2. Together
Powder wonders if she'll ever be good at something.
Everyone has something they are good at. Her sister is strong and smart and quick with her fists. Claggor is even stronger, though not as fast. Vander is good at pouring drinks and talking to people. Even Mylo has his little pins which can open almost any lock he comes across.
And he's also very good at reminding Powder that she has none of those skills.
Mylo is an idiot, so it wouldn't bother her that much if it weren't so true. Before, when it was just Violet and her, it never occurred to Powder how weak she was, because her sister never mentioned it. But she's her sister, so of course she wouldn't do that. Powder is older now; old enough to understand that Violet is just being nice to her.
It's not like Violet doesn't try to include her. She and the two boys have started exploring the city a few months back, running errands for Vander or striking out on their own. And her sister always brings Powder along. Even after Powder got lost in the market lanes. Even after she broke the glasses they were supposed to bring to Benzo. Even after she got too excited over a puppet play at the market and her laughing attracted a group of older children who chased them home.
It's not like Powder isn't trying to better, either. She is. She is trying so hard. She doesn't talk to strangers anymore, or make any sound when they cross the Lanes. She trains carrying empty boxes in the basement so that she won't drop them anymore. She offers to be the group's lookout or spy because maybe she is good at those. She even stole Mylo's pins one night while he slept and tried her hand at the locks he uses to practise with. If he can do it, it can't be that hard.
The pins broke and Mylo angrily chased her around a table until Violet grabbed them both and told them to quit it. On the lookout, she got distracted and didn't warn her friends in time before Vander caught them, after which they all got house arrest. And she still drops important things whenever she is handed them, either because she's not strong enough or because she's nervous or because the voice in her head tells her to. And every mishap, every accusing word from Mylo and every time Violet has to defend her only makes it worse.
"Powder."
"Huh?" Powder finds her sister looking at her expectantly. "What did you say?"
Violet laughs. "Where were you there, Pow-Pow?" She playfully flicks Powder's forehead. "Daydreaming?"
"Yeah. Daydreaming, I guess," Powder says.
"Well, quit it. We're heading out, on a very special mission. Get your shoes and let's go."
What's the point? You'll only ruin it again.
"I… I'm not feeling so good," Powder lies. "I think I'm sick."
"Sick?" In a moment's notice, her sister's grin flips over into worry. Powder sees that look directed at her often enough and she wishes she hadn't said anything. "Is it serious? Can I get you anything to feel better? Should I tell Vander?"
"No." Before her sister can object, Powder adds, "I think I just have to lie here a bit. It's fine."
A pause. "Do you want me to stay with you?"
"No."
"…Okay." Half-way to the stairs that lead to the bar upstairs, Violet turns around once more. "Are you sure that…?"
"Yes! Just go!"
Powder turns to face the wall, pretending that there is something very interesting there. After a moment she hears the door close behind her and her sister's footsteps go up the stairs. Then there's silence.
Why did you yell at her?!
Why didn't I go with her?!
Powder buries her face in her hands.
Sisters don't lie to each other!
Maybe there's something you're good at.
What does it matter? Everyone already knows you're useless, anyway.
And now Vi will think so, too…
Powder stills. Then she jumps out the bed, throws open the door and scrambles up the stairs after her sister.
She catches up with Violet just outside the bar. She is standing together with Mylo and Claggor and all three of them are just in the process of slinging bags over their shoulders. Powder is going so fast that she barrels right into Claggor and bounces off of him, almost tumbling back through the door.
He turns around, looking surprised. "Woah, hey there, Pow." He glances at Violet. "Uh, didn't you say…?"
Violet looks just as puzzled. "So…you're coming with?"
Powder nods. She doesn't trust herself to speak.
"Nice," says Claggor.
"Great," sighs Mylo. Claggor shoves him.
Violet looks at Powder for one more second. Then she shrugs and calls, "Let's go!" and they're off. Powder hasn't even stopped to ask what they are doing, but she is tagging along anyway. She has to. She wants to. Shut up, stupid head-voice!
They traverse the Lanes at a brisk pace. To Powder's surprise, they are not heading towards the bigger houses on the north side, where she knows her sister has stolen things before. Instead, they are winding their way through less populated streets and back alleys where the noise from the markets is only a distant, formless din. It's dark and Powder instinctively walks closer to Violet. She doesn't take her hand, though. She is too big for that now.
In one of the alleys they suddenly stop, clustering around a corner. Mylo peeks around first and once he gives the 'okay' sign they all follow suit. He indicates a building a little further down the alley that has a half-broken neon sign hanging above the entrance, marking it as a shop of sorts. If the sign wasn't enough indication, the guard standing outside the door completes the look.
