Alien Blues

Was it the best you ever had?

Y/n had never really met The Hound of the Underground before—she'd only heard whispers of him throughout the Lanes. People told tales of Vander's bravery against the enforcers on the bridge, how he kept the front strong before it all went to hell. He was the hero of the Undercity, a retired martyr who gave his all to the cause. Now though? Now Vander owned the biggest bar in the Lanes. He was a calm man, not as quick to fight or stand his ground as before.

Y/n couldn't bring herself to idolise him like everyone else did. She was too busy to idolise anyone, barely keeping up with the gossip that ran wild in the Lanes. Yet, even she knew who he was.

That's why it surprised Y/n when she saw the smallest of his children curled into a shaking ball outside of Silco's shimmer factory. Y/n spared a glance behind her—Vander's bloated body lay on the ground, his eyes staring into the sky, his hands spread beside him. He was put down like a dog.

Flames licked the crumbling building, burning bright behind the little girl as she cried and wheezed her pleas into the air. No one was around to hear her beg—no one but Y/n.

Y/n tried to never stick her neck out for others; you had to be selfish to survive the Undercity. She wasn't someone who usually went out of her way for people, but she found herself walking toward the little girl. Slowly, she crouched to the shivering girl's height. The blue-haired girl's body shook in pure agony, shovelling breaths between sobs that reverberated around them.

Y/n knocked her hand on the ground, startling the child out of her panicked stupor. They both said nothing, just staring at each other. The young child looked like a wounded animal, her wild eyes darting across Y/n's features, searching for something familiar.

"Vi?" Her voice called out, as shaky as her eyes. Through the blur of her tears, she could only make out a vague shape.

"You alright, kid?"

The small girl's shaking intensified. Her hand slammed against the ground with a harsh thud.

"No—I just—"

Y/n placed her hand hesitantly on the child's back, rubbing slow circles along her shoulder blades.

"I-I just—I was trying—I was trying to help. I didn't mean to!" Her sobs started again, louder this time, tearing through her throat as she threw herself into the older woman's arms. She wrapped her thin arms around Y/n's waist and buried her head into her hip.

"Hey—hey." The h/c looked down at the small girl and managed a small smile, her eyes softening. Maybe this was a time to be selfless. She pulled the girl from her hip and cradled her within her arms. "It'll be fine. You'll be fine."

Y/n sat with her, whispering reassurances and shushing her cries while keeping her arms wrapped around her. She had buried the child's head into her chest, shielding her from the sight of her father. The fire continued to roar behind them, bringing an uncomfortable warmth as soot collected at her knees.

It was the least she could do, she thought. To watch over this child for now and ensure she was okay. Y/n always had a soft spot for children but something about this child stuck out to her. She watched as the girl's shaking slowed and her sobs ceased.

Heavy footsteps echoed from behind them both.

"You never know when to walk away, do you?" Silco's raspy voice called out from the end of the alley. She didn't dare look up—she knew what he wanted to do. Silco wasn't known for his kindness toward children. She refused to move, too scared for herself to run away and too scared for the girl to let her go. She only buried her head deeper into the child's blue hair. The shuffle of dry dirt caught her ears as his employees huddled around them. She felt like a rat in a cage, being sneered at in disgust. "You are currently holding someone I need to talk to."