Heartbeat

Chapter 9- Win

"So, what happened?" Dal asked, leaning up against the Bank next to Win, who had just finished her shift. They were each smoking jays. Win wasn't sure someone Dal's age should have jays, but she knew not to say anything. She also didn't think she should tell a ten-year-old what had happened on the docks, despite being confident that Dal had probably seen things a thousand times worse than Win had experienced.

Win didn't believe someone like Dal could be loyal to anyone. They could and would look forward to killing anyone in their way. Win especially didn't buy that Dal had any loyalty to Mouse and thought Mouse was naive to trust them. Win inhaled their jays and blew out the smoke, her hair hanging in front of her face.

"They just pointed a gun at me, tried to, like, make me dance?" Win scrunched her face as if she couldn't remember or had already forgotten about it. She remembered it perfectly.

"Assholes," Dal said, spitting out an orange wad. Win realized Dal was chewing jurda and smoking it. No wonder Dal thinks I'm lazy; I'm not high. She thought with surprise.

"It's fine; it's not like I was hurt. And Mouse is right; it's not like I even got a good look at them."

Dal gave their usual look at Win like she was an idiot. "What? It's true."

"So, you'd do that to someone? You'd do that to a kid on the street?"

"No."

"Yeah, 'cause you're not that kind of asshole." Win had to laugh at this, flicking her jays away from her.

"What kind of asshole am I?"

"The kind who grew up hearing about princesses and is dumb enough to think that just 'cause you're good-looking, you deserve to be one."

Win had no answer, but she knew denying it didn't sit right.

"And what kind of asshole are you?"

"The kind who tells everyone that they're an asshole." Dal stared at Win and smirked, stamping out their jays.

"Funny. What's the plan for tonight? Docks, finally?"

"Before coming here, I saw and tapped Sol to head over. They're going to show you around Ketterdam." Win smiled, but it wasn't genuine. She wanted to seem grateful, but she thought her time could be better spent buttering up Alivier. She made a mental note to take a few days off when his exams ended because he would want to party for several days. Win would ensure he stayed loyal during those days and didn't stray towards West Stave. Dal gave her their usual side eye of mistrust.

"You know it's a big favour for them to take you on," Dal added, watching her as her attention was drawn to her imagination.
Dal was right; Sol was recently told she would be trained as the Widow's new spider. She was good at being unseen, but Win doubted she would be the most forthcoming in her information.
"Oh, of course, thanks, Dal," Win replied, turning to Dal and giving them a demure smile.

Dal rolled their eyes in reply.

"Stay here until she comes and gets you," Dal added dismissively. Dal must have spoken to Rudy and hypothesized what had happened at the docks. Win thought uncomfortably. She wasn't keen to be considered a victim who needed protecting.

Dal took off in a jog only a little down the street; Win watched them go. Several children, some taller than Dal, came out of nowhere. They all looked very different; some were filthy, others better kept. Dal stood, handing out Kruge to them. Win realized they were some of the other Mice she had heard about. She never saw them in a group. Only one or two could be found in the Res on the first floor, all in one or two rooms. Win had heard that sometimes lice outbreaks would happen, and all the kids would have their hair cut off. Win was sure that's why Dal just kept theirs shaved. Dal looked at the door of the Bank and saw Oscar working instead of Rudy. Win didn't like Oscar, he was older and rougher, but Win knew to stay on his good side and gave him a wide smile.