AFYE chapter 8

Powder couldn't find Vi. Her sister had practically been doing laps around the undercity every day looking to see if that stupid topsider came back and Powder was getting sick of it. She could swear that the second that topsider called, Vi would go running to her like a lovestruck puppy.

Powder froze at the thought. Lovestruck? Was Vi… No, Powder shook her head. There was no way. Vi just wanted to ensure their debt was paid and that the topsider had no reason to report them to the enforcers. That was all. It had to be. She couldn't care about some topsider. Right?

Just as Powder was shaking herself out of her small crisis, Vander came out from the back of the bar and noticed her sitting on one of the bar stools.

"Hey, kid. You here for some juice?" Vander reached for Powder's favorite glass, but she just shook her head.

"I'm looking for Vi. Have you seen her?" for a moment, Powder could swear that her adoptive parent looked conflicted, but he quickly covered it up with a smile.

"I saw her this morning. She went out to take care of some things. Said she'd be back by nightfall." Vander told her as he began to wipe down the bar top. Powder sighed. She knew what Vi was doing.

"She's running around looking for that topsider again, isn't she?" Powder laid her head on the bar as Vander slowed his cleaning.

"I suppose you could say that." Powder groaned at Vander's confirmation.

"Why can't that stupid topsider just stay topside." At this, Vander stopped in his cleaning completely and turned to Powder.

"What makes you say that?" he asked, now leaning on the bar opposite Powder.

"I- Well she- It's just that-" Powder sputtered before she blurted out "I just don't like her, okay!" then she leaned back, crossing her arms and huffing.

Vander just chuckled at the little girl, making her even angrier. "Any reason for that?" he asked.

"I- umm," Powder racked her brain for an answer. "Well, she's annoying! She came down here uninvited and took Vi away. I know Vi said it was because we owed her for-" Powder abruptly cut herself off, looking to Vander in fear that she had given away what she and her siblings got caught doing topside.

"I already know." The older man whispered, chuckling to himself as Powder shrank down in shame and guilt. "You aren't in trouble." Powder perked back up slightly. "I've done my fair share of stupid stunts in my youth. And nothing bad came of it, so I figured you all learned your lesson." Vander looked at her sternly and she nodded, confirming his words.

"Good." Vander nodded back. "Anyway, from what I hear, this topsider came down to see all of you and learn more about our home." Powder listened with suspicion. She wasn't sure where her adopted parent was going with this. "Doesn't that sound like she is reaching out? Maybe in friendship?"

Powder scoffed at the idea. "Yeah, maybe with Vi, seeing as she follows her around like a lost puppy." Powder sighed and laid her head back on the counter. "It's not like she would want the rest of us."

Vander laid a hand on Powder's head in sympathy. "Maybe. Or maybe it seems that way because Vi was the only one to indulge her attempts at friendship." Powder thought about that. She, Mylo, and Claggor didn't exactly go out of their way to hang around Caitlyn the last time, so maybe she just took more to someone who actually wanted her around. But deep down, Powder knew that wasn't what she was really worried about.

"What if she takes Vi away?" Powder could barely force the words past her lips, and even then, they were so soft she wasn't sure Vander heard them. But the bartender smiled at her softly, showing he had.

"Powder, nothing short of death or forced imprisonment could keep Vi away from you." Vander spoke softly, ruffling her hair slightly as he did so.

"Maybe." Powder still didn't like it. Didn't like Caitlyn. But… she might try a little harder to include her next time she came around. If she came around.

"There is no 'maybe' about it." Vander picked up his glass and started cleaning again when a mischievous smile found its way onto his face. "You know, you just might be able to have some fun with this." Interested, Powder looked at Vander in glee. Vander leaned closely on the bar, whispering like it was a secret between only them.

"Have you seen the way Vi acts around that girl?" Powder nodded. "Like she cleared the smog from the lanes?" Powder nodded again. "It seems as though our dear companion Vi has a crush on this girl."

Powder jumped up from her seat. "I knew it!" she exclaimed, causing Vander to laugh.

"I should have known you'd see it yourself. You're too smart for anything less." He chuckled, making Powder glow at his pride. Then, Vander leaned back in, whispering; "Now imagine all the blackmail you have. All the jokes you could make about Vi's crush." Powder's eyes widened at the idea. She had never thought of that!

Vander chuckled again, seeing his words sink in on the young girl's face. "This is… GREAT!" Powder exclaimed enthusiastically. "And she couldn't do anything about it because it's true!" Vander laughed again at Powder's enthusiasm. "I gotta go tell Mylo and Claggor."

