#arcaneromance

Part 2 – Vander x Reader x Silco

Summary: Feelings long buried rise to the surface when Silco and Vander each reach a breaking point and you're the storm between them. One shows up at your door, too angry to pretend. The other waits in the dark with regret he won’t name. You never asked to be loved by both, but now you're faced with what it means to matter this much and to maybe lose it all. Pairing: Vander x Reader x Silco Word Count: ~1,300 Warnings: Bittersweet tension, romantic confusion, longing, love triangle, unspoken hurt, implied heartbreak

There was never a right time to fall in love with two men. Especially not those two.

Not Vander, with his arms always open for everyone but his heart locked shut. Not Silco, with his words sharp enough to cut and his silence even sharper.

And definitely not in Zaun where soft things don’t last long, and love always costs more than you’re ready to pay.

But it was too late now.

Things between them had shifted. You could feel it, like tension in the air before a storm. The way Vander barely looked Silco in the eye anymore. The way Silco walked around Vander like a blade waiting to be drawn.

And you? You were stuck in the middle again.

You weren’t sure what cracked it open. Maybe it was that night Vander kissed your temple like he was saying goodbye. Or maybe it was Silco showing up on your doorstep again, same bottle, same clenched jaw, but this time staying.

He didn’t speak for a long while. Neither did you. He just sat beside you, shoulders tense, like touching you would set something off inside him.

Then he said your name. Just your name.

Quiet. Careful. The way someone says a prayer when they aren’t sure they believe anymore.

You looked at him, eyes tired but kind. “You didn’t come here to drink.”

“No.” He held your gaze. “I came because I can’t pretend anymore.”

You felt your breath catch. “Pretend what?”

“That I don’t care. That I’m fine watching him stand next to you like he’s the only one allowed to matter.”

His voice cracked near the end. He didn’t look away this time.

You didn’t know what to say.

Because truth was, you’d been carrying both of them in your chest for too long.

You didn’t choose. How could you?

Vander was a home you always came back to. Solid. Strong. He made you feel safe.

But Silco… Silco made you feel seen. He knew the mess inside you and didn’t flinch. He liked that you weren’t perfect.

And somehow, that meant more than anything.

The silence between you stretched.

Finally, you whispered, “I never wanted to hurt either of you.”

Silco looked at you like it physically hurt to hear that. “Then why does it feel like bleeding, every time you look at him that way?”

You didn’t answer.

Because maybe… he was right.

Later, you found Vander behind the bar at The Last Drop, knuckles raw from training.

“You talked to him,” he said without looking up.

“I did.”

“Do you love him?”

You hesitated.

“I love you both.”

That shut him up.

Then: “You know that can’t work, right?”

You stepped closer. “I didn’t say it would. But it’s the truth.”

Vander leaned on the bar. His voice broke around the edges. “You’re the only soft thing left in this place. He’ll ruin that.”

You reached out, hand brushing his cheek. “He’s not the only one who’s changed.”

He caught your wrist gently, eyes full of something ancient and aching. “Then maybe we all lose.”

You didn’t cry, though gods know you wanted to.

Because Vander was right.

Zaun didn’t give people like you a fair shot. It gave you war. Hard choices. Broken bonds. Love with teeth.

Still… when you left that night, neither of them stopped you.

Not Vander. Not Silco.

Maybe they didn’t know how.

Or maybe… they were hoping you’d come back. But this time, choose on of them To end the war.

A/N: Here's Part 2 and last part of" Imagine Being Taken Back to the Old Days with Young Vander and Silco" . Hope u like it @mverickss !! Have a good reading ! Lots of love ! ❤️❤️❤️❤️