"You did what?!" Milo shouted at Milo, his face turning red with anger, and I just looked at Vi, who avoided my gaze and kept her eyes fixed on the floor in silence.
"I'm sorry," Powder replied with a sad expression, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "I tried to fight him off with Mouser but... She didn't work."
"Who saw that coming?" Milo groaned in frustration, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.
"We never should have gone there," Claggor sighed heavily, disappointment etched on his face.
"Doesn't matter. The stuff's gone," I said with a resigned tone, feeling the weight of the failed mission settling on my shoulders. Vi approached Powder, her voice softening as she spoke.
"It's all right, Powder. At least you're okay," Vi said, her words laced with reassurance as she led the way to a makeshift elevator built by an unknown creator. Claggor and Powder followed her without a word.
"Okay? What about us? I get my face bashed in, and she just gets a pass?" Milo complained bitterly, his frustration evident in his tone.
"Yup," Vi replied simply, her voice tinged with exhaustion.
"Aren't you coming?" Claggor's voice called out from behind me, and I turned to see the group staring at me expectantly.
"Uh... Yeah-- sure," I forced a smile, masking the turmoil brewing within me, and started walking towards the elevator.
"What's wrong?" Vi asked, her eyes searching mine for answers.
"It's-- nothing," I replied with a forced smile, though the unease in her expression told me she wasn't convinced. She gave me a knowing look that promised a conversation later before lowering the lever that initiated the elevator's descent.
"Every time. Every time she comes, something goes wrong. She jinxes every job," Milo muttered under his breath, his annoyance palpable in the air. Powder moved behind me, clutching my arm for support.
"Drop it," I interjected firmly, meeting Milo's gaze head-on, causing him to back away instinctively. It was a familiar dance between us, one where my stature and strength often spoke louder than words.
A few tense moments passed before the elevator emitted a loud cranking sound and came to a halt, signaling our arrival at the ground level.
As we walked through the bustling streets, gazes and glares greeted us, with most directed towards me. I couldn't blame them; my past actions had undoubtedly earned me a reputation that preceded me wherever I went.
The streets were teeming with a diverse mix of beings, from drunken brawlers to seductive temptresses and victims of their own vices, painting a vivid tableau of life in our neighborhood. Amidst the chaos, a sight that dampened our spirits—a lifeless body lying in the midst of our once friendly stroll.
Approaching our haven, The Last Drop, we inadvertently collided with a bald man and a woman, or perhaps a reptilian being, who exuded an air of danger.
"Watch where you're going," the woman growled, brandishing a knife in warning.
"Hey, baldy. Nice meeting you, again," I quipped with a smirk, recognizing the man from a previous encounter.
"Don't," the bald man intervened, guiding the woman away as Vi shot me a puzzled glance, her eyes questioning my actions.
Upon entering the bar, the others dispersed to their rooms while I headed straight to the counter, seeking solace in familiar surroundings.
"So, He... Told you anything?" Vander inquired, his voice laced with curiosity as he polished a glass.
"Yeah. 'Send my regards.' That's all he said," I replied wearily, feeling the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between us.
"Want a drink?" Vander offered with a knowing smile, a silent gesture of camaraderie in troubled times.
"You sure??" I asked eagerly, the prospect of a temporary escape tempting me.
"No. You think I'd let you drink?" Vander chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Figures..." I sighed, resigned to my fate, as he handed me a pipe, prompting a fit of coughing before I returned it with a grimace.
"How many?" Vander's tone turned serious, shifting the conversation to more pressing matters.
"...Nine—He knows I can't do shit to them," I admitted, the weight of my helplessness evident in my words.
Silence enveloped us as Vander processed my words, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on both of us. Before I could continue, he placed a glass in front of me, filled with gin, a silent acknowledgment of my struggles.
"You really have grown," Vander remarked with a fond smile, a glimmer of pride in his eyes as he assessed my resilience.
"I'll go talk to the group," Vander announced, leaving the counter to address the others in the room we shared, leaving me to contemplate the glass before me.
With a heavy heart, I raised the glass to my lips and drank the bitter liquid, the burning sensation a stark reminder of the harsh realities we faced.
Leaving the bar, I ventured into the crowded streets in search of a cigarette vendor, the familiar routine providing a sense of comfort amidst the chaos that surrounded us.
As I purchased two sticks of tobacco and lit one, a sudden tap on my shoulder startled me. Turning around, I was met with the sight of a young child, no more than five years old, extending a hand in silent plea, clutching her stomach in hunger.
"Food, huh?" I remarked to the vendor, purchasing two pieces of bread and offering them to the child, whose tearful gratitude tugged at my heartstrings as she darted away into the night.
Shaking off the encounter, I continued my solitary walk back to The Last Drop, the flickering streetlights casting eerie shadows on the familiar path.
Upon reentering the tavern, I was met by Vander emerging from our shared room, his expression unreadable but hinting at a newfound awareness.
I made my way to the room, the weight of the day's events heavy on my shoulders as I opened the door.
"...shit"
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YOU ARE READING
Jinx × Male Reader | A Reason
RomanceY/N, a boy who was abused and later sold by his father gets saved by Vander, The Hound of The Underground. This encounter leads to a new chapter in his life. Meeting new friends, he grows especially fond of a blue-haired girl.