He is leaning against the wall underneath an awning; a giant fish man with a bald head who is wearing a nose ring, an old two-piece suit, an enormous moustache and just as enormous a knife on his belt. Violet points out that he looks like a fancy, oversized catfish and Powder giggles, because he does. Without her sister beside her, she wouldn't dare go anywhere near this person, she thinks. But now he seems a lot less scary.
Violet inspects their target for a moment. Then she turns to Powder: "Can you see how we're getting in?"
Powder looks at the building. The door is out of the question and all the windows she can see are barred. A smile comes to her face once she sees what Vi means. "The chimney!" she replies eagerly.
Her sister grins proudly. "The chimney," she confirms. She sends a critical look at Mylo. "You are sure the owner isn't in, right?"
"Of course I am."
"And the thing is still there?"
"Vi, I'm good at this intel thing! The…" Mylo pauses, glancing at Powder, "thing must be in the back room. Cross my heart."
"Okay. Otherwise this will be a whole lot of effort for nothing."
"What is it? What are we stealing?" Powder wants to know.
"You'll see," Vi replies evasively. "Stay here with Claggor. You are our lookouts, in case the owner comes back."
She doesn't trust you.
Powder watches her sister and Mylo clamber up the pipes to the roof and vanish from sight. Her being rebels against that, but she couldn't follow them this way. "I want to go, too!" she voices.
"Vi said to stay here," Claggor states. "Keep a lookout. I don't fit through a chimney anyhow."
I do! Powder huffs, banging her fist against the wall. Left out. Again. But this is an important job, too, she reasons with herself. Vi wouldn't have brought her if she didn't think she could do it. At least she can be a good lookout. This time she won't get distracted.
So she looks out. The giant hasn't moved from his spot. He doesn't look up when Powder spies her friends' silhouettes creeping across the nearby rooftops. Vi is easy to make out with her bright pink hair, even in the dim light, but she moves seemingly without fear of being discovered. Powder once again wishes she had her confidence. Maybe that is the key to why her sister is so good at everything. Maybe Powder just needs to have more courage.
Her heart leaps into her throat when she sees Violet jump across the alley. She lands safely, silently on the roof of the shop. Mylo follows a second after and lands behind her – and then something goes wrong. His feet seem to slip and suddenly he is hanging onto the ledge and roof shingles come falling down from where he stood.
They hit the ground with a deafening crash, making the giant startle. His eyes dart to the broken tiles and for a moment he doesn't seem to know what to do with it. Then he pushes off the wall to investigate.
"Oh no," Claggor groans.
Powder's mind races. Once the guard is out from beneath the awning, he'll spy her friends instantly if he so much as glances up. They can't let him see them. What would Vi do? But Powder can't do what Vi would do.
Courage.
Without thinking twice, Powder grabs the lids from two nearby garbage bins and darts around the corner, ignoring Claggor's surprised exclamation. She starts to bang them together as loudly as she can.
The giant turns around at the noise, a frown on his face. For a few second she just looks at her, puzzled. Then he comes marching towards her, one hand on his huge knife.
Powder shakes. She presses her eyes shut and continues clanging. The giant's heavy footfalls still echo in her ears: boom, boom, boom. She starts humming to drown it out. Courage.
"Hey! You!"
It will be alright. He won't hurt her. Nothing will happen to her.
Boom, boom, boom. Closer now. Her eyes fly open. The giant has almost reached her. Now he is looking very angry. Powder's eyes dart up to the roof, where she sees that Violet has pulled Mylo back up. Her sister is on the edge staring down at her, making frantic hand gestures.
"You, brat. I'm talking ta you!"
Claggor steps out from behind the corner, placing himself in front of Powder. "Very sorry, Mr. My friend, uh, gets lost in her music sometimes. Very sorry again. We'll just…"
The giant shoves him out of the way without so much as a look. At the last second, Powder's nerves desert her and she tries to run, but a giant hand catches her by the leg and makes her stumble. The guard's other hand grabs her by the wrist and lifts her up to his face. He still looks like a catfish, but now Powder can't laugh about it anymore. His grimace reveals three metal and least as many missing teeth. "I don' like noise. You's wanna know what happens to noisy kids 'round 'ere?"
Powder struggles, flailing and kicking at his face.
"I'll shows ya."
"Hey!" a shout sounds from somewhere behind him.
