2Vander had always known Powder was clever in ways none of her siblings were, but it became crystal clear while he taught the kids to read and do calculus, or polished what they already knew before. They all learned in their own pace and their shown interest on the subjects varied, but Powder was on the far top of both aspects. Especially in calculus, she learned with a speed like no other and had such an enthusiasm about it it was almost contagious, only unfortunately Vander's own limited knowledge of the subject couldn't really follow. She soon exceeded everything he could teach her and the man, who knew plenty of brawling but little of anything remotely academic, was left without really knowing how to teach more he himself did not know about. It turned into an actual pang in his heart; all the bright little kid wanted was to learn more, and he was an unsuited teacher.
Once, Powder's frown of concentration as she pilled rows of numbers on top of each other had actually triggered an old and uninvited memory on his mind, of very different times but where equally avid minds had shined amongst the fumes and the dirt they happened to be born in. Part of Vander was aware the memory could've (should've) had a feeling of good kind of silliness - how he had tried to teach a very not-interested Vander about "helpful, and above all, important things, as important as your gauntlets", things that would now indeed be definitely helpful for little Powder - but instead the memory only left a bitter taste on his mouth and made the man's gaze fall heavy with that dull ache of disappointment, of regret, that can't really be undone. When Powder yelled "Done!" and eagerly showed him the notebook for him to confirm if the sums and subtractions and multiplications and divisions were right, Vander pushed the memory and the regret under the weight of the years that had passed by and smiled to his blue-haired child, telling her she had got everything right though he didn't know how to solve the equations.
He went to Benzo's, half knowing and expecting to find little help there. The valuables tended to be more for different fields, or contained information that was simply too advanced and complicated for Vander to even know what he was looking at, let alone explain it to Powder.
He did consider an alternative, and waited patiently for the opportunity when Grayson contacted him on their mutually-beneficial deals.
"I wanted to ask you a personal favor." If it were anyone else but Grayson, he might leave it at that for explanations; but because it was her, he added: "One of my kids, she's really bright. And it gets boring, trying to do the maths I teach her when she's way and beyond. Do you think you can find me a school book from Pilltover?"
Grayson smiled approvingly before putting on the filtered mask to leave. "Of course. I'll see what I can do."
She was faster than Vander could've hoped for, and he was openly surprised to be offered four books by the Enforcer just the next day.
"Wow. Thank you, Grayson," he said flipping the pages of the first book, half of which he didn't even pretend to understand. "Do you know if it has solutions she can check for? I won't be able to teach her this."
"Only one of them has, I'm afraid. Most professors will insist on correcting the problems in class, and disencourage the access to solutions."
"It'll be enough. How much does this-" he tried, meeting Grayson's headshake at once.
"Please, Vander. It's a personal favor. Take it."
Knowing he wouldn't have had enough money to pay for the awe in Powder's face when she saw the books anyway, he could only hope Grayson would be able to feel how heartfelt his gratitude was.
"Holy shit!" Powder squealed, too excited to even realize she had cussed in front of him. "Ah, sorry! I-I mean... wow! Where did you find these?"
"You know I have my contacts," he winked, making Powder giggle and hold the books like the treasures they were. She moved the notebook where she had created her own problems and exercises after she had finished all the ones Vander had given her, her restraint almost painful to watch as she fought against opening the books immediately. "They're yours, Powder."
The way her wide eyes sparkled was not something he could ever put a price on.
"I'm not gonna lie to you, I can't help you with these because I don't understand what's in them-"
"I can teach you!" she said at once, bringing back that memory again but smothering its pain with love and making Vander smile. "I promise it's easy! And it's so fun!"
"I want you to focus on learning," he told her, carefully booping her nose. "I know you can do this, Pow Pow."
The girl's chest filled with pride and she nodded with a smile, opening the book and starting to read and learn by herself under the néon lights what the children of Piltover would in their sunlit classrooms with tutors and professors.
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the end
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Author's Note: A spontaneous fic. One thing I want to mention is that I think despite Vander doing his best for his kids, the fact he waits for Grayson to approach him about their deals and work his request from there, instead of actively reaching to her first, shows how he is fully adapted to the dynamic of, well, being adapted to Topside and their demands/schedules/lives. He works with Topside according to Topside's rythm. Whereas Silco would've definitely worked differently and not waited for someone to give him what he wants. And Grayson herself gets back at Vander as soon as she has the books, cause she's awesome. Like, it's the smallest detail but the intention with which I wrote that little piece is this.
Thanks for reading, please point out mistakes.
Disclaimer at the end but I wish I owned just a fraction of the genius storytelling of Arcane. Wish it could rub off by just admiring. Unfortunately, I do not and it does not.