With that, Powder rushed off from the bar, knocking over her barstool in the process, and raced down to the family space, Vander waving goodbye while laughing behind her, anxious to see what kind of trouble his kids would stir up next.

Vi's face hurt from smiling so much. She must have looked like an idiot, flinging herself recklessly over rooftops on her way home with that big, stupid grin on her face. But she just couldn't help it. After watching Caitlyn shoot, the topside girl showed her around her parents' home and estate (though they were careful not to run into Caitlyn's family, something Vi was very on board with). Caitlyn even insisted on taking her to get something called ice cream. Vi had no idea what it was, but it was cold and sweet. She would have gotten some to bring back for Powder if Caitlyn hadn't told her it would melt before she got there and promised to bring some the next time she came down.

Vi's grin got even bigger at the reminder. She intended to visit again. Caitlyn was going to come back to the lanes. Then Vi could really put her to the test in a rooftop run now that she knew how capable she was. Caitlyn had run through that shooting course like a pro, barely even stopping to shoot, and she cleared the obstacles like they were nothing. Yes, Caitlyn could do incredible things when she was confident enough to try, and Vi would be happy to inspire that confidence.

It seemed like no time at all before Vi opened the door to The Last Drop, greeting Vander who was serving guests at the bar so he would know she made it back, and headed down to the family room, dopey grin still plastered on her face. At least until she got to the bottom of the stairs to see Powder, Mylo, and Claggor all huddled around each other and glaring at her like she had done something unforgivable.

"Where have you been today, Violet?" Mylo sneered at her, causing her eyebrows to raise both at his tone and his use of her full name.

"Went to go take care of something that was bothering me." Vi responded. This was a pretty typical response for her and was technically true so she thought they would drop it.

"Was this 'something' that topside girl?" Claggor interjected. Despite her attempt to hide it, Vi froze for a moment, not expecting them to confront her like this. She tried to brush them off and continue walking, but Powder blocked her path.

"We know all about your 'runs'. When you are just out there looking for her." Vi had to take a step back at the venom in Powder's voice. Were they really that upset? Caitlyn wasn't bad to them, wasn't even mean. Why were they so hellbent on hating her? What was this about?

"Look I was just-" Vi had no idea what excuse to make or what explanation to give, but it didn't matter as Mylo cut her off.

"Oh, we already know." They closed in around her, forcing her back farther. "Vander filled us in on your little 'excursion'." Vi was getting a little worried. Her siblings looked pissed, and she had no idea what to say or do about it. She opened her mouth to try, but Claggor beat her to it.

"You went out and got yourself a girlfriend!" he cried joyfully, throwing an arm around Vi as Mylo and Powder began laughing. Vi could feel her face growing warm.

"Our little Vi is growing up!" Mylo tacked on, punching her in the arm. "I just can't believe you got a girlfriend before I did!"

"Shut up!" Girlfriend? Vi felt like she was getting whiplash from her siblings' sudden change in demeanor. And what did they mean girlfriend? Caitlyn wasn't her girlfriend.

"Does this mean I'm getting a new sister?" Powder interjected, clearly trying to look innocent, but the barely contained smile on her face ruined the effect.

"What are you guys going on about?!" Vi cried as she shook Claggor off, her eyes jumping from Powder, to Claggor, to Mylo, and back to Powder. However, the pink-haired girl was offered no answers and her siblings just continued to laugh at her. Finally, Mylo calmed down enough to say something else.

"Oh, don't be so uptight Vi. We're just messing with you!" he exclaimed, hitting her arm again. "You should have just told us you had a crush on her, we might not have talked so much shit behind your back if you had." If Vi's face had been warm before, now it was on fire.

"I am not dating Caitlyn!" Vi tried to deny it, but the voice crack in the middle of her denial didn't help her case.

Claggor snorted. "Not yet maybe." This sparked another round of laughter from Vi's siblings. It took a while to calm down again, but eventually it died off. "All right, all right, we're done." Claggor said, shooting Vi a sympathetic look.

"What? But I-" Claggor quickly pulled a protesting Mylo away to the bar. Leaving Vi alone with Powder. The younger girl shuffled her feet awkwardly before turning back to her sister.

"I know we were just messing around, but if you really wanted to bring her around again, I might not hate it."

And just like that, Vi's dopey grin was back with a vengeance.