The giant frowns and starts to turn around, right before a heavy, broken pipe comes swinging from outside of Powder's field of view and clobbers him right over the head. She sees the giant's eyes roll up in his head and he lets go of her wrist, dropping her back on the cobblestones. Powder quickly scrambles out of the way before his body can follow suit and bury her. Her heart is pounding madly in her chest.
Violet steps up to the giant on the ground and gives him another whack with the pipe for good measure. She is breathing heavily and her eyes search for Powder's. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" she demands.
Powder quickly shakes her head. She stares at the unconscious catfish and something loosens inside her. She did this! She and Vi. Together! The fear in her stomach has transformed into something lighter; something that makes her scramble to her feet and jump up high into the air. "Whooo!" she yells excitedly.
"Shhh!" Violet shushes her. But her wide grin belies any serious rebuke. "Nice work, Pow-Pow. You saved Mylo's ass there."
"Did not!" Mylo protests, half-climbing and half-falling down from the roof. "The guy wouldn't have known a thing if she hadn't made a racket."
"Sure." With a scoff, Violet flings her pipe away and slings her arm around Powder's shoulders. She gives her a wink: proud. "You did great." Then worried: "But please never do that again."
As they approach the shop again – the front door this time, since the threat is gone – Powder feels like she's floating. Light like a feather. She's certain she'd simply fly away if her sister's hand wasn't still anchored on her shoulder.
You did great.
She can't stop smiling.
After a moment of fiddling with the lock, Mylo manages to get the door open and they slip into the shop. The inside looks a lot more chaotic than the outside: Powder can see boxes upon boxes stacked on top of each other, like the owner had only just moved in. Most are open and filled with various pieces of junk. There's a narrow path of free space that leads to the counter, upon which a large stuffed head of a horned creature is precariously perched. Awed, Powder takes a step towards it and promptly knocks against a box in her way, setting off a cascade of items clattering noisily to the floor.
"Careful," Vi warns, pushing past her. Powder feels her face flush. The magic of her victory dispels a little and she is back to her familiar, clumsy and anxious self. She makes sure to follow exactly in her sister's footsteps, lest she do any more damage.
"Look at all this stuff!" Claggor exclaims. He can't seem to decide where to look first.
Mylo digs a few old, rusty cogs from a box and then tosses them over his shoulder to focus on a locked door at the back of the room. Powder stealthily scoops up the cogs and slips them into her pocket. She and Little Man could use those for the mechanism he's been trying to fix for the past two weeks. She grins at the thought of telling him about her face-off with the giant fish man.
Where you still needed Vi to save you.
Weak.
"I'm not!" Powder exclaims, flinging her hand up. Another box topples over, its contents clattering to the floor.
She can feel three pairs of eyes looking at her in bewilderment. Her sister's look is an unspoken question. Looking down at her feet, Powder mutters, "Sorry."
"You know, I could concentrate a lot better if things were quiet around here," Mylo makes himself heard.
"So why are you talking?" Vi deadpans. "Didn't you say you could get this open easy?"
"Relax; almost got it. Perfection mustn't be rushed."
"What perfection?" Powder pipes up, relishing in the stink eye he sends her way.
Finally there is a click and the door creaks open. Mylo immediately rushes through it to the back room and its mysterious contents. Violet and Claggor make to follow, with Powder close behind. She is brimming with curiosity what all the secrecy is about.
But.
Before she can enter, she is suddenly stopped by a hand on her chest. Violet shakes her head at her: "Sorry, Powder. You can't come in here."
"What?" Powder freezes in place. She searches her sister's face for a hint of a joke. She doesn't find any. "Why not?!"
"Cuz I said so." Violet gives her a stern look. "Wait here. You'll see it soon enough."
Powder's noise of protest dies on her lips as Vi gently pushes her back and closes the door in front of her face.
She stares at the splintered wood, uncomprehending. Suddenly all the warmth is gone. She feels a cold grip tighten around her chest and squeeze her lungs, and she can barely breathe. In her head, one feverish thought hunts the next: But I want to help! – you'll break something again – what happened outside was just a fluke – that's why she let you come along this far; because all the important things are in that room – No, she said I was doing good! She said it! – She said it – she said it
Useless.
Something snaps. A scream tears from her throat and she bolts. Right out the door and into the street, without a destination.
She doesn't look back. Her legs run like they have a mind of their own. Her feet slip on the wet cobblestones and she falls, scraping her knee. She scrambles into a nearby alley and sinks down against the wall. Her hands tear into her hair, hurting. She knocks her head back against the wall, again and again. Anything to not have to think.
