Vi was a protector, her mother told her once.
She remembered the moment the words came from the woman's mouth: When she was just a young child and Powder had just been born.
Her mother had said it to her when, after they had finished their business in the clinic, they were heading to their modest little home now as a family of four. She remembered holding the little baby, a thing so impossibly small Vi was absolutely terrified of doing anything to hurt her.
Maybe it was out of mercy, or maybe her mother was being her mother; seeing what she couldn't see and plotting out how it would all work out in the end.
She was like that, her mother Felicia. Always had the look like she knew what you were thinking before you even thought about it.
That night they were travelling by chem-powered cart, an expensive treat for even well-to-do Zaunites never mind a poor mining family like hers.
But, as she would learn later, others had chipped in. Friends and co-workers, all sending their best wishes.
They may have been poor, but their family had a lot of friends.
At least, that's what she remembered in those halcyon days.
Anyway, they were travelling in comfort but Vi remembered not giving a single crap that the seats were plush, the air-freshener smelled nice and the cart itself was the fanciest thing she had ever gotten in.
None of that mattered.
What did was the little bundle in her arms who she had fallen in love with the moment they met.
Little Violet did not know much at that point in her life.
But she knew she would do everything for little Powder.
That was when her mother said those words.
"You're a protector Vi. You're at your best when you have someone you love by your side and you're back to back, standing against the world."
Much to her embarrassment, though Vi would always remember the words, Little Vi did not really take them to heart at that moment.
In all fairness, she was six years old and she had a baby in her arms.
But she remembered the words.
Two decades later, a part of her wished she didn't remember much at all.
Vi had never felt any control of her life since the bridge. That horrible moment where everything changed and nothing after ever made any sense.
A part of her was still there. Still hearing the bullets, still selling the smoke.
Still seeing her parents dead.
In her best moments, she liked to think she at least knew herself. When everything around you was falling apart sometimes all you could ever do was keep yourself together.
For a bit, she thought she did.
She had been an angry teen she knew, a thief, a brawler, a thug. She made a lot of people angry.
But she was at least doing it (mostly) because she had people to protect.
Powder of course. But Ekko, Mylo and Claggor too.
They were her family.
She missed her family.
Missed them all so much.
How do you get over losing such loving parents, who made sure you knew the kind of world you were born in but did everything in their power to prepare you for it and loved you all throughout?
It was a painful thought and it wracked her with guilt every time her mind wandered.
Because she was lucky.
So many others were on that bridge. So many other kids lost their parents.
Not all of them had Vander. Not all of them were given a second chance.
Yet, in her darkest days, in moments where she could absolutely not let anyone see, teenage Violet would go to a hidden place and cry and wail and wish that she had her mommy and daddy back.
Even if it meant losing Vander.
Even if it meant losing Ekko, Mylo and Claggor.
But not Powder.
Never Powder.
Because what was a Protector with nothing to protect?
It didn't matter in the end though.
Like the bridge, there were just some things she couldn't stand against.
She had just…never expected it to be her own sister.
That night played in memories for a long time and still did.
Ekko laughed that she still blocked with her face. It was a fair jab, she often left herself open.
A lot of that was due to terrible stance work, or more generously, an aggressive mindset that sacrificed defense for offence.
But maybe, as her experience in the fighting pit showed, some part of her wanted to get hit.
Wanted to be hit so badly she would forget everything.
Her mother said she was a protector. That she was at her best with someone at her side and they took on the world together, back to back.
It hurt so much that she was right.
Vi wished she could ask her mom so many things. But if ever it was only one, it would be:
What was a protector without anyone to protect?
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
It was the crying that drew her.
Living in the undercity as an urchin taught you a few things and one of those was how to use your ears.
They were amazing things, ears. You could do a lot with them.
Like spying on your sister's sister.
Isha hadnt meant to do so.
Vi was scary! Scary Vi was not someone you spied on because what if she catches you and dunks your head in black ink and makes you have terrible hair!
Isha shuddered at the very notion of it.
But, she didn't leave.
Something told her it was good to stay.
She was glad she listened to that something.
It meant she caught Scary Vi, Jinx's big sister who was the only person Isha had ever seen go toe to toe with her big strong Jinxie (remember to never call her that she would not be happy), cry.
And like, cry bad.
Vi did a great job of keeping it quiet but Isha had never seen so much tears and runny snot and just…
Vi looked bad.
And not scary.
She looked sad.
Isha sniffled and swallowed.
Vi was scary, that was true.
Vi tried to kill Jinx, that was also true.
But Jinx loved Vi.
That was very true.
Quietly, Isha turned around and snuck away.
Vi made sure she was presentable when she made her way back into the commune proper.
All tears dried, all stains cleaned, all eyes not raw and red.
All snot blown too.
She hated being an ugly crier, it was an awful look.
Thankfully, like all the time previous, no one was the wiser. All the people seemed to just…get along with their lives, tending crops, raising animals. Just…living.
Vi envied them something fierce.
A part of her, a quiet, distant part, asked if they needed to be protected.
She shook her head, fiercely banishing such thoughts.
Now's not the time.
There was Vander to consider, their main reason for being here.
Their.
Jinx brought them together. She brought them here, to this place where she heard of a 'coo coo healer that can fix anything.'
Jinx.
Not Powder.
Maybe, never Powder again.
But Jinx brought her here, when she did not need to.
'He's your father too.'
Vi ducked into an alley away from the road, away from open space and the light.
She steadied herself, putting a hand on one of the huts the people had built.
She focused on it, noticing the soft stone and the bright colours with which it was painted with.
Does Jinx like the art?
Vi grit her teeth and willed the tears to stop.
A single drop fell.
Vi breathed, shuddering.
Someone cleared their throat behind her and she spun, arms out and ready to fight.
Jinx stood there with fruit in hand, held out towards her.
"Oh…" She dropped her arms feeling like a complete moron.
Not an altogether unfamiliar feeling these days.
Jinx pressed the fruit into her hand. "It's nice, you'll like it. It's not too sweet, so it should suit you just fine."
Vi blinked, looking at the small orange coloured thing in confusion.
"You bring it up to your mouth," Jinx said like she was teaching a child, "And you bite down…"
She gave her sister an annoyed glare, then followed the instructions.
Jinx was right.
She never liked things that were too sweet.
This was…perfect.
"Good? Good." Jinx cleared her throat, looking this way and that, seemingly anywhere but her. "Uhm…You hungry?"
Vi furrowed her brows, "I…guess. Haven't eaten since this morning."
Jinx looked around again. "Soooooo…Isha and I were going to have dinner."
Vi tilted her head, "Sounds…nice?"
Jinx looked away, looked at her, looked at her feet, looked at her, then looked away.
"...What?" Vi finally asked.
Jinx sucked in a breath and groaned.
"Eat with us you-!" Jinx seemingly bit her tongue, wincing as she apparently bit it a bit too hard.
Vi was caught by surprise. "Wh-huh?!"
Jinx groaned again, speaking as she was covering her mouth, "Isshha vantss yu to eat wiff us."
Vi didnt know what to say.
Jinx though was rarely one to take no, or indeed silence, for an answer and grabbed her arm and started dragging her along.
Vi, too confused to do anything, acquiesced.
Unseen by both, Isha pumped her arm and let out a small cheer.
Season 2 is kind of everything I wished for. Vi and Jinx, somehow, some way, getting back together.
It makes me dreadfully afraid of what is going to happen in Arc 3 (I havent seen it yet), but for now I want to relish the sweetness that we get so here is a little work inspired by that absolutely beautiful watercolour sequence of Vi and Jinxs' family.