kitchens.

Then came the Wastelands Deluxes.

PreWar and wasteland food had been collected for the occasion. Nuka Cola bottles sat in ice filled buckets beside the table. Fancy Lads Snack Cakes, BlamCo Mac & Cheese, Cram, Salisbury Steak, Instamash, Pork n Beans, and Dandy Boy Apples were arranged alongside more carefully prepared dishes.

There were also Sugar Bombs, preserved canned goods, and several bottles of Sunset Sarsaparilla brought in from Brotherhood stores.

The combination was unusual.

Zaunite cooking, Piltover cuisine, and wasteland food all occupied the same table.

The smell filled the dining hall. Grilled meat mixed with roasted vegetables, warm bread, spices, melted cheese, sweet pastries, and the familiar sugary scent of Nuka Cola.

The room felt less like a meeting between powerful factions and more like an actual dinner.

The Knights remained at their posts.

Mando continued watching the main entrance.

Maxson looked down the table at everyone gathered around him.

He rested his hands on the table.

"Let us eat, my friends."

u/expensive-pen-3089

u/18Fries

u/The_wretch-0

u/Godzilla_r0ar

u/expensive-pen-3089

Din made his way toward the Razorcrest with a small group of Knights and Scribes following behind him.

They had been sent to Piltover to see if the Brotherhood could provide any additional assistance. Din stepped aboard the ship and paused before entering the cockpit.

One of the Knights approached.

"We should ask Elder Maxson if there are any further orders."

Din nodded and turned back toward the corridor.

"I'll speak with him."

They returned to the Prydwen and made their way to Maxson's quarters.

Maxson looked up as Din entered.

"Mando."

"Elder. Is there anything else you want us to do in Piltover?"

Maxson considered the question for a moment.

"Actually, there is."

He stepped toward Din.

"I'd like you to speak with Catra and Violet. The original Violet."

Din nodded.

"I'll inform them."

Maxson gave a faint smile.

"And I'd like them, along with their friends, to join us aboard the Prydwen for dinner."

Din paused briefly.

"Dinner?"

"A gesture of cooperation."

Maxson walked toward the window overlooking Runeterra.

"We have arrived in their world as outsiders. They have their own concerns about us, and I understand that."

"We should show them that the Brotherhood is not here to take control. We have common interests. Security. Stability. Protecting civilians."

He turned back toward Din.

"A meal gives us an opportunity to speak without weapons drawn. We can learn more about their governments, their defenses, and the threats they face. They can learn more about us."

Maxson smiled.

"And perhaps we can find some common ground."

Din nodded.

"I understand. I'll let them know."

Maxson gave him a final nod.

"Good."

"Ad Victoriam."

Din returned to the Razorcrest.

The Knights and Scribes boarded behind him, and the ship lifted away from the Prydwen.

They descended toward Piltover.

Once they landed, Din stepped onto the streets with the Brotherhood personnel and began patrolling the city.

Tan underside, longer arms, fixed balancing issues.