There are running footsteps. A voice; familiar concern: "Powder!"
"Go away!" she screams.
"Guys, go on without us."
"But…"
"Now, Claggor!"
Powder wants to scream at them all to just be quiet. She doesn't want to hear their voices. Any voice. But there is one still stubbornly drifting closer. Why can't it just leave her alone?!
"Powder."
"No!" Suddenly there are arms around her and foreign warmth meeting her cold chest and it's too much. Powder flails, trying to claw the hands away from her back. She yells and kicks and screams until her voice is hoarse. But the warmth doesn't let go. She's not strong enough to push it away. Not strong enough.
Eventually there are no screams left in her. The manic energy leaves her and a still, paralyzing numbness takes over. Powder starts to cry.
Her body slumps in her sister's arms, which haven't let go of her the entire time. Vi's voice is in her ear, whispering, soothing: "Shh, Pow-Pow. It's okay. It's okay. You're okay."
Safe.
Even now her sister's hug still conjures that feeling inside her, like it always has. She wants to curl up and hide in it forever.
Vi strokes her hair, humming something without words. Her embrace has loosened, giving Powder the option to shrug it off if she wants to. Powder doesn't want to. She can't bring herself to look at her sister either.
Once she does, a watery smile greets her. She finds that Vi's eyes are teary like hers. Powder sniffles wetly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for."
Powder shakes her head No. She does. Violet just wants to make her feel better.
A thumb wipes the tear lines from her cheek. "What happened, Powder?" Vi asks gently.
"Said I was useless. T'was cold… You didn't let me in!"
Her sister's eyes widen.
"It's right. I'm no good at anything. But… it hurt."
"…Powder, look at me. You're not useless."
"I'm…"
"No. Never will, never have been; alright? I promise you."
"But…" Powder tries for words, "you thought I'd break things in the important room."
"That's what you thought?" Vi vehemently shakes her head. "That wasn't why. That's just Mylo talking. You know he can be an idiot sometimes. I know you can handle yourself, Pow-Pow."
"Then why?" Powder demands. Her sister is saying all these things now, but it doesn't make sense.
Violet sighs. Suddenly she looks – weird. Almost embarrassed. "I was just trying to have it be a surprise for you. I didn't mean to hurt you."
"A surprise?"
"Yeah." Violet reaches beside her and for the first time Powder notices the bag that her sister put down there. She pulls out a large, wooden box with a rusty blue handle and sets it down in front of Powder. "Here. That's what we were after."
Powder reaches for the lid, curiosity taking over her hands before she withdraws them again. "Can I open it?"
"Of course you can. It's yours."
Mine? Her curiosity now far too piqued to hold back, Powder flings open the box. A gasp leaves her lips when she sees what's inside: a collection of tools; screws and screwdrivers, shining new cogs and even shinier metal dowels, a few tiny spanners and saws and a giant wrench. There's even a hammer!
Not knowing what to touch first, she settles for all if it, feeling the smooth and rough metal of the tools under her fingertips. It's all real. Incredulous, she looks up at Violet.
Her sister smiles. "Happy birthday, Powder."
Powder flings herself at her like a bullet shot from a gun. Violet seems surprised by that and nearly loses her balance, but catches herself at the last second. Powder feels her laugh echo through her, and it's a nice feeling. She hugs her sister even tighter.
"Did I get it right?" Vi asks after a while.
"Mhm!" Powder nods, detaching herself from her finally. She has the best sister in the world. "Is it really all for me?" she needs to confirm again. She still can't quite believe it.
"Yes. Well. You and Little Man." Violet smiles. "I noticed you were working on that project of his, so I figured, you know. I imagine you want to try them out as soon as we get back."
Powder nods again, eagerly. She can't wait to get started, to feel these tools in her hand and have them work. Real tools! Like the grown-ups use. Little Man is going to lose his mind.
Like you did.
She glances up at her sister then. "Vi?"
"Yes, little technician?"
She has to know. "Did I really not ruin it?"
Violet looks at her like she's not sure if she's serious. "What, you mean the heist? No, you didn't. Trust me, we've pulled off way worse."
"But the catfish saw me," Powder remarks.
Her sister gives her a playful nudge. Her smile is warm. "Hey, it's not like he'll talk. He'd have to admit being tricked by a smart little girl a quarter his size."
Powder giggles: "And knocked out by a girl half his size!"
Violet smiles. "Exactly."
"It was teamwork!"
"The best." Violet gets to her feet and helps Powder up. "Come on, let's head back and brag about it to Vander. And try out your new tools."