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your pov
As we walked through the area, the eyes of children and adults alike trailed us. Their expressions weren't outright hostile, but suspicion lingered in their gazes. Not that I blamed them. Rumors of our deaths had circulated long enough, and bringing "Enforcer Girl" Caitlyn along didn't exactly inspire trust.
"You guys are back pretty early," Ekko said, glancing up from where he was kneeling on the ground. A group of children darted past him, giggling as they chased each other. One of the adults—a father, I assumed—joined the game, laughing as he tried to catch them.
"Missed you too much, I guess," I joked, plopping down in a rocking chair against the wall.
"You could say that again," Vi added, shaking her head with an exasperated smirk.
Ekko raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "What were you guys up to this time?" He continued fiddling with a small device in his hands, though his attention seemed split between us and whatever project he was working on.
Vi and I exchanged a look. I could tell she was just as clueless as me about how to explain the whirlwind of emotions and half-baked plans we'd been wrapped up in.
"Uhh..." I started, but she didn't jump in to save me.
"They seemed to have had fun," Caitlyn interjected dryly, rolling her eyes. She remained standing, arms crossed and radiating her usual air of composed seriousness.
"Fun, huh?" Ekko looked between us, an amused grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, I'm sure it was productive."
"Define productive," Vi muttered, earning a quiet laugh from me and an unimpressed glare from Caitlyn.
Ekko looked at us with a disgusted look on his face.
"Uhh, before you say anything," I started, leaning back into the chair with an exaggerated sigh of contentment. "I was testing out that couch of yours, Ekko, and let me tell you—that thing is a game-changer. More comfortable than my own bed. Props to you."
Ekko chuckled, his amusement breaking the tension in the air. "That good, huh?"
"Yeah," I laughed, though it came out a little awkward as I realized the skeptical looks I was getting. Vi raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unimpressed but holding back a smirk. Caitlyn, on the other hand, stood stiff as ever, glaring at me like I'd just committed a crime. Ekko turned away slightly, covering his face like he couldn't decide whether to laugh or scold me.
"Goodness, you guys are so serious all the time," I said, throwing my hands up in mock defeat. "Does this place at least have drinks? Like, where's the fun around here?" I looked around, feigning an exaggerated search for a bar.
